Caribbean L 6 ife, Aug. 9-15, 2019 Q
Outrage over Guyanese paper
critical of Haitian migrants
cholera epidemic, which
has brewed serious
health concerns after a
large influx of its citizens
arrived in Guyana in
recent times.”
It also adds that “over
the past week, reports
suggested that masses
of persons have entered
the country through
the Cheddi Jagan International
Airport (CJIA),
where provisions were
made for them to acquire
accommodation at hotels
and other boarding houses
predominantly within
Georgetown. This was
backed by photos showing
masses of Haitians
leaving the airport facilities
in buses with their
children and spouses.
“Through interaction
with Guyanese, it is
expected that any communicable
and non-communicable
diseases will
spread, raising questions
as to the stability of the
health sector to cushion
increased cases of these
illnesses,” the article continues.
“Moreover, an epidemic
could prove deadly
for the small population.”
But incensed Haitian
and Caribbean-American
legislators and leaders
told Caribbean Life on
Tuesday that the article
only perpetuates hatred
and division within the
communities, instead of
unity.
They have, therefore,
called on the Guyana
Times to retract what
they characterized as
“misinformation against
Haitian immigrants to
Guyana.”
“We must take a stance
in preaching as well as
practicing unity and tolerance
throughout the
world,” said New York
State Assemblymember
Rodneyse Bichotte,
the daughter of Haitian
immigrants, who represents
the 42nd Assembly
District in Brooklyn.
“As an elected official
of Haitian descent and
representing one of the
most diverse and possibly
largest Caribbean immigrant
communities in
New York City, I believe
we have an obligation to
fight discrimination and
racism wherever it rears
its ugly head.
“As a member of CARICOM,
Haitians have
the right to freely emigrate
to other CARICOM
countries. Distinguished
groups and organizations
from the United Nations
to CARICOM have spoken
of the need to travel
freely for the cause of
economic growth and
community unity. Therefore,
as sister countries
of CARICOM, Guyana
and Haiti are expected
to honor the same agreement,”
Bichotte added.
“The outdated charges
of HIV / AIDS and cholera
is ludicrous, and it
is incumbent upon any
media outlet to get their
facts correct before publishing
false statements;
hence, this strident call
on the Guyana Times to
become aware of the 21st
century science, stop the
ignorant and racist posturing,
stop publishing
false stories.
“Failure to heed this
call definitely puts the
paper in the ranks of
Trump and other ‘purveyors’
of hate,” the assemblywoman
continued.
“We are demanding that
Guyana Times issue an
apology with a retraction
of the ridiculous, divisive
and false statements
made against the people
of Haiti.”
Newly-elected Haitian
American New York City
Councilmember Farah
Louis, also told Caribbean
Life that “the derogatory
statements published in
the Guyana Times are
eerily similar to the antiimmigrant
rhetoric of
the Trump Administration
and the stigmatization
of Haitians in the
1980s as carriers of AIDS
disease.”
“We have seen the detrimental
effect of xenophobia
as it relates to
Haitians in the US and
Dominican Republic,”
said Louis, the daughter
of Haitian immigrants,
who represents the 45th
Council District in Brooklyn.
“We cannot allow the
disparaging words of one
or more define who we
are as a people or diminish
our contributions
throughout history.
“The migration of
people should never be
viewed as a threat to society
but an opportunity
for cultural exchange
and global dialogue,” she
added, also demanding
an apology and retraction
from the Guyana Times
“to ensure that we do not
perpetuate the hate and
discrimination that has
divided the (Caribbean)
Diaspora.”
Kimberly Jean Pierre,
a Haitian American
New York State Assemblymember,
who represents
the 11th District
in Suffolk County, Long
Island, said the allegations
about the Haitian
migrants were “unfortunate,”
stating that the
majority of Haitians are
“merely seeking better
lives for their families.”
“It is my hope that the
Guyanese and Haitian
governments can work
in conjunction to ensure
that those traveling
through Guyana are able
to migrate safely and that
any bad actors, especially
human traffickers, are
prosecuted to the fullest
extent of the law,” she
said.
Alicia Hyndman, a
Caribbean-American
New York State Assemblymember,
who represents
the 29th Assembly
District in Queens, said
she was certain that the
Guyanese Diaspora “fully
understands the plight of
immigrants struggling
for a better life.”
“It is irresponsible to
spread this type of fear
among Guyanese people
regarding the health of
Haitians,” she said.
Another Caribbean-
American legislator,
Brian Benjamin, who represents
the 30th District
in Harlem in the New
York Senate, said it was
“completely unacceptable
to stereotype Haitians in
this way.”
“Both Guyana and
Haiti are members of the
Caribbean Community,”
he said. “And so, we must
help to lift each other
up, as opposed to tearing
each other down with
false propaganda.”
Continued from Page 1