Five Haitians intercepted at Wismar

The Guyana Police Force says that ranks intercepted a vehicle at Wisroc Junction, Wismar, Linden about 11 pm on Friday, in which five adult male Haitian Nationals were found.

They reportedly entered the country illegally via the Suriname `Back Track’ in Springlands, Berbice and were allegedly en route to neighbouring Brazil, when they were detained.

Thousands of Haitians have been leaving Haiti in search for a better life as conditions there worsen. Many who had found work in Brazil through a visa programme are also leaving there because of the tough economic circumstances there.

Reuters on Friday reported that acting Haitian President Jocelerme Privert told the United Nations General Assembly yesterday that Haiti’s October presidential election will be significant as the United States toughens its stance toward a wave of Haitian immigrants.

More than 5,000 Haitians have entered the United States without visas this fiscal year through Oct. 1, according to Department of Homeland Security officials, up from 339 in fiscal year 2015, Reuters said.

“The credibility of the upcoming election is vital to break with the cycle of instability and uncertainty which has beset my country for too long,” Privert said.

He said the government was aware of the many Haitians leaving to seek a better life elsewhere and that the Caribbean nation would need more international support after the Oct. 9 election.

“The new leaders will urgently need to address the structural problems which persistently undermine Haiti’s effort to move out of underdevelopment,” Privert told the UN.

The United States, acting on a surge in Haitian immigrants, will end special protections for them dating back to a devastating earthquake there in 2010, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday.

In February, Michel Martelly stepped down as president of Haiti without a successor, but only after a deal was reached for a provisional government. In the running next month is Maryse Narcisse, a medical doctor and longtime activist who could become the first woman to be elected Haiti’s president.