From the desk of Ray Joseph
In lieu of Haïti-Observateur
Due to certain inconveniences, Léo Joseph, the editor, has not been able to publish the paper for this week. Thus, I am sending you these two articles, one for the English readers and the other for the Creole ones, because of their actuality.
Akòz sèten pwoblèm li pa t ka rezoud atan, editè Léo Joseph pa piblliye journal la semen sa a. Men 2 atik sa yo ke m te prepare pou piblikasyon, younn ann angle, lòt la an kreyòl, tèlman enpòtan, mwen deside voye yo ban nou. Bonne lecture, jan yo di an franse.
Ray Joseph
HAPPENINGS! What’s the Plan when the Gangs Take full Control of Port-au-Prince?
Now that the armed gangs, that have caused death and desolation in almost all sectors in Haiti, are in control of 90% of Port-au-Prince and will, no doubt, take full control of the capital, unless an unforeseen miracle happens, we’re asking what’s the plan to deal with the worsening situation?
Certainly, the Presidential Council of Transition (CPT by its French acronym) won’t be able to remain much longer in Port-au-Prince, neither will the Prime Minister, both occupying the Villa d’Accueil, a building of the government in Musseau, an upscale neighborhood away from the center of the city. As it is, all government offices have abandoned the center of the city, as was detailed in an editorial in the Haiti-Observateur, last week, by Le o Joseph.
Imagine that even the Prime Minister’s lavish seaside office, in the Bicentenaire, was also abandoned long ago. When Ariel Henry had assumed the Prime Minister’s post, in July 2021, following the assassination, on July 7, of President Jovenel Moï se, he felt it wise to relocate the office, due to threats from Johnson Andre , nicknamed Izo, head of the “5 Seconds” gang, with headquarters at Village de Dieu, adjacent to the southern tip of the Bicentenaire, and close to Martissant, the southern suburb of Port-au-Prince under full control of gangs since June 1st, 2021.
New offensive by the gangs,a menace to the CPT Interestingly, the members of the CPT don’t feel it’s safe to remain in the Haitian capital, or anywhere near it, no matter the neighborhood.
For, the latest offensive of the gangs is disconcerting. As reported, on January 27, the “Viv Ansanm” (Live Together) coalition of gangs under the leadership of Jimmy “Barbecue” Che rizier, attacked Kenscoff, the upscale community in the mountainous area, some 15 miles southeast of Port-au-Prince. More than 50 people were killed in the massacre, many more wounded, and reportedly more than 1,660 people are homeless. Since then, several neighborhoods close to Port-au-Prince have been attacked, causing much fear. There’s a constant exodus from the capital, whereas before, it was an attraction, a situation that led to a bunch of shantytowns.
Moving the capital to Cap-Haiian
Thus, behind the scenes, there’s talk about moving the capital to Cap-Haitian, in the north. As it is, that city, the second in terms of importance in Haiti, hasn’t been welcoming gangs. Rarely does one hear about gang activities in Cap Haitian, and when there’s any such encounter, the gang in question loses out. In that light, Cap-Haitian is coveted as the alternative capital of Haiti.
That harks back to the time of the northern kingdom, under Henry Christophe (1811-1820). Then there was the Republic of Haiti, with Port-au-Prince being the capital, under President Alexandre Pe tion, in the Southern and Western parts of Haiti.
If the plan being conceived now by the authorities to escape from the gangs becomes reality, we’ll end up with Cap-Haitian as the capital of Haiti, and Port-au-Prince, the capital of the gangs. What country will recognize such governance to the point of giving gangs diplomatic standing? On the other hand, one would expect that the international community, with the U.S. in the lead, will undertake an invasion of Haiti, to wipe out the threat of terrorists for the whole region.
Haitian Leadership and the International Community to blame
Such is the current situation in Haiti. And we didn’t have to get there, because there has been ample warning about the danger of the gangs. For example, the authorized voice of Haiti’s Catholic bishops was heard more than once on this issue. In a statement, September 19, 2023, in the Vatican News, Haiti’s Bishops Conference asked for “an end to the genocide against defenseless people” and called for “action” from the Haitian authorities and the international community. It’s as if the bishops were preaching in the desert.
Yours truly, in a blazing statement, September 8, 2021, first published in the Haiti-Observateur, in bold letters in Creole, had warned: “Toutotan kesyon gang nan pa regle, anyen pa ka regle ann Ayiti.” (As long as the gang issue isn’t resolved, nothing can be resolved
in Haiti.” )
But who am I for them to heed my advice? So, they haven’t done what’s required to defeat the gangs. And today, we’re heading to the total control of the capital by gangs, who will replace the illegitimate Haitian government, established by foreign powers that could care less about the wellbeing of the first independent Black nation in the Western Hemisphere. For there’s still resentment regarding our ancestors who put an end to slavery, by defeating the mighty army of Napole on Bonaparte, on the Battlefield, at Vertie res, on November 18, 1803, to declare independence on January 1, 1804.
