Rubio calls for help from foreign partners to stabilize Haiti — not the U.S.
J. Scott Applewhite
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.
Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio says sending U.S. troops to Haiti is not the key to stabilizing the chaotic situation in the Caribbean country.
The 53-year-old Republican is President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. Secretary of State. During a confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Rubio told his fellow U.S. Senators that there is no easy answer in Haiti, where violence by armed gangs continues unabated.
"You've got to establish some baseline security, and it's not gonna come from a U.S. military intervention. So to the extent that we can encourage foreign partners — and I would include foreign partners in the Western hemisphere who should be contributing to this effort — to provide some level of stability and security in Haiti, so that you can explore the opportunities to have a transitional government that has legitimacy."
Kenya is currently leading a multi-national mission to help Haiti.
The United Nations Human Rights Office reports that gang violence left about 5,600 people dead in Haiti last year alone and has driven at least one million people from their homes.
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6 key takeaways from Haiti’s economic decline since 2018
An analysis of six years of economic downturn and the proposed solutions from Minister Alfred Fils Métellus
by Stevenson Pierre Joseph Jan. 17, 2025
THE HAITIAN TIMES
Overview:
This story examines Haiti's prolonged economic crisis since 2018, analyzing the factors behind the six-year decline and key proposals by Minister of Economy and Finance Alfred Fils Métellus. It highlights alarming statistics, financial challenges and the transitional government’s plans for recovery as presented on Tele Métropole’s Kesner Pharel “Grand Rendez-vous Économique” show.
CAP-HAITIEN — A joint report published recently by the Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics (IHSI) and the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) has presented a bleak picture of Haiti’s economy. It has remained stagnant for six years, with no recorded growth since 2018. The middle class, which is meant to be the backbone of the economy, comprises only 8% of the country’s nearly 12 million people, the report indicates.
Haiti’s last economic expansion was a modest 1.7% in 2018, but since then, the economy has contracted by 4.2% due to several factors, including political instability, social unrest, and the COVID-19 pandemic. As poverty deepens—more than 60% of Haitians live on less than $1 a day—and insecurity stifles investment, the government has unveiled an ambitious 324 billion gourdes or about $2.5 billion budget for 2024 aimed at addressing these challenges. However, experts warn that recovery will require bold reforms and significant international support.
Minister of Economy and Finance Alfred Fils Métellus, who intervened on Télé Métropole’s Kesner Pharel Grand Rendez-Vous Économique show on Jan. 1, outlined the causes and consequences while proposing solutions to reverse the trend.
The following are six takeaways from the report, along with action plans proposed by the transitional government:
Poverty levels continue to rise
More than 60% of Haitians live on less than $1 a day, while over 30% are in extreme poverty. Minister Alfred Fils Métellus stressed the critical role of the middle class – a group that makes up only 8% of the population – in stabilizing the economy. He noted that building a stronger middle class will be essential for Haiti’s long-term recovery.
Agricultural sector in decline
The agricultural sector, which once served as the pillar of the Haitian economy, is now contracting at an annual rate of 5%. This has exacerbated food insecurity across the country, leaving millions vulnerable. Minister Métellus emphasized the urgent need for targeted investment in agriculture to reverse this trend.
Insecurity and its economic toll
Insecurity is one of the most significant barriers to economic recovery. Minister Métellus revealed that repairing the damage caused by insecurity will require $1.3 billion, a figure to be included in the national budget. The lack of securityhas stifled investment, disrupted businesses, and displaced communities, further deepening Haiti’s economic challenges.
Budget priorities for recovery
Haiti’s 2024 budget of 324 billion gourdes, or about $2.5 billion, prioritizes three critical areas:
- Restoring security to ensure stability.
- Organizing credible elections by February 2026.
- Addressing the humanitarian crisis by subsidizing small businesses (SMEs) and creating jobs.
Decentralization
Métellus also plans to decentralize spending to reduce the dominance of the West Department, which absorbs 60-70% of national resources.
The role of international donors and the private sector
To finance recovery efforts, Haiti will depend heavily on international donors and the private sector. A chart presented during Métellus’ interview with Kesner Pharel revealed a $900 million funding gap that the government hopes to close through international aid. Métellus emphasized the importance of mobilizing these funds while pursuing reforms to rebuild confidence in Haiti’s economy.
For many observers, the transitional government plan looks ambitious. However, with a shrinking middle class, rising poverty, and a reliance on international donors, the path to recovery remains fraught with challenges.
