NEWS AND ANALYST
THE HAITI CONUNDRUM UPFRONT
Story by: John Paul RoBeare | April 24, 2024
Where is the mainstream media coverage and the United States and United Nations support for Haiti? Yes, the U.S. have given money but Haiti require more than money alone, they need military intervention, medical, as well as nutritional meals as the humanitarian crisis is growing and Haitians are suffering from food insecurities leading to mass starvation. More than 8,450 people killed or injured in Haiti by gang violence. That’s more than triple the number of people killed in Israel during the initial attack by Hamas on October 7. Just as Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan need assistance — financial and military support, so does the people in Haiti. The situation in Haiti has been labeled a problem between gangs and police, but it’s not. These gangs are terrorist and should be treated in the same manner as the United States and the United Nation labels and responds to threats form varying nations throughout the world when terrorist are involved.
A Brief History on Haiti
Before getting into the ongoing crisis in Haiti, and for those who may be unaware of its history and how they fought for their freedom. I have prepared a somewhat concise synopsis for your consumption as background prior to reading about the current dilemma in Haiti resulting from years of political instability.
The Haitian people are a proud and strong people that have a direct historical relationship to African Americans in the United States. Haiti won its freedom from slavery and gained their independence on January 1, 1804, ending a 13-year long revolution led by the ex-slave, General Toussaint L’Ouverture. As a result of General Toussaint’s valiant determination, Haiti became the first independent nation of Latin America and second in the Americas after the United States to win their independence.
The Haitian people fought vehemently — with their people’s existence and its’ newly constructed country in mind — to overthrow the colonial powers that had enslaved them for years. Thereby, ending its’ servitude and reducing racial discrimination of the Haitian people. How? The Haitians initiated one of the largest and well-organized slave uprisings in the history of the Americas.
The Haitian Revolution which won their freedom became an example for all other slave revolts against colonial rule. Unfortunately, the Haitian revolt was suppressed and removed from history books as it was a powerful movement that the powers to be, “white colonial slave masters,” did not want anyone to remember, (especially Blacks) so they wouldn’t not recall the positive results of fighting against colonial enslavement. One of the reasons why history is so important to people of color everywhere, in order to maintain their political, educational, and monetary gains, as well as preventing the negative history from repeating itself.
It was felt that the actions taken by Haitians slaves during the revolt had to be silenced because it undermined white superiority while uplifting Black cohesiveness; instilling self-reliance, self-determination, and serving as a tool, a map, and a plan for the liberation of African American people from European rule. Such exposure would give the [correct appearance] that blacks and whites are equal under the law which was not in the colonialist purview for the Haitians.
“Although the Haitian people were victorious, to date, they still find themselves having to fight for their rights, equity, and equal conditions in their homeland of Haiti and currently in America.” A fight which extends beyond whites to that of black Haitians gangs in Haiti as well. Gangs, who some believe are working in concert on behalf of the American government.
Unfortunately, the Haitian revolt was suppressed and removed from history books as it was a powerful movement that the powers to be, “white colonial slave masters,” did not want anyone to remember, (especially Blacks) so they wouldn’t not recall the positive results of fighting against colonial enslavement.
The Haitian people also referred to as “Afro-Haitians or Black Haitians” are our full-on ancestors who can trace their full or part ancestry to Africa. They form the largest Black group in Haiti, around 95%. (Additionally, we must not forget the Afro-Caribbeans who are also direct descendants of Africans who were brought to colonial Caribbean byway of the trans-Atlantic slave trade as well).
The link between African Americans/Blacks and the Haitian people is absolute. Which is why African Americans/Blacks in the U.S. must press its government for more humanitarian aid and military intervention to help in the current crisis in Haiti.
THE “TERRORIST” GANGS IN HAITI HAVE TAKEN A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN HAITI BY KILLING ANYONE WHO GETS IN THEIR WAY.
The terrorist gangs have taken over Port-au-Prince and Haiti’s main international airport. They have also freed more than 4,300 inmates (possibly as recruits to broaden their military style army and reach into Haiti’s government.) According to a report from the United Nations, “The terrorist gang’s control 80% of the Capital of Port-au-Prince.”
The major gangs are demanding that they be included in any talks regarding the future of Haiti. The notorious gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, considered Haiti’s most violent and powerful leader — envision himself as the country’s “de facto political operative.” He said he and his army of thugs would take control of the police and Haiti’s government, and ultimately direct all negotiations to be filtered through him and his regime.
A previous war criminal in Haiti, the notorious “Jimmy Cherizier” appears to have successfully mobilized other terrorist gangs to assist in the ongoing attacks against the Haitian government and its’ people, rendering the government, the Haitian people and their protective agencies useless.
The Haitian military was disbanded as a result of many years of military interference in Haidi’s political system by way of several military coups, with the last and final attempt to take control of Haiti in 1991. Following that attempt, Haiti’s government decided to eliminate its’ military in 1995. Subsequently, bring about the opportunity for Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier to become the de facto chief representative of the Haitian people.
Cherizier, a former police officer, is responsible for the massacres of a myriad of his own people in Port-au-Prince via his “Revolutionary Forces of G9 Family” and Allies comprised of scads of gangs throughout Port-au-Prince. There are more than [22 major “violent” terrorist gangs] in Haiti, and more than 200 smaller splinter gangs. Many of which have acquired military style weapons byway of the United States of America. Cherizier’s organization of “Revolutionary Forces of G9 Family” and Its Allies currently control the capital of Port-au-Prince and its political future.
There are more than [22 major “violent” gangs] in Haiti, and more than 200 smaller splinter gangs, many of which have acquired military style weapons byway of the United States of America.
