By Donna Mason
NEW YORK – By now we have all heard of the current tragic circumstances that has befallen the Island Nation of Haiti these past few weeks. The country has endured four hurricane category storms; Hanna, Gustav, Fay and Ike having left in their wake death, flooding, devastation and untold suffering.
Already billed as, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, needless to say any new instability wreaks havoc on the already fragile stability of that country.
With a death toll nearing 700 persons and over 600,000 people having been displaced by flooding the country now is dealing with reviving itself in the aftermath of this current crisis.
But yet as we well know, Haiti has been in crisis for a very long time. While all most of us have done is watch the news and talk about it. I say it is time now for action. The New York Caribbean Diaspora should come together and begin to move on issues bigger than ourselves. It is time us regular people began to move and show care beyond our borders. It shouldn’t just be New Yorkers with family in Haiti that rallies to help. It should be all people.
Yes, we are living in recessionary times but we should not be experiencing a recession of the heart and forward moving intelligence.
The more organized minds among us should be spearheading larger efforts like getting corporations like Poland Spring and others to donate badly needed drinking water. Grace foods, Caribbean Food Delights, Campbell and others to donate non perishable food items. Phat Farm, ecko, Sean John, riddim driven etc. to donate clothing. Timberland and makers of water proof footwear to donate boots to stop the spread of disease that is now the concern as the people must wade through water contaminated with the cadavers of people and the carcasses of dead animals.
Local businesses should be purchasing barrels and placing them outside their establishments asking customers to donate non perishable goods and other primary need items. Shipping companies should be donating their services in order to get these goods to the people of Haiti.
Our actions should not stop when we believe this current crisis is somewhat alleviated. It should be an ongoing project until we have significantly helped our sister country achieve a permanent level of stasis. This kind of attention to Haiti is long overdue. Haiti’s needs goes way beyond sound byte crisis laden help – the only significant progress to be made is a long term commitment to assistance.
In this historic time in America as we stand poised to elect our first President of African descent, we should remember that Haiti was once a first among us. She was the first among us to free herself from Slavery. Let not our talk of One Love, One Blood, One Skin remain just talk.
To make donations go to Www.Yele.org.
