Standing in solidarity and praying for people of Haiti

THE EDITOR, Madam:

THE CARIBBEAN Baptist Fellowship (CBF) has noted with grave concern the assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse on Wednesday, July 7. The CBF is concerned that this egregious, calculated and abhorrent act, which was reported as a ”highly coordinated attack by a highly trained and heavily armed group,” now has the potential to once again plunge the country into another long and gruelling bout of political upheavals and instability.

CBF Executive Secretary Treasure is now conferring with presidents of member fellowships in the Republic of Haiti to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the current state of affairs and implications for our member churches and the people of Haiti.

One of our member associations, the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU), has also contacted its the pastor of one of its member churches in Haiti and was assured that he, his family and congregations are safe, but understandably shocked, angry, horrified, and deeply traumatised by the news.

JBU General Secretary, the Rev Karl B. Johnson, has said that Haiti’s long history of sociopolitical and economic struggles has been chronicled and debated almost to the point of exhaustion. Haiti’s status of being among the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere has led to countless expressions of charity, especially during times of natural disaster.

Johnson, who is also vicepresident of the Baptist World Alliance, says an incident such as the one on Wednesday – although, sadly, not for the first time – only serves to reinforce, reiterate and remind us that much more needs to be done by all of us to accompany our sister nation in resisting the forces arrayed against her.

Our condolences goes out to the people of Haiti and the family of the fallen president; our deepest sympathies for his widow, Haiti’s First Lady Martine Moïse, who, we understand, was reportedly wounded in the attack.

The CBF, along with its member fellowship JBU, condemns the dastardly act, even as we stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti, praying that religious, political and civil society bodies will be relentless in our efforts to facilitate the stability, peace and development of the people of Haiti.

CARIBBEAN BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP caribbaptistfell@gmail.com