Senior secondary between classes

HATS and Haiti update Feb 2024

February 23, 2024 Posted by Karen Huxter

Greetings to all our friends, family, and our supporters who pray for, and encourage, us.

Luckner in our school office

JJ, my eldest child teaching in our school

My second eldest Moise on the right in his final year, grade 13, of high school.

My son, Judel, on the right.

This is a short update as many of you are wondering about how Haiti, and how Luckner and all the children are doing.

Luckner continues to do the very best job possible of keeping all our children safe and cared for in a continuously dangerous situation. Our children are all well and all attending school, JJ as a teacher, and the others as students. For this I thank God daily.

A break from class

My son, Judel, on the right.

Senior secondary between classes

Our Hands Across the Sea-Haiti school, IMKH, is continuing to educate our students, under the direction of our school director, Luckner, who is always vigilantly alert for gang members. The students are receiving an education and are being fed daily.

A gang that has harmed, terrified, and killed people in our area has settled in the next town to us. People fled the town. There is no safe way to pass through that gang controlled town There is another gang controlling a town on the other side of our area which means people can’t safely drive anywhere. The words ‘boxed in’ comes to mind.

The way people have to live in Haiti, with one eye open all the time in order to try to stay alive is extremely difficult and so very sad. Please pray for the Haitian people.

I am including a couple of articles below from the Haitian Times newspaper about Canada and the US pledging millions to combat Haiti’s crisis; funding multinational mission, urging international support for security and aid, and about the organized crime they have on Haiti’s roads. Doing it this way will give you a little idea of what is going on there better than me trying to explain.

Haiti Foreign Relations

Canada and US pledge millions in multinational intervention of Haiti’s gang crisis
This week’s Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly has pledged $91 million USD on behalf of Canada to Haiti Aid and the US has followed suit with $200 million to support the multinational efforts led by Kenya to Haiti.

Canada has pledged significant financial support to aid Haiti in combating its current humanitarian crisis. With an allocation of C$123 million ($91 million USD), including C$80.5 million ($59.6 million USD) for a multinational security mission led by Kenya, Canada aims to bolster efforts to tackle criminal gangs plaguing the nation.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly emphasized that this support is crucial for facilitating interventions to safeguard Haitians and empower local initiatives aimed at restoring peace and prosperity.

The United States has also stepped up its commitment, announcing an intention to provide $200 million to bolster the multinational security support mission. Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the urgent need for international solidarity, urging other nations to contribute resources such as personnel, equipment, and training to address Haiti’s gang crisis.

Blinken highlighted the severity of the crisis, citing rampant gang control in Port-au-Prince, widespread food insecurity, and escalating violence. He emphasized the importance of stabilizing the security situation to facilitate effective aid delivery and pave the way for Haiti’s return to democracy.

Acknowledging the UN-authorized multinational mission as a critical component in stabilizing Haiti, Blinken thanked Kenya for leading the effort. He also commended the contributions announced by countries such as Canada, Benin, France, Germany, and Jamaica.

Despite ongoing challenges, Blinken reiterated the international community’s commitment to supporting Haiti’s journey towards democratic governance. Stressing the importance of inclusive governance and free and fair elections, he emphasized that long-term peace and stability hinge on restoring democratic order.

Report: Haiti’s gangs extort $8,000 daily from drivers, $20,000 from businesses

Gangs diversify their income streams to buy weapons, according to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

trucks, local gang,

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime has revealed in an investigative report that gangs in Haiti today have made the country’s national highways one of their three main sources of income, extorting between $6,000 to $8,000 daily from commuter and commercial drivers using the roads.

In addition to the extortion of drivers, gangs have also collected funds by force or threats from businesses and through the common kidnapping-for-ransom of individuals, according to the report.

Bandits set fire to trucks transporting goods from the Belladere transport union (Syntransbel) while in Savien, Artibonite, Haiti, on Sunday February 18, 2024. Photo courtesy of Peterson Francilot

Up to $8000 collected from road checkpoints

Gangs make between $6,000 to $8,000 per day to let drivers with passengers and goods carriers cross the highways that are under their control, reports, based in Geneva, Switzerland, in an investigative report on the gang crisis in Haiti and international responses.

Some gangs demand that transport drivers have a gang-issued card to pay their extortion amount weekly instead of on the day of travel. According to the report, the strictest checkpoints are located at the entry and exit points of Port-au-Prince, the Artibonite department, Canaan and Martissant.

“Even though bureaucratization offers a certain degree of security to commuters and transporters, travel remains extremely dangerous, exposing residents to threats, physical violence, theft, and kidnappings,” the global anti-gang group’s authors said.

Jean Rony Kersaint, the driver of a Mirebalais-based minibus, was among 10 people killed after a gang attack in Morne Cabrit on the National Road Number 3, on Sunday, February 18, 2024. Photo courtesy of Petrus Lerus

Entreprises pay up to $20,000 to operate

Kidnappings generate millions of dollars

The report said kidnapping remains one of the most important criminal markets in and around the capital. Kidnapping has become an ‘industry’ generating millions of dollars per year. However, the report’s authors do not mention exact figures from the crime.

