As is often the case when history changes pages in Haiti, there is a plane somewhere. Look for it!
The first famous plane was that of the departure into exile of the popular provisional president Daniel Fignolé, in 1957. The most publicized, the plane for the exile of president for life Jean-Claude Duvalier, in 1986. The most mysterious, the two planes during the forced departures of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, in 1991 and 2004. The most comical, the plane banned from landing Ariel Henry, in 2024.
This Monday, November 11, 2024, history changes page again in Haiti. The new Prime Minister [Alix Didier Fils-Aimé] landed on Sunday at the last minute before the closure of flights to Port-au-Prince and the former Prime Minister [Garry Conille] cannot leave the capital. He will have to wait for the planes to return [l’aviation civile haïtienne a suspendu ses opérations à l’aéroport Toussaint-Louverture jusqu’au 18 novembre].
Haiti, “a little more in turmoil”
At the time when an American plane came under fire while approaching Toussaint-Louverture airport, on Monday, November 11, the new Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, pledged to “restore security” in the country. His predecessor, Garry Conille, had been dismissed shortly before by the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT), just five months after his appointment. A decision that plunges Haiti “a little more in turmoil”, summarized The New York Times. Garry Conille, a 58-year-old doctor, former director of Unicef for Latin America and the Caribbean, was “one of the favorites of the international community”. But, explain The Nouvelliste, “he was ousted from the prime minister following several disagreements with the CPT concerning a request for a ministerial reshuffle and a corruption scandal involving 3 members of the CPT”. The announcement of his dismissal, adds the Haitian daily, provoked “a renewed tension in Port-au-Prince”. From January to September, according to United Nations figures reported by the newspaper, “4,900 people were killed in Haiti where, for the first time since 2022, pockets of famine are observed in regions sheltering displaced people”. More than 700,000 people are displaced, and more than half of them are children.
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The airport, the thermometer of insecurity
Since March 2024, aircraft have been experiencing new adventures in the Haitian sky. They are being shot at. A plane was hit while it was on the tarmac at Toussaint-Louverture international airport, in March 2024. A helicopter was hit by projectiles in mid-flight last October, and this November 11, it was a plane of Spirit Airlines who was shot while preparing to land. Another plane, from JetBlue, was shot while leaving Port-au-Prince. The company realized this upon landing in New York.
As in March, all commercial flights are suspended to and from Port-au-Prince. The airport has become the thermometer of insecurity and proof that the Multinational Security Support Mission and the national forces are not yet capable of solving the problems.
Every time air traffic is suspended, it is a major security breach and an illustration that the shortest umbilical cord between Haiti and the rest of the world is inoperative.
Worse, November 11 could have been September 11, with a series of bloody air disasters. We came close to the worst. The president of the Dominican Republic likens the shootings against the Spirit plane to an act of terrorism.
The country goes on an adventure
At the time of posting this article, no Haitian authority[était] pronounced on the numerous security incidents which punctuated the day of November 11, 2024. The country was busy changing Prime Minister.
Like Ariel Henry, Garry Conille left without having succeeded in rectifying the security situation. Didier Fils-Aimé took office by renewing the same promises to do better. Will he get there? Will he have the means? Will he change strategy?
For the moment, no one knows the plans and means of the new Prime Minister nor the outlines of his government team. The country is going on an adventure.
The security situation is still as degraded as in February 2024, and the outlook remains as gloomy.
The history of Haiti changes page, but not chapter.
From bad governance to bad experience, all sectors are falling apart. Air traffic too.
Are those responsible for unsuccessful reigns hearing the alarm? One day, there will be no plane for evacuation or exile.
