North Kingstown, RI & Port-au-Prince, Haiti—February 13, 2019—The Haitian Project (THP) pulled its U.S. community out of Haiti this morning, joining the U.S. Embassy in Haiti which yesterday ordered the departure of family members of Embassy staff under the age of 18 and approved the authorized departure of adult family members and non-emergency U.S. personnel. Louverture Cleary School is closed due to the inability of students and staff to safely travel to the school and will remain closed until the security situation improves.
The situation on the ground in Haiti and/or the fear created by the current conditions has created an impediment to THP’s operation, an operation that has withstood earthquakes and other times of unrest.
The current unrest is not a civil demonstration, but one involving violence and the destruction of property. It impedes regular daily activity. It is different than the demonstration marches of the past.
It is clear that the general population is not with the movement to bring about an end to the current government. The general population deserves the right to daily activity, schools, marketplaces, etc.