Pastor Edward St Fleur, of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, speaking on Friday. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
By Tanya Smith-Cartwright
tsmithcartwright@tribunemedia.net
LEADERS of the local Haitian community announced on Friday that they support the Government in its fight to control the COVID-19 virus, and urged Haitians in The Bahamas to present themselves to healthcare facilities if sick, regardless of their immigration status.
The Bahamas has now recorded its fourth case of the coronavirus and Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has ordered a 9pm to 5am curfew.
Pastor Edward St Fleur, of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, is on the team communicating to the Haitian community what is expected of them during the curfew and how to prevent the spread of the virus.
“I would like to underscore that the meeting we had with Minister Dr Duane Sands, the Haitian community should have no fear as it relates to their immigration status,” said Pastor St Fleur.
“This is a very serious situation we are in. The healthcare workers are not going to ask you about your immigration status so if you feel any symptoms you are to call the hotline and explain your situation and if immediate intervention needs to happen then you have to be taken to the designated place. That is the protocol. You do not show up to the healthcare centre, you call first.”
“Myself and Louby Georges are making sure that every document, in regards to the coronavirus, is translated into Creole and the Haitian community is able to read them and know what is going on. We think the government is doing the right thing as it relates to safety and the protection of life.”
Stephanie St Fleur, president of Human Rights Bahamas, has gone into the Haitian communities in New Providence to make sure everyone was on point with hygienic precautions.
“We went into the communities and went over a number of things like washing of the hands, etc.” Mrs St Fleur said. “So they are aware of all the hygienic measures necessary to help prevent the virus. I told them that sanitiser and Lysol are not found, they need to buy bleach and use it. We also have WhatsApp groups for the Haitian communities and we send lots of messages in the groups about the virus and how to prevent it.
Leaders of the Haitian/Bahamian community plan to offer full assistance to their countrymen and according to Mrs St Fleur, if anyone shows symptoms of the virus or are having respiratory problems, assistance will be on the way.
Haitians who have trouble with English are to call 809-2864 as a hotline to seek assistance if they are showing symptoms.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 1 month ago
Minnis and Sands will of course see to it that the Haitian invaders of our country who get infected with the Red China Virus receive better medical care than the vast majority of 'true' Bahamians.
SP 4 years, 1 month ago
Unfortunately, a higher number of Haitians will be more adversely affected by COVID-19 than Bahamians per capita simply because they live in tight, less hygienic environments.
This will result in Haitians overwhelming the medical system making it near impossible for Bahamians and legal residents to get life-saving medical care.
We all knew that natural disasters and disease outbreaks would one day solve the illegal Haitian shantytown problem that neither government had the fortitude to deal with.
jamaicaproud 4 years, 1 month ago
Even in crisis your reckless hate can't keep you guys from spitting vitriol. This is a worldwide human non-discriminatory disaster and all you can tàlk about is Haitians. Do you think it will be any better for you if there were so Haitian?
My2centz 4 years, 1 month ago
Charity begins at home @jamaicaproud. Have you checked on your quarantined countrymen, abandoned by your government, to ensure they have basic necessities? It's no wonder one of those individuals escaped back into the community. Have you made a public service announcement to Jamaicans that it's not okay brutally attack a man for sneezing in public? Once again you're overlooking the atrocities at home, to spew fake concern for Haitians in Bahamas.
My2centz 4 years, 1 month ago
If you think I was comparing the two countries you might fit in with our "F grade" culture very well. I guess this what happens when there are to may D level Jamaican teachers in the classroom. I would not offend my country, flaws and all by comparing it to a cesspool. I was simply telling you to mind your business and fix what's wrong with Jamaica first...including the high illiteracy rate. We import while you rely on barrels of foreign goods. Why split hairs? The Bahamas grows enough produce for food not to be a concern, and our seas are the most plentiful in the Carribean. We will be fine.
stillwaters 4 years, 1 month ago
Read the news last weekb about the other Jamaican fellow badmouthing us. Read and digest!!!!