Friends and family mourn journalist killed in Haiti Christmas Eve gang attack at hospital
With another journalist Mackendy Nathoux’s funeral set for Jan. 18, the Dec. 24 attack leaves seven journalists injured—some now desperate for urgent medical treatment abroad
by Juhakenson Blaise Jan. 17, 2025
THE HAITIAN TIMES
Overview:
Jimmy Jean, one of the journalists killed in a gang attack during the attempted reopening of the State University Hospital of Haiti (HUEH) on December 24, was buried on Thursday, while the funeral of Mackendy Nathoux is scheduled for Jan. 18. This tragedy has plunged the victims' families into unimaginable grief for which they were unprepared. Furthermore, this incident left several journalists injured, two of whom risk paralysis and permanent disabilities if they do not leave the country for specialized medical surgeries.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Friends, family, and colleagues gathered Thursday at Saint-Pierre Church in Pétion-Ville to bid a final farewell to journalist Jimmy Jean, one of two reporters killed during a gang attack on the General Hospital on December 24.
“Jimmy, you didn’t even tell me what to do with your son. This is the gift you left us,” Jean’s widow sobbed as she clutched two of their children during the service.
Jean’s mother, overcome with grief, recalled the agony of waiting for news after hearing of the attack. “We kept calling him, but there was no answer. The weight of this loss is unbearable,” she said.
Jean’s family mourned the loss of a father of six, a husband, and a son. Jean, invited to cover the reopening of the main capital hospital, Haiti State University Hospital, HUEH, was fatally shot during the attack. His sudden loss has left his loved ones grief-stricken, with his colleagues and family demanding justice from the Haitian government.
The funeral for Mackendy Nathoux, the second journalist who lost his life that day, is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 18.
The attack, which also claimed the life of a police officer, marked a grim day for journalism in the country and underscored the dangers faced daily by reporters covering stories amid escalating gang violence.
Journalists injured in Dec. 24 attack face dire medical needs
The seven journalists injured during the attack are grappling with life-altering injuries and limited medical resources in Haiti. Among them, Florise Desronvil, a mother of a 13-year-old, is confined to her home with two bullets lodged in her body.
“I was shot in the back and near my waist. The bullet lodged close to my pelvis,” Desronvil said in an interview with The Haïtian Times via WhatsApp on Jan.10. “Doctors here told me surgery could paralyze me, so I need to go abroad for proper treatment.”
Desronvil’s injuries have left her unable to care for her child or her ailing mother. “I can’t even bend to use a container for basic needs,” she added, appealing for help. “I can no longer walk properly.”
Desronvil depends on her brother, grandson, friends, and neighbors to help meet her daily needs. Her life was irreversibly altered in a matter of seconds during the gang attack, leaving her family overwhelmed with grief.
“This news shocked us—it was God who saved my sister,” her brother told The Haitian Times, recounting how his wife broke the news to him.
“I still can’t sleep or feel at ease after hearing what happened,” added Dufred Deronvil, the eldest sibling, echoing his younger sister’s pleas for assistance.
Another injured journalist, Jocelyn Chandel, remains in the hospital, where he awaits a second surgery after bullets struck his hand and mouth. Chandel’s situation worsened when gangs burned his home and motorcycle in Nazon.
Medical staff have threatened to discharge Chandel due to the lack of resources for a second surgery on his mouth, leaving him in dire need of care.
“The doctor said I need another surgery within three months, or I could lose my chin and teeth,” Chandel said. “I can only eat liquids, and I can’t control my saliva. I need help to get to Cuba for specialized care.”
Despite the government’s promises to assist victims and their families, the journalists say little has materialized. A commission to assist the injured victims and their families was established to cover funeral costs, medical expenses, and psychological support. While funeral costs, and some medical expenses were covered, concrete action remains elusive.
The attack highlights continuous impunity and risks to Press Freedom in Haiti
The Dec. 24 attack unfolded as journalists covered the reopening of the General Hospital, a high-profile event organized by then-Health Minister Duckenson Lorthé Blema. Gunfire erupted when gangs targeted a police patrol near the hospital, shooting journalists standing at the facility entrance, trapping others, staff and attendees. Survivors were eventually rescued by agents from the General Security Unit of the National Palace (USGPN), who scaled walls to escort them to safety The hospital has been closed since February 2024.
“The doctor said I need another surgery within three months, or I could lose my chin and teeth.”
