Caribbean American legislators here have called for international support for Haiti

Caribbean American legislators here have called for international support for Haiti, as the country observes the ninth anniversary of the devastating earthquake.

New York State Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, and New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, told the Caribbean Media Corporation on Saturday that 2.5 million people in Haiti are still in dire need of aid.

“Haiti still needs our help,” said Bichotte, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, stating that the 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010 claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions.”

Since the massive earthquake, Bichotte said Haiti has been “battling the subsequent cholera epidemic and the multitude of natural disasters.”
But, in the midst of the struggle to rebuild, the assemblywoman laments that US President Donald Trump has decided to end Temporary Protection Status (TPS) for over 50,000 Haitian immigrants.

She noted that the decision comes “after a slew of bigoted comments made by President Trump, disrespecting Haiti and its people.”