HAITI’S BLEAK FUTURE DEPENDS OF OUTSIDE INTERVENTION ON MULTIPLE FRONTS
The current situation in Haiti is bleak. Since the assassination of Haiti’s president Jovenel Moise in 2021, violent well-armed gangs have elevated their status and territory. Fast forward to now, these gangs led by Jimmy Cherizier, AKA “Barbecue,” has caused more death of civilian in Haiti than in Ukraine, according to The United Nations World Food Program, USA. As a result of this crisis, over 4.3 million Haitians are having a difficult time securing food for their families, with many the situation is dire. As the most vulnerable people face death from starvation (approximately 1.4 million Haitians).
The children in Haiti seek refuge from the violence in schools. They are scared and don’t know where their next school lesson will come from or the next time they will receive a good meal, etc. … The United Nations/WFP reported, “January 2024 as being the most violent month on record in more than two-years, having 1,100 people killed, with many injured or kidnapped.”
The violent developments in Haiti is worse than the “Wild, Wild West”… It have become a place where there is complete lawlessness and unfathomable deaths of innocent citizens. Many of the towns in Haiti are now absent the resources to provide the people with adequate protections, which has led to a plethora of social evils such as: rapes, prostitution, torture, and skyrocketing violence and senseless murders.
A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS: HAITI’S TROUBLED PATH TO STABILITY
Specifically, Haiti is undergoing a Humanitarian Crisis of insurmountable proportions. The gangs have taken over the country and turning an already dire situation engulfed in violence, hunger, rapes, and the untrue scurrilous claims about the Haitian people upside down, worsening any attempts for any outside help.
The gangs are further devastating the fragile city of Port-au-Prince, that was hit with a large-scale earthquake in 2010 — that killed 222,570 people, 300,000 injured, 1.3 million displaced, 97,294 houses destroyed and 188,383 damaged, according to the National Geophysical Data Center (NOAA). The earthquake essentially leveled the entire area and destroyed governmental functions, policing, and proliferated terroristic gang violence — increasing its reach throughout all of Haiti.
Today, the people of Haiti are trapped, overwhelmed, and undergoing harsh violence by home grown terrorist with limited help in sight. Reported by the Biden administration, “362,000 people have been displaced.” And according to Reuters, Haiti’s gang wars death toll doubles to nearly 5000 as of January 2024. No one is spared by these ruthless terrorist gangs as they Kidnap tourist with impunity.
For this group of people — the suffering and disadvantaged Haitians, no one seems to want them. The Dominican Republic sent 23,000 Haitian migrants looking for a safe haven back to the terrorist gang infested Haiti in September 2023, and the United States under the Biden administration have deported more than 1,500 Haitians trying to escape terror, violence, famine and a Nation which is close to collapsing.
The United Nations and the WFP reported, “January 2024 as being the most violent month on record in more than two-years, having 1,100 people killed, with many injured, or kidnapped.”
Things like food, healthcare, water, and hygiene have been a necessity in Haiti… and even more so after the 2010 earthquake which was declared a humanitarian emergency. But now, in the wake of this new crisis, the need for assistance in these crucial times of life threatening famine is immediate.
This is especially true for the 5.5 million Haitians displaced from their homes due to the treacherous engagement with gang violence by Haiti’s terrorist. The Humanitarian aid provided by the U.S. is welcoming but does not come close to moving the needle for the many trapped by the decimation created by the chaos burdening Haiti.
The absence of a good working technological and physical infrastructure to accept outside aid continues to exacerbate conditions for the most vulnerable and traumatized individuals (which many are children). To further hamper a successful turnaround of Haiti is the resignation of Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who is a Haitian neurosurgeon and politician who served in the capacity of Prime Minister and Acting President of Haiti from July 20, 2021 to 2023, following the assassination of president Jovenel Moise.
President Henry Believing that he could serve the people in the same way he performed in his role as a neurosurgeon, but ended up agreeing to resigning under international pressure from outsiders, i.e. the U.S. and the Caribbeans as well as internal condemnation from those who seek to quell the violence and save the Haitians amid the chaos and immediate harm fraught by murder, hunger, and the possible murder of Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s by the Haiti’s gangs.
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN/BLACK RESPONSE
It is imperative that African American/Blacks stand-up for their direct blood connection of the African diaspora — Haitians. Feeling sorry for the people of Haiti and their families is not enough. If African Americans/Blacks do not act to help to protect the rights, dignity, and struggle of the Haitian people today, what will prevent the trauma and “colonial spirit” from happening to African Americans/Blacks in American again? History has a way of repeating itself if you are not fully conscious of the undertones and patterns of injustice and discrimination.
This is especially noted in the recent Judgement reversing affirmative action, Trumpism, and now the ongoing attacks on Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI). How can you help? The African American/Black community must write their congressperson, protest if necessary, and request more humanitarian aid, cut the flow of guns [especially military style rifles and ammunitions imported directly to the violent Haitian terrorist gangs from the U.S.] killing large numbers of Haitians and taking vast amounts of valuable territory.
We need to not play political games as the Haitian people are being used a pawn and possibly by the American government. The United State’s must help to provide the people of Haiti (who do not have a military) with the necessary tools to self-govern themselves and establish a system for a democratic government for the people by the people.
Any other outcome would be against the will of the Haitian people, as many believe the United States is using this conflict to exploit Haiti to further their long-standing goal of planting a “U.S. Naval Base” on the Island of Haiti due to its strategic geographical location, and to get their hands on Haiti’s vital resources, such as gold, oil, farm essentials, etc., by way of close door negotiations with gang leaders like Jimmy Cherizier, AKA “Barbecue,” who have no interest in Haiti or its’ citizenry. America and the world, please talk to the people of Haiti and not those who seek to derail democracy in Haiti.
