There is steady news coverage of the horrific starvation of children in Gaza, but little about the “over one million boys and girls in Haiti facing critical levels of food insecurity”, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

It has been reported that since the beginning of this year, it has treated over 4,600 children with severe malnutrition, but this is only four per cent of the estimated 129,000 children who will suffer from starvation this year.

“Furthermore, with food insecurity on the rise, Haiti is also confronting a growing public health emergency,” notes UNICEF. “Across the country, health services are under immense pressure. Less than half of health facilities in the capital city are fully operational and two out three of the major public hospitals are out of commission.”

Food For the Poor has been serving Haitians since 1986. “Haiti faces an unprecedented food crisis, ranking the worst in the world,” it notes on its website. “Despite agriculture playing a vital role in the economy, Haiti imports a staggering 80 per cent of its staple food — rice — due to abysmal yields within the agricultural sector. With just 10 per cent of agricultural lands irrigated, Haiti’s dependence on rainfall further exacerbates the challenges. The consequences are dire, with one in three children experiencing stunted growth and 100,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition.”

While serving as chair of Digicel Jamaica Foundation, I visited Haiti and noted the kindness of its people and the promise of its beautiful children. Now I am hearing that dedicated professionals must leave their homes, relocating in order to get to work as certain roadways have been commandeered by gangs. Family members have been kidnapped but thankfully returned after stressful days. The UN has reported that 1.3-million Haitians have been displaced because of gang violence.

Only last week we learned that three Haitian police officers and an informant were killed while another has gone missing. In efforts to address this lawlessness, Haiti has sent soldiers for training in Mexico, while Canada has sent drones to assist the security forces.

A special gift I received from my Haitian colleagues is a painting of a serene seaside community with a colourful boat on the beach. They told me of their beautiful coastal areas to which tourists would flock in peaceful times. I remember sitting in on discussions with international business leaders who spoke positively about Haiti’s potential to become an agricultural success story.

“A Kenyan-led, UN-backed mission is helping Haiti’s national police to quell gang violence, but officers often are overwhelmed by powerful gangs with military-grade weapons,” notes an Associated Press report. “At least two Kenyan officers have been killed this year, both in Artibonite.” In that area and central Haiti, they note that, “From October 2024 until the end of June, more than 1,000 people were killed, 213 injured, and 620 kidnapped in Haiti’s Artibonite and central departments, according to the UN human rights office.”

Our own Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has also been involved in logistics operations; they led the distribution of aid items after the 2010 earthquake.

Haiti is the most populous member of our Caricom family; its economy was hobbled by an exorbitant fine by the French Government after the Haitian army led by Toussaint L’Ouverture defeated Napoleon’s army in 1804. This was the first successful rebellion of enslaved people against their colonial masters. The 150 million gold francs “Independence Debt” imposed in 1825 was repaid over decades and finally cleared in 1947. Then came the tragic earthquake in 2010 in which nearly 250,000 Haitians perished and saw widespread damage to the country’s infrastructure.

Should the Caricom Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice, supported by the Denis O’Brien-led Repair Programme, succeed, Haiti could receive a well-deserved economic boost to strengthen its security forces, restore its health services, and realise its agricultural and industrial potential.

Election Schedule

As election fever builds with a higher rotation of political advertisements and streets festooned with posters and flags, there is great speculation around the date of our general election.

Daynia Harper, public relations and communications manager at the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, outlined the schedule following the calling of the dates for general election and nomination day by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness. She noted that the election can be held a minimum of 21 days after it is called.

She explained that nomination day can take place a minimum of five clear days after the election is called or over a longer period. General election will take place a minimum of 16 days or a maximum of 23 days after nomination day.

Congratulations, Yasus Afari

One of Jamaica’s most creative and hard-working poets, Yasus Afari, has received Grammy certification as songwriter on the Grammy-nominated album Strongg by Black Uhuru. Caribbean National Weekly editor Anthony Turner explored Afari’s long association with leading artistes, writing, “Back in 1993, Duckie Simpson of the iconic reggae group Black Uhuru invited Afari to collaborate on recordings and global tours. What followed was a fruitful and dynamic partnership that saw the poet and the band gracing television screens, recording studios, and international stages — from Brazil to Europe (12 countries), the Caribbean, and 32 US states.”

Afari’s annual Jamaica Poetry Festival has an enthusiastic following, featuring a variety of writers, poets, and musicians. It was an honour to have participated alongside the late great Professor Edward Baugh at the festival three years ago. Dub poet Afari had us chanting along in his multimedia performances.

This year, his festival on August 10 will be graced by Professor Mervyn Morris, Vivian Crawford, Mutabaruka, singer Tony Gregory, Coleen Douglas, Hugo Barrington, Afari’s daughter Mik, and Calvin Mitchell. The All Star Drummers will add excitement to the festival.

Joy of Dance

As I write this, I am looking forward to Dr L’Antoinette Stines’ lecture on ‘The Emancipation Story through the History of Dance’, which is to take place at Boulevard Baptist Church. Who better than Stines, founder of the L’Acadco Dance Company, whose performances have wowed local and international audiences and enjoyed a standing ovation at the Kennedy Cultural Centre.

This comes after we attended two weeks of superlative performances by our beloved National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) and the Campion Dance Society’s ‘Nexxus’. For both, we are seeing a new generation of fine dancers and the use of technology for impressive scenery and lighting. Congratulations to NDTC Artistic Director Marlon D Simms, Campion Dance Artistic Director Dwright Wright, their volunteers and sponsors.

This is the second year that CCRP has partnered with NDTC for a benefit performance; last year we garnered over $700,000, enough to repair the roofs on the houses of three elderly folks who had been affected by Hurricane Beryl and donate over 100 care packages to needy seniors. It is a great way to promote our culture while supporting others.

Jean Lowrie-Chin is an author and executive chair of PROComm, PRODEV, and CCRP. Send comments to lowriechin@aim.com.

Yasus Afari

A mother and child at Food For the Poor in Haiti