The assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Mo茂se in his home, announced in a statement Wednesday by interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, has sent shockwaves through Haiti and the diaspora in South Florida.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Mack Bernard says people in the diaspora are shocked and concerned for the nation. Bernard was born in Port-au-Prince and came to South Florida as a child.
SA国际传谋 is committed to providing South Florida with trusted news and information. As the pandemic continues, our mission is as vital as ever. Your support makes it possible. Please today. Thank you.
Many of his constituents, who contacted him after the assassination, are concerned about security in Haiti and whether it鈥檚 safe to travel there. He says Haitians are calling for more resilience.
鈥淛uly 7 will go down as a historic day in Haiti. The act that took place was hateful. It was heinous and barbaric,鈥� said Bernard.
鈥淏ut the overriding message that I鈥檓 getting from them [Haitian constituents] is that they鈥檙e calling on the Haitian people to remain calm and to remain peaceful through these dark days.鈥�
Haitians make up the largest immigrant group in Palm Beach County, with a heavy concentration in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and Lake Worth Beach. They鈥檝e opened up businesses, gained political representation, and continue to exchange goods and services with Haiti.
He says many people in the Haitian diaspora are concerned about the nerve-wracking political and financial power plays after the assassination.
Jovenel Mo茂se, the 53-year-old head of state, entered office in 2017 and had been ruling Haiti by decree since January 2020. The assassination occurred during a time of political and constitutional turmoil, anti-government protests and ongoing controversies, a spree of kidnappings, territorial gang violence, and a recent surge of COVID-19 infections. Mo茂se had been under immense pressure to resign before being assassinated.
According to the Miami Herald, Haiti has just representing the country, all of whom are senators. In Palm Beach County, Bernard says Haitians are worried about the transfer of power in Haiti, and what it means for the socio-political reality here and abroad.
鈥淲hat I鈥檓 concerned about [is] the transition in power that can take place and how does the international community address the insecurity that鈥檚 taking place,鈥� said Bernard. 鈥淎nd also what can be done to help the fractured political parties that are on the ground.鈥�
According to Haiti's Constitution, the Council of Ministers, led by the prime minister, decides who succeeds a president. It appears that acting prime minister Claude Joseph may have to make that decision. Ariel Henry, the new prime minister selected by Mo茂se, was supposed to be sworn in this week. Bernard says he expects the political environment to get more complicated, despite increasing calls for peace and unity.
鈥淵es, today is a dark day in Haiti and there may be darkness for a couple more days and for weeks and months,鈥� Bernard said.
鈥淏ut through light, I believe that we will be able to because we've been a resilient country and resilient people will be able to overcome this and make Haiti become a better Haiti.鈥�
