Local Haitians in shock

Wilzor Antoine, 39, a Haitian man who has lived in The Bahamas for 13 years, said he was shocked when he learned of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse yesterday.

“As a Haitian national, this is the first time in my life that I’m dealing with something like this,” Antoine told The Nassau Guardian.

“No one could imagine that something like this could happen to the president, especially in Haiti, where the president is the person who has the most security.”

He said he is worried about Haiti’s stability following the assassination, which resulted in the declaration of a state of siege by Haiti’s Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph.

Antoine said he believes many Haitians are now scared for their safety.

“This is a bad moment for the nation,” he said.

“I hope God can provide for the Haitian people.”

Antoine said he has a lot of family in Haiti.

When asked about his biggest concern for his family, he replied, “My biggest concern about my family is that most of them living in Port-au-Prince. They are not too far from where the president was assassinated…If I had the power to get all my family and take them away from Haiti, I would.”

Jean Reynold Altaus, 46, who has lived in The Bahamas for 16 years, is in a similar situation.

He said his brothers, sisters and mother still live in Haiti.

Altaus said he is the only member of his family living in The Bahamas.

“I’m really worried because even though you see Jovenel Moïse’s supporters [haven’t] come out yet, I am sure they are going to come,” Altaus said.

“In the coming days, I am sure some things are going to happen. I am sure something is going to happen because everyone who gets involved in politics, they have their own supporters. When you see things like that happen suddenly, they don’t stay quiet.”

He said he is worried about his family’s safety in Haiti.

“If the police officials aren’t able to secure the president, what is going to happen to us?” Altaus asked.

“I would like the world leaders to come out strongly to see how soon they can assist my country at the security level.”

He said he has not been able to reach his family since the assassination.

Altaus said if the travel ban, which was imposed by the Bahamian government earlier this year in response to the COVID-19 situation in Haiti, and low vaccination rate were not in place, he would ask his mother to temporarily stay with him.

Moïse was shot to death during the attack by a group of men who appeared to be foreigners, according to reports.

His wife, Martine Moïse, was also shot and injured. She was flown out of the country to Miami for further medical treatment.

Haiti’s borders and its international airport were closed and martial law was declared in the aftermath of the event. 

The Dominican Republic also closed its border with Haiti in light of the assassination.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/local-haitians-in-shock/