Jocelyn Chandel, one of the injured journalistsnormal
“It’s a terrible moment I will never forget,” said Chandel, speaking to The Haitian Times via WhatsApp. “I was standing in front of the facility when I was hit with two bullets, one in my right hand and the other in my lower mouth.”
The incident has fueled criticism of Blema for holding the event without adequate police coordination and led to his dismissal. It also underscores Haiti’s worsening impunity for crimes against journalists and spotlighted Haiti’s precarious press freedom, with the nation topping the Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) Global Impunity Index since 2023.
Since 2019, at least seven journalists have been killed in Haiti, with most cases unresolved. CPJ cites a weakened judiciary, rampant gang violence, and political instability as barriers to justice. The organization’s 2024 Global Impunity Indexhighlights these unresolved murders, including that of Garry Tesse, whose mutilated remains were found six days after his disappearance in October 2022.
“This year, Haiti climbed to the top of the impunity index, reflecting the unresolved murders of its journalists,” CPJ noted in its latest report.
As the Haitian press mourns Jean and Nathoux, the call for accountability grows louder. For injured journalists, the fight is also for survival—physically and financially—in a nation where press freedom is under siege.
Jacques Desrosiers, Secretary General of the Haitian Journalists Association (AJH), has documented around 40 journalist killings from 1823 to 2023. In 2022 alone, about seven journalists lost their lives.
“Some are victims of armed gang wars; others are killed during protests or left dead in the streets,” said Desrosiers, adding that journalists’ associations continue to demand the identification and prosecution of those responsible.
Immigrant rights group in Miami pushes White House to extend immigration benefits to Haitians
A leading advocacy group for immigrants in Miami wants President Biden to extend special immigration benefits to more than 200,000 Haitians nationwide before he leaves office on Monday.
The Family Action Network Movement, or FANM, is holding a press conference on Wednesday morning at their office in Miami to urge the administration to extend Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, to Haitian immigrants.
Last June, the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the extension and redesignation of Haiti for TPS for 18 months, from Aug. 4, 2024, through Feb. 3, 2026.
FANM leaders want the administration to extend TPS until at least Dec. 31, 2028. Florida is home to the country’s highest number of TPS holders — about 300,000. South Florida is home to the nation's largest number of Haitian immigrants.
It’s unclear if the administration would announce another extension before Biden leaves office on Monday.
Last Friday, the administration announced that about 600,000 Venezuelans and more than 230,000 Salvadorans with TPS can legally remain another 18 months. It also announced extending TPS for more than 103,000 Ukrainians and 1,900 Sudanese already in the country.
READ MORE: Biden extends time in US for 800,000 Venezuelans, Salvadorans as Trump readies immigration crackdown
The administration announcement came only a week before President-elect Donald Trump takes office with promises of hardline immigration policies. He has pledged to deport millions of people living in the U.S. illegally.
Congress created TPS in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters or civil strife, giving people authorization to work in increments of up to 18 months at a time.
About 1 million immigrants from 17 countries are protected by TPS, including people from Venezuela, Honduras, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Sudan, Ukraine and Lebanon. Haitians are among the largest number of beneficiaries.
TPS, however, faces an uncertain future under Trump, who tried to sharply curtail its use during his first term as president. Federal regulations would allow the extensions to be terminated early, although that's never been done before.
FANM leaders are also expressing concerns over Monday’s decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis to hold a special legislative session in Tallahassee to implement Trump’s deportation plans.
“DeSantis’ support for these [deportation] measures pose a grave threat to Haitians and other immigrant communities, particularly as Haiti faces severe crises,” said the FANM in a statement. “Implementing these deportations would also have devastating economic consequences for the United States.”
DeSantis issued a proclamation Monday calling lawmakers into session starting Jan. 27. He said the session is needed, in part, to take steps for the state to help carry out Trump’s planned crackdown on illegal immigration.
“Thank you Ron, hopefully other Governors will follow!” Trump said in a post Tuesday on Truth Social.
DeSantis also wants lawmakers to use the special session to address issues that have driven up costs for condominium owners, change a ballot-initiative process, help the agricultural industry and residents recovering from hurricanes and replenish funding for a popular home-hardening program.
But Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, indicated Monday they want to wait until the regular session, which will start March 4, to address all the issues.
“As you know, this Legislature will address illegal immigration, condominiums, petition initiatives and hurricane recovery this (regular) session, which starts in 50 days,” Albritton and Perez said in a joint memo to lawmakers. “Calling a special session at this time is premature.”
The News Service of Florida and The Associated Press contributed to this story.