The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune,

No sensible person is able to deny that the Republic of Haiti is a ‘failed’ state. This is a sad indictment and is fast becoming a geopolitical problem and a source of dislocation for her people and a bane on the wider Caribbean, inclusive of The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos. The resources of these two nations have been stretched to the limits and the seams could rapidly burst in short order.

It would seem that ever since Haiti was able, against all odds, to defeat the then armed forces of Napoleon and declared Independence in 1804 that that nation has remained on its knees and has never had a cohesive national economy or a democratically sustainable government. Indeed, shortly after the Haitian revolution, France and many other European nations demanded repatriations and/compensation for the loss of slaves and real estate in Haiti.

The resulting massive and crippling figures demanded have yet to be paid off and despite all efforts by “friendly nations”, so far, Haiti continues to lurch from pillar to post. That unfortunate country and her people have been subjected, almost like clockwork, to military dictatorships and mob rule. Political assassinations occur with regularity. The most recently elected President Jovenel Moisie was brutally attacked and killed within the confines of his private home a few years ago. The case remains “unsolved”.

Following his slaying, a technocrat, Ariel Henry, was appointed and elections were supposed to be held in short order. To date, those elections have not been able to be scheduled and Haiti has no semblance of democracy. The Senate and the Lower House of Deputies, where they have ‘members’, are in political limbo.

With the break down on the economic and political fronts tens of thousands of the lower classes of Haitians have taken to rickety ‘boats’ and fled their country for what they expect to be greener pastures. Most wish to get to the USA and Canada. A majority tend to migrate through the Turks & Caicos and, of course, the Bahamas. Other Caricom nations are also impacted negatively.

Here at home, we have seen, before our very eyes, the development and proliferation of what are commonly referred to as shanty towns. Last year the Davis administration deported over 5,000 illegal immigrants and migrants at tremendous cost. From time immemorial our natural resources and scarce national funds have been depleted due, partially, to the unknown numbers of illegal nationals in The Bahamas. Once they land here and are “integrated” into our communities, we are obliged by international protocols to educate them and to provide health care. The bulk of these people, unfortunately, are fleeing Haiti.

This week, Caricom will be hosted in The Bahamas by Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, KC, MP, our hard working and brilliant Prime Minister in his capacity as rotational head of that block. Hopefully, the issue of Haiti and the strain which is placed on Caricom nations will be discussed and workable solutions offered. My hopes, however, are not high. There will be more talk and little concrete action. Haiti, like it or not, is the ‘elephant’ in the room.

Within The Bahamas, alas, there is little that we are able to do to eradicate the questions of illegal immigration; shanty towns and the vexing issue of citizenship and residency until the Privy Council makes final rulings. Compounding these points is the fact that many persons, inclusive of Bahamians and Haitian-based human smugglers are alleged to be raking in big money trafficking all and sundry illegal migrants.

The United Nations, a useless organisation and a mere social club, has been talking for a few years now about collating and deploying a security contingent of international police and soldiers, on the ground, in Haiti to stabilise and pacify it. The Bahamas has said that it would be willing to participate. While I love the people of Haiti and other Caricom nationals, I urge the Bahamian Prime Minister not to touch any sort of military intervention down there. The elephant must not be abandoned, but any sustainable solution to the Haitian crisis must be arrived at by her people. It is, I submit, as simple as that.

ORTLAND H. BODIE, JR.

Nassau,

February 11, 2023.