According to Trotman, the resettlement initiative could be spearheaded by the United Nations, with assistance of Caricom and other friendly governments, like that of the United States. “I’m sure that would be welcomed, to give them a new start,” Trotman told Stabroek News yesterday, noting that the country has the land-space to accommodate such a programme.
He noted that Tuesday’s 7.0 magnitude quake that struck Port-au-Prince is just the latest catastrophe to hit the Caricom sister-state, which is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. In 2008, Haiti was pounded by four tropical storms that killed nearly 800 people and caused $1 billion in damage. That year also saw deadly rioting related to soaring food prices.
Trotman believes that a refugee crisis is likely, with significant implications for the Caribbean region. He said offering to resettle Haitians would be the ultimate act of kindness on the part of the GoG, opining that asking Haitians to pick up the pieces after repeated calamity does not seem feasible. He also pointed out that the UN has facilitated resettlement programmes elsewhere and would bear the costs along with Caricom and other governments.
According to its website, the United Nations Refugee Agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help stateless people.
