Haiti Gangs Attack Jamaican Consulate Location, Forcing Jamaica To Suspend Consular Services
The Haiti crisis continues to escalate as Haitian gangs attacked a car dealership where the Consulate of Jamaica was located. This forced the country to suspend its consular service operations in Haiti for the time being.
Jamaica Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith revealed in a video message that the Jamaican government is now aware that Haiti gangs have attacked the Sun Auto Car Dealership, which was where the Jamaican consulate was located. She added that the location "was set ablaze and ransacked by criminal gangs."
In her statement, the foreign minister stated, "The Consulate of Jamaica was located on the premises." She then confirmed that "consular services in Haiti are therefore suspended indefinitely."
According to the Miami Herald, Johnson Smith also expressed Jamaica's sympathies to Daniel Rouzier, who owns the Sun Auto Car Dealership and is also an honorary Jamaican consul.
However, she vowed that they would be returning to the beleaguered Caribbean country, adding that the attack "hardened our resolve in returning Haiti to the peace and prosperity, which she and her people deserve."
The attack on the Jamaican consulate coincided with Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry's visit to Jamaica. This raised suspicions about the timing of the attack as Henry and 50 other Haitian delegates were in talks in Kingston regarding the plight of their country.
Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness addressed the incident and told the Miami Herald that it was still too early to draw conclusions about the attack but echoed Johnson Smith's message about his country's determination to help its struggling neighbor.
Earthquake Adds to Haiti's Growing Number of Problems
As Haiti reels from recent storms and massive flooding, a 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti and killed at least four people and injured dozens of others. This adds to the country's growing number of woes, including the ongoing gang violence and cholera outbreak.
A previous earthquake in 2021 has already displaced thousands in the struggling country, with the recent flood adding more. This latest earthquake added even more.
Some of those affected were already living in displacement campsites as more people in the country were hit with not just political strife but also an increasing number of natural disasters. The most devastating so far this year is the recent flooding, which killed at least 52 people.
After Natural Disasters, Massive Fire Also Hits Haiti Capital Port-Au-Prince
Haiti just could not get a break as a massive fire burned down around 95% of the buildings and products in Delmas, a downtown market in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. The fire happened last Monday at around 5:30 am local time.
Millions worth of products and property went up in flames as firefighters struggled to extinguish the fire in the market known for selling clothes shipped in from the Dominican Republic. Now, traders are demanding aid and compensation from the government.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry expressed his sympathy to the victims and vowed to investigate what caused the fire, according to Yahoo! News.
READ MORE : Haiti Gang Burns Courthouse
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Vendors despair as fire rages through Haiti market - Associated Press
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