A Message from Serena Evans Beeks

Dear Haiti Friends,

I am forwarding a message from our friends at WORK (dignified jobs, community development, Haitian leadership development) outlining and explaining the progress of the U.N./CARICOM support for a transitional team to restore security in Haiti and provide for free and fair elections as soon as it is possible. If you will be responding to WORK's request for contacting officials in Washington, you might add that much of Haiti's instability is fueled by the South American drug cartels which support the gangs in order to use Haiti as a transshipment point to the U.S., and by dealers on the U.S. end who supply and smuggle the automatic weapons which can be purchased cheaply here. In other words, our drug problems and our cheap guns fund and fuel Haiti's insecurity. We as a nation bear some responsibility for the situation.

You probably hear on the news conflicting opinions from Haitians as to whether a coalition government and/or police support backed by foreign support is wanted by the people of Haiti. It seems pretty clear from what we are hearing from friends in Haiti that those protesting violently against foreign assistance are the gangs who prefer to remain in charge. While foreign assistance has not in the past been much of a success, we hope that the leadership of other Caribbean nations in this regard and the leadership of the Haitian Transition Council will help the "help" to be positive and not destructive and self-serving.

Yours,

Serena Evans Beeks

Canon Serena Evans Beeks, D.Min.

US Coordinator, Haiti Episcopal School Partnerships

National Association of Episcopal Schools

View the message from WORK