PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunmedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said that doing nothing about the crisis in Haiti “violates every notion of decency”.
Mr Davis spoke in Jamaica at a conference focusing on the issues in Haiti, in his official capacity as chair of CARICOM.
Mr Davis insisted on the importance of ending the suffering of the people of Haiti.
“Today, the fight is to end the suffering of the people of Haiti. We have heard the many, many stories of the killings; the rapes; the kidnappings; the wanton acts of violence; the robberies and lootings; and the intimidation of the gangs, which currently plague large parts of Port-au-Prince and other areas of the country.
“My friends, we are here to help. Ultimately, there must be a Haitian solution led by the people of Haiti. We have heard the many cries for help and we cannot, in good conscience, stand by and watch the continued suffering of the Haitian people.
“To do nothing violates every notion of decency, every idea of what it means to be a good neighbour and a fellow human being. We believe that a solution can be found, and we are determined to do all that we can to find that solution, and support its success.”
He noted that bringing a workable resolution to the hardships of Haiti serves as a step in redeeming the “once magnificent land”.
“We see a land and a people brought to their knees, and yet know that we can inspire the people of this region to help to rebuild that once-magnificent land,” Mr Davis said yesterday.
“Let us commit to try and keep trying and keep on trying until we find a workable solution. We must not give up. Failure is not just an absence of success; failure equals more suffering and death. Failure cannot be an option.”
Meanwhile, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry called for a “rebirth of our nation”,
He highlighted the challenges facing Haiti, saying that “the price to be paid for the most vulnerable is far too high” and adding that “we do not have any more time to waste”.
Mr Henry spoke of the difficulty for Haitian representatives in speaking to international groups and politicians and having to admit to the failure of the nation at present.
There have been calls for an international force to be deployed in Haiti, but as yet no confirmation of when or if such a deployment would take place.
Last week, during her visit to The Bahamas, US Vice President Kamala Harris said: “The international community must continue to support the Haitian people in light of the devastating humanitarian and security crisis in that country.”
Ms Harris pledged $53.7m in new humanitarian funding to the country.
Last week, it was reported that Haiti is facing increasing problems over access to food and clean water. Last year, 185 inmates in Haiti prisons died, many from malnutrition-related diseases. This year, more than 20 have died so far. More than 80 percent of the country’s inmates are in detention awaiting trial, and face a wait of years before seeing a judge, if at all, say human rights experts.
Gangs continue to control large areas of the country, while vigilante actions have seen a number of accused gang members being killed, with their bodies sometimes burned in the street.
Comments
bahamianson 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters!!!
ExposedU2C 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Someone needs to remind him that his government doing nothing about the ever increasing large number of downtrodden Bahamians in The Bahamas violates every notion of decency.
sheeprunner12 10 months, 3 weeks ago
The largest number of illegal immigrant Haitians (at least 40,000) who reside in a CARICOM country can be found in The Bahamas in at least 40 major shanty towns ............ What is our PM doing about this INDECENT situation???????
Instead of the "New Day government" led by Gravy Davis try and solve this INDECENT problem, he prefers to jet set around the world begging for "green cash" while our Bahamian environment continues to deteriorate from illegal slums, human filth, and deforestation due to illegal mining and charcoal burning.
TalRussell 10 months, 3 weeks ago
If you 'has something, say something decent to protect it. ---- Best premiership to pay closer attention here at home to the colony's greatest resources, ---- 'Its Popoulaces'. Sunshine, Sands and Sea Waters' ---- And, everything else important like this and that. – "Aye." "Nay?"
JokeyJack 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Should Bahamians sell their homes and transfer the cash to Haiti? If so, what should those who don't own homes do? Maybe sell their children to the Mexican cartels and send that money to Haiti? Maybe police can kill some Bahamian students in overcrowded classrooms to make room for foreign children? Maybe the government can increase our NIB payments and use that money to tow sloops?
John 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Attention BRAVE DAVIS: Haiti is still being punished for fighting and getting its freedom from the bounds of slavery. Haiti is still being punished for the role it played when Haitians went to other Caribbean countries and parts of South USA to help fight for freedom wolf its other brothers and sisters. Do you know at one time there was a law banning Bahamian slaves from associating with former slaves from Haiti? And Haiti paid the price to France to ‘buy’ its freedom but was hoodwinked and bamboozled by France. And Haiti was very close to taking France and the United States to court for reparations and for the atrocities these two countries, especially did to that country and to its people for the past six centuries. The violence and civil unrest in Haiti is being instigated by foreign elements. It is a smokescreen for what’s really going on in Haiti and a detracting tactic from the real issues facing that nation. Yes Mr PM, the time to fix Haiti is long overdue!! But Haiti is going to be fixed in short order! The Super Powers are running out of schemes and tactics to rob Haiti band hold its people down and present them to the world as violent, undesirable troublemakers. The Haitian disposal has began in earnest. And since Muhammad did not come to the Mountain, the mountain is going to Muhammad. In a peaceful way but be aware America and France and Britain and Canada and Holland. The Haitians people dem coming for their tings… And when the Haitians come for their things, they come on behalf of ALL the descendants of slaves in The Caribbean, and in Central and South America. Don’t mind the countries done take their gold outta Fort Knox. The Bible says the descendants of slaves will be compensated for their labor and for the mistreatment they suffered in this ‘strange land’. The Bible says they will enter that strange land by ships ‘ one more time’. The first time they were brought there on slave ships. This time they going in raggedly ships. But they going for they tings’. Don’t mind the bankers crashing the banks and t’ief all the money. They will come out of her ( that strange country) with great riches. And if the part about slavery and mistreatment of Blacks in America was true, the prophecy about descendants was f these slaves being compensated and rewarded for the work of their forefathers and the mistreatment that continues even today must also be true.
JokeyJack 10 months, 3 weeks ago
The year is 2023, not 1862.
Bonefishpete 10 months, 3 weeks ago
John give it a break. In less than a Month your country will be celebrating 50 years of black majority rule. Pray the Bahamas fairs better than where Haiti ended up presently. Maybe use Haiti as a learning experience of what not to do.
SP 10 months, 3 weeks ago
I've said it before and I will say it again. The only solution for Haiti is for the UN to put boots on the ground with the intention of imprisoning, physically removing, or decapitating the entire corrupt political and elite class of crooks that controls all the nefarious activity in Haiti.
This will never happen, so Haiti is a lost cause.
Bonefishpete 10 months, 2 weeks ago
I wish there was a solution to Haiti's problems. Sadly I don't see one.
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