Will this effort of Kenya sending 1000 police, and other countries sending in hundreds of police to help the Haitian police fight gangs help? I sincerely hope so.

For my part, I will wait, watch and pray. Will you join me in praying that the effort of these police from various countries will help the precious Haitian people.

God bless you all.

Karen
Founder and Director
Hands Across the Sea-Haiti

About Karen Huxter

Karen Huxter, the founder and Director of Hands Across the Sea, was born in Springdale, Newfoundland and is proud of her Newfie roots and heritage. She lived in various places across Canada such as Quebec, the Yukon, Ontario, Alberta and BC before moving to Haiti in 1995. In her professional career, Karen worked in teaching, banking and administration and did extensive volunteer work with community groups and charities. A mother of two grown daughters, one young adopted son and seven grandchildren, Karen is energetic and passionate about the work in Haiti. She loves each of the children and has a heart of compassion for children, women and families in the country of Haiti.

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Testimonials

I spent a week in Haiti at HATS in November 2017 and it was a wonderful experience. Karen is an amazing woman and is doing amazing work. She is dedicated to the children in her care and is changing lives. I would love the opportunity to visit again and help out where I can.

Sandy Eastly
HATS Visitor
We’ve made a difference, I believe. Big stuff, little stuff; it all contributed to the greater good and that big picture: keeping HATS a surviving and thriving, safe haven for the children of Deschapelles, Haiti. And oh my, what children they are. As expected, it was tough to leave. There were tears, whispers, hugs and I’ll miss you’s. I learned that it gets easier (only a bit) for those who’ve done this a few times. As Bob says “I’m part of the furniture now. I don’t say ‘goodbye’, I say ‘see you later’.” Maybe that’s how you cope with leaving…you return. Once, five times, 10 times. However many. Guaranteed you’ll leave a different person than when you came in.

Aimee Feaver
HATS Visitor
I have learned much about Haiti in my short stay here, much about generational, entrenched poverty, and much about hope. We can only be part of the bringing of hope if we become one small actor on the huge stage that is poverty. Thank you, Lynn Clark, for inviting me to share this life changing experience with you, and thank-you, Karen Huxter, for investing so much of your life in a work designed to bring hope to those who need it more than any Canadian could ever imagine.

Linda
HATS Visitor
They call Karen “the helicopter ” and after spending three days by her side I know why. She propels through life!!! If you want to get on the ride you better start running. It is an amazing work that the Lord is doing here through so many many dedicated workers…literally hundreds of children impacted every day with the love of Christ…but the task to do so is enormous. The dedication of staff is invaluable…they NEED US ALL!!

Barbara & Louis
HATS Visitors
Culture shock for this Canadian team at first, but a ride through busy, vibrant streets proved terrifically interesting; busy markets, vendors selling exotic fruits, clothing and shoes, used tires and rusty metal… and then the gorgeous countryside: banana plants, mangoes, cows and goats and pigs and dogs, the Golfe de La Gonave by our side. Rice patties indicated we were close to our home for the next week. We were greeted by Magalie, a house mother, with hugs for all and, of course, the children themselves, so gorgeous and endearing. A beautiful meal was followed by a sharing of impressions: there is a lot of poverty but so much potential and hope. We are already in love with Haiti.

Team Canada
HATS Visitors
I am so thankful to Jesus for the opportunity to serve at HATS and to finally experience the great work that God is doing there. I look forward to seeing them all again when I visit next time.

Nancy Goodwin
HATS Visitor
It is our last day and there is always a certain amount of sadness and joy when we come to the end of a trip . We look forward to our homes and loved ones but there is a part of us that wants to stay and be near these dear dear children. They open their hearts and arms to you when you enter the front gate. They give you laughter and tears all week long and then they cry and hug you when they know you are going away. Being near that kind of unconditional love effects us all very deeply. So we leave part of our hearts here and promise to return.

Gerry Rhyno
HATS Visitor
A huge thank you to aunt Karen, who always seems to be doing something with her children and the HATS mission. The only time she takes for herself is long enough to spread some almond butter on a banana that she eats on the run. Thank you so much for all your hard work and unwavering dedication. Thank you for being an inspiration to me and so many others. We love you and our Haitian family very much. The longer I spend at HATS, the bigger piece of my heart remains. Take care of yourself and our kiddies until we see each other again.

Jocelyn Barnes
HATS Visitor
This is my first trip to Haiti and I’m hoping that it will not be my last! I could start by telling you all about my experiences however I’ll start by saying that Haiti DOES hit you in your heart! Not a day goes by when I’m not fighting back tears. Hands Across the Sea is an amazing place! Our team has been assembled of different men that all who all felt God calling them to do his bidding. Since I have been here I was quick to realize that we are just helpers here. Karen and her team of workers are, what I believe to be, the real workers of God! Each child presents their own challenges and Karen and her staff make sure that all of the children, not one child, are seen to!

Bernie Melanson
HATS Visitor
Amazing organization! Had the pleasure of visiting twice, and can’t wait to go back again someday. God is doing some wonderful things at HATS!

Jess MacDonald
HATS Visitor