Mr. Speaker, Haiti, the pearl of the Antilles, has seen the political, social and economic unrest that has plagued it for decades take a new turn for the worse. It is on the verge of collapse. The correspondent for the Journal de Montréal in Haiti wrote:
The insurrection that broke out in Gonaïves has flared up again. The uprising has left at least 40 dead since Thursday.
The UN's World Food Programme has stopped making deliveries, which hundreds of thousands of Haitians rely on for survival, plunging Haiti into a humanitarian crisis.
The troubles began in Gonaïves where Aristide's Cannibal Army turned against the president when the latter was blamed for the death of one of the army's leaders. The violence spread, with clashes between armed pro- and anti-Aristide gangs.
The Group of 184 and civil society, which have been calling for free and democratic elections and respect for human rights, have distanced themselves from this violence, but continue to call for the removal of President Aristide. Yesterday, the president said, “If not 5 years, then 10 years”.
The UN, France, Canada, and the OAS have insisted in vain on an end to the confrontations. The nation of dashed hopes needs guarantees.