Post by LFC on Sept 1, 2021 15:34:59 GMT
As if Haiti hasn't been through enough between Papa Doc, a string of corrupt politicians, the recent assassination of their president, and natural disasters there's a new dictator wannabe' who goes by the name Barbecue who's ready to start a war. This place just can't seem to catch a break.
In times of crisis, unlikely leaders often emerge. History is full of individuals who decide to take up arms and plunge into the unknown. In Haiti, this void will most likely see a rise of powerful gang bosses, including one of the country’s most notorious, Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue. The former police officer turned gang leader controls with his small army of armed young men the neighborhood of Delmas. For a few years now, Barbecue and his soldiers have consolidated their power base, amassing a large amount of assault rifles, hand guns, and cash—and the obedience of locals in and around his neighborhood.
“If tomorrow I run for the Senate, I can win because people love me here,” the gang boss said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Beast. “Yet I chose not to run for elections as it is useless... I will lead an armed struggle before I enter politics in a peaceful manner.”
This declaration of war against the current government has not gone unnoticed. Barbecue firmly believes, at least publicly, that he is now doing politics, and desires to compete with the current government and give freedom and wealth to the Haitian people. “I’ll lead an armed struggle to liberate this country… against the 5 percent of the Haitian population that controls 85 percent of the entirety of the nation’s wealth,” he tells The Daily Beast, framing himself as a modern-day Haitian Robin Hood.
Barbecue, like most Haitians, is more than aware that the few families who control all imports into Haiti, its electricity company, and other types of amenities, do not want to see a prosperous nation, as it would directly challenge their power and income. But the gang boss has some obstacles to overcome before he can “fix” that problem; his many enemies accuse him of murder, rape, and theft, and do not want to see him gain further political power.
“I have never ordered kidnapping, murders or rape to anyone in Haiti,” he proclaims loud and clear. Whether or not that is true, it’s safe to say that many people in Haitian politics have struggled to keep their hands clean.
If what Barbecue is saying about an “armed struggle” is true, then this could spell potential civil war in Haiti. That rather daunting scenario grows more and more likely as the desperation of the Haitian people hits peak levels. Tensions can blow at any moment.
“If tomorrow I run for the Senate, I can win because people love me here,” the gang boss said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Beast. “Yet I chose not to run for elections as it is useless... I will lead an armed struggle before I enter politics in a peaceful manner.”
This declaration of war against the current government has not gone unnoticed. Barbecue firmly believes, at least publicly, that he is now doing politics, and desires to compete with the current government and give freedom and wealth to the Haitian people. “I’ll lead an armed struggle to liberate this country… against the 5 percent of the Haitian population that controls 85 percent of the entirety of the nation’s wealth,” he tells The Daily Beast, framing himself as a modern-day Haitian Robin Hood.
Barbecue, like most Haitians, is more than aware that the few families who control all imports into Haiti, its electricity company, and other types of amenities, do not want to see a prosperous nation, as it would directly challenge their power and income. But the gang boss has some obstacles to overcome before he can “fix” that problem; his many enemies accuse him of murder, rape, and theft, and do not want to see him gain further political power.
“I have never ordered kidnapping, murders or rape to anyone in Haiti,” he proclaims loud and clear. Whether or not that is true, it’s safe to say that many people in Haitian politics have struggled to keep their hands clean.
If what Barbecue is saying about an “armed struggle” is true, then this could spell potential civil war in Haiti. That rather daunting scenario grows more and more likely as the desperation of the Haitian people hits peak levels. Tensions can blow at any moment.
