Ja diminishes ‘stain of shame’ with acceptance of Haitian orphans

President of the Haiti-Jamaica Society Myrtha Désulmé says the 59 disabled Haitian children who are to be granted asylum has “diminished a stain of shame” from the Jamaican Government, which last month denied nationals from the violence-ravaged nation similar security.

The children, more than 20 of whom are confined to wheelchairs, are to arrive in the island today by ship along with 13 caregivers.

Local charity Mustard Seed Communities has been working with a private Haitian charity for the past year regarding the care of the children and is to assume responsibility for them.

Désulmé, who is also the diaspora representative for the civil society body Montana Accord, told The Gleaner that she was pleased with the decision to accept the children, arguing at the same time that the “unspeakable violence” occurring in the French and Creole country did not prevent the Government from deporting Haitians arriving by boat since July last year.

She called it cruel and inhumane.

More than a million Haitians are facing famine while more than four million are desperately in need of food aid.

“We are very grateful that Mustard Seed Communities has had the empathy and compassion to open up its heart and its home to these disabled Haitian children who were living in the throes of hell like the rest of the population,” said Désulmé.

“This kind gesture will at least allay some of the shame which redounds to Jamaica for cruelty being demonstrated by the Government and place Jamaica in a better light, reflecting the generosity of the majority of the Jamaican people.”

The children are to undergo screening and medical check-ups by a team from the Ministry of Health and Wellness upon arrival in Portland.

A representative linked to the Haitian children, who asked not to be identified, told The Gleaner that many of the children were unable to access medication and medical treatment as gangs continue to raid and ravage homes.

Last week, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith told journalists that some had been killed while being taken for assistance in Haiti.

“It is strictly on humanitarian grounds, and the way things are in Haiti right now, with gangs raiding homes, the children are affected. So as a result of that, the children are unable to get medication and some have died already,” the representative said.

“Both the foreign minister and the prime minister (in Jamaica) have been supportive. These kids are on a ship. They have never left their home or land, and they [will be] in a strange place. They are disabled, and there is the language [barrier]. They do have some of their caregivers with them. Once they are in and settled, then we’ll allow for the necessary interviews,” the representative concluded.

Gang-inflicted turmoil has brought the nation of more than 11 million Haitians to its knees, with CARICOM and other regional leaders scrambling to restore civility.

Only last week, the regional bloc brokered a deal with Haitian civil society bodies and the business community that would see Haitian Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry’s resignation coming into effect at the establishment of a presidential council.

The council is to oversee a nation election that is expected to help restore calm to the country deep in a decades-long battle for stability.

editorial@gleanerjm.com