By Staff Writer
Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick advocated for the establishment of a multinational force to regain control of Haiti from gangs and proposed the formation of a transitional government, suggesting that funding from the U.S. be utilized without deploying troops.
“The only option you have is going to be either try to get to the border or try to get to the water,” she said. “If you choose to stay in Haiti, then you’re literally looking at whether it is going to be your day. That’s the thought process for every Haitian who’s living in Haiti.
“If you’re living in Haiti, you’re really wondering: Do I die do I risk it all to protect my family?”
As the sole Haitian American member of Congress, she also urged Prime Minister Ariel Henry, amid mounting pressure, to step down. Highlighting the dire situation, she emphasized the rampant gang violence plaguing Haiti, pushing its citizens to contemplate risky escapes either through the Dominican Republic or by sea to various destinations, including the U.S.
“The only option you have is going to be either try to get to the border or try to get to the water,” she said. “If you choose to stay in Haiti, then you’re literally looking at whether it is going to be your day. That’s the thought process for every Haitian who’s living in Haiti.
“If you’re living in Haiti, you’re really wondering: Do I die here or do I risk it all to protect my family?”
She shared her personal anguish over the crisis, with family members in Haiti enduring constant fear and uncertainty.
Cherfilus-McCormick stressed the urgency of finding a solution, warning that each moment of delay costs lives.
In a bid to address the crisis, she hosted a conference on Haiti in Fort Lauderdale, bringing together leaders from the Haitian diaspora and relevant stakeholders for a closed-door discussion.
The recent wave of violence, including attacks by gangs on vital government infrastructure, underscores the gravity of the situation, with Port-au-Prince witnessing escalating unrest since February 29th.
“It’s heartbreaking for me. You know, I have family still in Haiti, and it breaks my heart every day because you’re just waiting for that phone call. You hear from family members: ‘There’s heavy shooting.’ ‘I have guns under my pillow.’ ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen to us.’ ‘We can’t leave or we don’t want to leave,’” Cherfilus-McCormick said.
