Dear Editor,
This January marked five years since the tragic earthquake that hit Haiti. This year also marks one for the transition of power through a general election. Unfortunately, the rubble is still there and elections have been postponed.
Where has Caricom been, and why are they so quiet on the Haiti issue? For years Jamaica and the wider Caricom nations have led the fight for Haiti, but as a recent editorial stated, we seem to have grown weary of Haiti and what seems to be their constant troubles.
But sitting back and washing hands will do nothing. On the contrary, we will actually feel it even more. Haiti is awash with guns and many criminal enterprises still operate out of Haiti.
As Jamaica knows only too well, Haitian gangsters are more than willing to exchange their guns for our ganja, and now meat. This is one by-product of letting Haiti slip into lawlessness.
It is clear that the UN is too far removed to do anything, while America bungles things up as per usual when it comes to Haiti.
Caricom nations, with our shared culture and history, should be taking the lead. We have everything to gain from a stable, prosperous Haiti, and we will pay dearly if they fail. With that kind of vested interest we can’t afford to take a back seat, we must take action to secure Haiti.
This may mean boots on the ground to take over from the UN. This may mean high-level summits to hash out a future palpable to all sides. But we need to act fast; things could easily slip into something far worse than what we are currently seeing.
In short, if Caricom is to have any shred of relevance in the 21st century, if they truly believe in regionalism and unity, the Caribbean nations will act. Claiming fatigue or a lack of funds is a cop-out of the highest proportion, we will be watching to see if they practise what they preach, or if they will let Haiti rot.
Alexander Scott
alexanderwj.scott@gmail.com
This January marked five years since the tragic earthquake that hit Haiti. This year also marks one for the transition of power through a general election. Unfortunately, the rubble is still there and elections have been postponed.
Where has Caricom been, and why are they so quiet on the Haiti issue? For years Jamaica and the wider Caricom nations have led the fight for Haiti, but as a recent editorial stated, we seem to have grown weary of Haiti and what seems to be their constant troubles.
But sitting back and washing hands will do nothing. On the contrary, we will actually feel it even more. Haiti is awash with guns and many criminal enterprises still operate out of Haiti.
As Jamaica knows only too well, Haitian gangsters are more than willing to exchange their guns for our ganja, and now meat. This is one by-product of letting Haiti slip into lawlessness.
It is clear that the UN is too far removed to do anything, while America bungles things up as per usual when it comes to Haiti.
Caricom nations, with our shared culture and history, should be taking the lead. We have everything to gain from a stable, prosperous Haiti, and we will pay dearly if they fail. With that kind of vested interest we can’t afford to take a back seat, we must take action to secure Haiti.
This may mean boots on the ground to take over from the UN. This may mean high-level summits to hash out a future palpable to all sides. But we need to act fast; things could easily slip into something far worse than what we are currently seeing.
In short, if Caricom is to have any shred of relevance in the 21st century, if they truly believe in regionalism and unity, the Caribbean nations will act. Claiming fatigue or a lack of funds is a cop-out of the highest proportion, we will be watching to see if they practise what they preach, or if they will let Haiti rot.
Alexander Scott
alexanderwj.scott@gmail.com