Escape of prisoners, resignation of the Prime Minister… things are happening in Haiti. For several weeks, the largest city of this small Caribbean country has been plunged into violence and uncertainty. We present you with 5 words to understand the situation.
Gang
A gang is a group of criminals that operates in a territory, such as a city or a neighborhood. On February 29, armed gangs in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, attacked several neighborhoods and clashed with the police. They target, among other things, the presidential palace, the airport and two prisons. They managed to free thousands of prisoners. These gangs demand that the Prime Minister leave power. If he does not obey, the criminals threaten to start a war.
Emergency
A state of emergency is when the government gives itself special powers to manage a serious crisis. On March 3, authorities declared a state of emergency in part of the country, including the city of Port-au-Prince. A curfew is also imposed, which means that it is forbidden to leave your home in the evening. An estimated 15,000 Haitians have left their homes to escape insecurity.
Resignation
A resignation is the action of leaving one’s own job. On March 12, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned. He declares: “No sacrifice is too great for our homeland, Haiti. » While waiting for a new leader, a group of seven people will govern the country. In Haiti, there have been no elections since 2016.
Diaspora
The term diaspora refers to the members of a community around the world. Canadians of Haitian origin are part of the Haitian diaspora… and they are very worried. Marjorie Villefranche, general director of Maison d’Haïti in Montreal, told Duty : “We are both discouraged and horrified. We don’t understand what’s happening. »
Uncertainty
Uncertainty is the feeling we feel when we experience a troubled situation. Now that the Prime Minister has resigned, as the gangs wanted, what will happen? According to experts, this is the first step towards ending this crisis. But the story is far from over.
We are now waiting to see who will take power in the country.
Camille Lopez, collaborator
With information from Florence Morin-Martel and Lisa-Marie Gervais Le Devoir
Want to know more?
Do you like to understand the news?
Come take a look at lesasdelinfo.com. We also have a whole section for teachers!
An Information Coops initiative supported by the Government of Canada.
