Wickham calls for integrated approach to tackle Haiti’s violence

Political Analyst Peter Wickham is joining with other prominent voices in calling for the troubling situation in Haiti to be resolved.

Wickham was speaking on state media just a few days after World Democracy Day on September 15.

He said that there needs to be a comprehensive and united approach to the Haitian dilemma as this matter could have longstanding implications on the region.

He agreed with recent comments from Prime Minister Gaston Browne who mentioned that if we don’t sufficiently address the situation in Haiti not being able to have general elections there, it poses a threat to destabilizing democracy across the Caribbean.

“I think the Prime Minister is right. The Haitian, one could say what’s happening in Haiti can spread and I think that the lawlessness, the belief that this is an alternative way and that this is a way to get things done is something that can spread.

“Remember that Haiti was the first revolution in the Caribbean that essentially taught slaves that they could free themselves and arguably what happened after, whether it be other revolutions or other revolts or emancipation could have been a reflection of what happened in Haiti. So the concern I think Prime Minister Browne is expressing is that years later we could have a situation where people are inspired by what has happened in Haiti,” Wickham said.

He added that another major issue could arise with an influx of refugees.

“The other big problem I think for the Caribbean where Haiti is concerned is that certainly for Antigua and Barbuda is that a number of Haitians will be washing up on their shores. You have a proximity issue where Haiti is concerned. That means that you will have refugees.  It is a real and serious problem for you as a country because the capacity to support the numbers, the thousands of people that could potentially turn up around the region from Haiti is problematic but in and of itself, the problem of Haiti democracy, that project is a project which is worthy of consideration,” Wickham added.

Last weekend, more than 40 people were killed in a massacre in Labodrie, a small village located between Arcahaie and Cabaret.

According to CMC, criminal groups affiliated with the criminal coalition “Viv Ansanm” are being blamed for the massacre, as they fired indiscriminately at residents they accused of being police informants.

According to a provisional report by Baptiste Joseph Louis, president of the Administrative Council of the Communal Sections (CASEC) of Boucassin, at least 42 bodies had already been counted, including children.

Houses have been burned and according to witnesses, the attack was in retaliation for the death of Vladimyr Pierre, alias “Vlad” the second leader of the Cabaret gang, and several of his men, killed on September 7 during clashes with law enforcement.

The United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has also condemned the weekend murders expressing “heartfelt condolences” to the victims’ families and urged Haitian authorities to pursue justice.

Guterres is calling on member states to accelerate efforts to strengthen the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) by providing it with the necessary logistics, personnel, and funding to effectively support the Haitian National Police in combating gang violence in Haiti, in full compliance with international human rights law.