National

Chargé D’affaires: The Gangs Have Upped The Ante

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A Bahamian diplomat who was on the ground is now home and tells us despite recent developments in the political landscape, things have not gotten better.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 7, 2024

Joshua Williams

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – We continue to monitor conditions on the ground in Haiti, as the state of unrest and turmoil continues to dominate headlines. A Bahamian diplomat who was on the ground is now home and tells us despite recent developments in the political landscape, things have not gotten better.

There has been no improvement of conditions in Haiti since the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. This according to Bahamian Embassy Chargé D’affaires in Haiti, Captain Godfrey Rolle.

Rolle and all embassy staff are now home amidst the growing unrest and violence in Haiti.

The decision coming after a high-stakes CARICOM meeting in Jamaica. Now much of the violence stems from several gang leaders calling for Henry’s resignation. However, despite Henry’s decision to step down, Rolle says things have not gotten any better.

This, leading many to flee, causing an uptick in illegal migration to our southern waters. The most recent group taken back to Cape-Haiten by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, an exercise that sparked concern among some in the public. Captain Rolle says it’s nothing new, even revealing that our officers used to transport migrants back to Haiti immediately.

And with the ongoing unrest, the Force’s efforts have been beefed up in the south forming a blockade. And, with years of experience on the Defence Force, Godfrey says efforts like this are usually successful.