Your Eyewitness returns again to the pain and suffering of Haiti – a member of Caricom – which that body have studiously ignored. So, what exactly is Caricom’s responsibility?? Have they returned to the hands-off, “see-no-evil, hear-no-evil” posture they’d adopted towards Guyana when Burnham’s PNC rigged elections between 1968 and 1985?? Haven’t Caricom learnt that these roosters are eventually gonna come home?? Your Eyewitness is quite disappointed with Bajan PM Mia Mottley – who played such a key role in our PNC elections’ attempted hijacking. With the ear of the international community because of her bravery to speak truth to power, her voice would magnify any Caricom call for some action to be taken.
Ever since twenty-eight mostly Colombian mercenaries assassinated President Jovenel Moise a year ago, the already chaotic situation, with massive gangs controlling the streets of Port-au-Prince, has deteriorated further. Since a state is defined as the institution that has the sole legitimacy to use force in a country, the Haitian state’s inability to rein in these violent gangs can only mean that it’s a most profoundly failed state! Imagine, these gangs – which conduct their own gang wars on the side – have blockaded the fuel terminal, leaving hospitals, supermarkets, and power companies bereft of fuel and having to shut their doors!!
So, what’s President Ariel Henry – who succeeded Moise – doing?? Well, to begin with, he’s widely seen as involved in the assassination plot, and is just as widely seen as corrupt. This corruption from the top has percolated to all levels of Government. They’re now all simply acting as skimmers and grifters who pad payrolls, charge for undelivered projects, and even divert into their pockets aid designated to the poor. It’s very likely that many Haitians might be wishing for the days of the dictators Papa Doc and his son Baby Doc; cause, even though his Tonton Macoute terrorised political opponents, there was at least peace in the streets!!
Neighbouring Dominican Republic has intensified its border patrols, and boatloads of desperate citizens attempt to sail to Florida, or make the trip to Panama, to then trek to the Mexican Border. It would appear they’ve stopped flying to Guyana on their way to the Brazilian favelas (slums), then to hike up to Panama and onwards. But if Caricom has gone silent, what about all those who were so vociferous about the Haitians’ plight in 2020?? Can’t they join your Eyewitness to lobby Caricom to do something?
In the meanwhile, Pres Henry has requested the US and Canada – not the UN – to send troops to take on the gangs. Many Haitians – who don’t support the gangs – feel that Pres Henry must go.
It’s a mess.
…investigate ambulance chicken
While some may’ve given up on Haiti because the rot has been going on for so long, they should be very careful that they don’t allow the same rot to spread here. We know that, under the Burnham Dictatorship – where he had his own House of Israel gleefully imitating the Haitian Tonton Macoute – corruption had become so endemic that some said “corruption was power, and absolute corruption was absolute power”. And we know that Burnham had absolute power.
Obviously, the PPP couldn’t have wiped that out during their shift at the wheel of state – and some of them have surely succumbed and joined the gravy train. To stop the rot, the authorities have gotta ensure that where there’s smoke, any fire found must be “outed”!! And from where your Eyewitness sits, it’s quite clear that it’s gotta be some “big one” who authorised that ambulance to do the chicken run.
The delay in getting names named is worrying. Let’s stop the pussyfooting and find the fire to be put out!!
…big up the Top Cop
With the Top Cop qualifying himself to enter the bar, he’s setting an example that the days of the cop who couldn’t spell “Vlissengen”, and dragging his detainee to Regent St to charge him, are over!