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 1 month ago
ok so I didn't believe so I looked it up....
From the Jamaica Gleaner:
Blair said that he told them that he had always been troubled by sinus problems, but after he sneezed twice more soon after, hell broke loose.
‘PURE LICK’
“Before mi could open mi mouth, a pure lick start reach mi. Woman a beat mi, an man a beat mi. Mi affi use mi hands fi cover mi eyes so dem nu juck dem out. All dem a seh a ‘hey boy come off the bus wid yuh coronavirus self’,” Blair said. “A wen the driva see seh dem go fi kill mi, him pull pon the road side an stop, an den him holla pon dem an tell dem fi lef mi alone. All the driva a tell the passenga dem seh him know mi an a so mi always a sneeze, dem seh dem nah travel wid mi, an mi fi come off a di bus.”
He said that he was pushed from the bus and had to walk more than 10 miles to his home.
He said that he bathed himself in warm water, and is vowing that he will not travel again until the COVID-19 threat was over.
cheese on bread man... nah they all gat it
stillwaters 4 years, 1 month ago
We have tried, but we have very poor soil. Why is it that the moment the word Haitian appears in a story here, you miraculously show up? Hmmmmm..........
stillwaters 4 years, 1 month ago
What......no jumping right in there to defend Jamaicans????....only really fast defense of Haitians? Hmmmmm......
concerned799 4 years, 1 month ago
If people have fear of deportation they will not come forward. Given the history of the past few years it would be more than understandable if words alone will frankly not convince many it is better to stay in the shadows if they are here without authorization.
This means they could spread COVID-19 to other people including citizens.
Aggressive deportation policies have not put us in a great spot to be able to gain the required trust of the Haitian community today in this emergency.
A more fundamental rethink of the problem of undocumented persons in the Bahamas I think is required to truely get us thru this. Some form of new sped up and streamlined legislated pathway to having an immigration status for undocumented persons I think would make this better for all and help to defeat COVID-19. Should we not do everything in the tool box to help defeat COVID-19?
My2centz 4 years, 1 month ago
A well thought out immigration plan does not provide status all illegal immigrants. Neither would it succumb to the emotional blackmail of possible widespread coronavirus infections from within this community. That is no plan at all, because like the existing solution, no one thinks of the future of the Bahamas just how to placate the Haitian community and keep Bahamians quiet.
The government will inevitably have to set up makeshift hospitals, like all affected countries have done. One of these hospitals could be exclusively for them, and overseen by the "leaders" in that community to ensure that they dont have to answer for their illegal actions, until a future point in time
jamaicaproud 4 years, 1 month ago
I am not in any back and forth. This is an equal opportunity virus that's all there is to it. For the joker who says I show up when the Word Haitian is mentioned. Why well. I wish no where I'll but when this is over we will see where is a cesspool, since yuh wanna be trifling
I read all the major Caribbean (although you guys think you are little America.). Anyway let peace reign, unless one is Haitian. I guess.
No hay placer en hablar con tontos.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 1 month ago
As the saying goes: "Ya can run, but ya can't hide". You've been flying ya true flag colours for too long. LMAO
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 1 month ago
I just thought the story was hilarious. Replace it with "Bahamian" and dey een let me open my mouth good. The humour was not in the fact that the man suffered a beating (that was horrific) but more in the way he expressed himself. The most humorous part was the reporter who chose to write the "PURE LICK" subtitle. I hope im not being insensitive. One love.
bogart 4 years, 1 month ago
@mudda there are a few who jumps us to promote the illegal dispicable human trafficking which is an extremrly profitable business and who for decades never have to have rings or organization caught. They are knowledgable and know when to support and dissuade Bahamians from opening up and dissuading by their untruths, misleading, double talks, confusion of the stopping of the illegal human rights trafficking and the harm to trafficked humans and affects to soverign nation.
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 1 month ago
gee hurricane season soon here. calamity upon calamity. can't social distance in a hurricane or in those igloos. let's pray it's a calm season.
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