“We do not define ourselves by our struggles but by our culture and resilience” DG Dominique Bazin
Q: Do you think that your being from Haiti has helped to bring a perspective about the country to the rest of 7020 that they may not have had?
DB: Oh, absolutely! My role has really opened up opportunities to communicate about Haiti, which is something I’m passionate about. One of the first things I’m really proud of is that we reached out to former Rotary International President, Gordon McInally. It was amazing when he responded! I had asked for a Peace Symposium focused on Haiti, and John Hewko (Ri General Secretary) got involved too. He brought together some of our leaders from District 7020, like PDG Jeremy Hurst and PRIP Barry Rassin, to discuss it. He was really engaged with the idea, especially after reading our letter, in which we emphasised that Rotary International needs to direct its attention toward Haiti and focus on peace there. They were on board! It’s a lot like the support Rotary has given Ukraine—it’s inspiring how open they are to these efforts.
So now, we’re planning to hold this symposium at the beginning of February—probably February 1st. DGE Bill Aiken (7020) is going to lead it and I’ll be right there alongside him, helping figure out the format, direction and key participants. It’ll likely be online, but we’re pulling in 7020 leaders like PDG Guy Theodore, PDG Robert Leger and PP Fritz Pierre-Louis to help make it happen. The next step is deciding who will officially launch the symposium, and then we’ll get the word out to Rotarians who are invested in peace.
We already know how much our RI President, Stephanie Urchick, prioritizes peace. She’s even hosting a big peace conference in Turkey in February. This symposium for Haiti is another big step in that direction, and I’m really excited about it.
I’ve been holding off a little because of my crazy schedule, but now we’re diving into planning. We’re mapping out everyone who will be involved and focusing on Haiti’s future. The big question is: how do we help Haiti break out of this cycle of violence? It’s tough because the people caught up in it often see it as their way of life. But we have to keep pushing for change.
Q: You’re going to have to persuade people perpetrating the violence that there’s a better way of life than going out and waving guns around. I mean, isn’t that where your main problem is going to be. The impetus comes from the leaders, others are executors.
How do you think their mindset can be changed?
DB: Changing that mindset is one of the biggest challenges. The people carrying out the violence, the ones “waving the guns around,” are often only doing what they know. They’re stuck in a cycle where violence seems like the only way out because that’s all they’ve ever experienced. It’s a tough situation. And it’s not just about violence—this kind of neglect shows up in other areas too. I just heard Dr. Pape (Dr Jean William Pape runs free clinics in Haiti) talking about how 60% of the staff at one of the top AIDS clinics he runs is gone. He mentioned that AIDS used to be such a big focus, but now it’s almost like it’s not even on the radar anymore. He’s been forced to shift attention to other health issues. And on top of that, overall, 68% of his staff has left, which just shows how deep this problem goes
Q: 68%? That means doctors. When you say gone, they just left the country? I mean, gone…
DB: They left the country—68% of them. It’s heartbreaking. We really need to think about Haiti’s future, about how it’s going to rebuild itself after all the violence that’s been imposed on the country. It’s not something people tried to do, it’s something that has been forced on them. Now, the focus has to shift to how Haiti can heal and move forward from all of this.
Q: The thing that concerned me a great deal with being able to come out of this cycle is that I read a report fairly recently. I think it was from the international organization Relief. They had a report in which they said that a huge percentage of the people in the gangs are actually underage – young people.
DB: Yeah, it’s really unfortunate. A lot of these kids are so young—they’re underage—and they get pulled into this because they haven’t had the chance to build any kind of stable life for themselves. The people recruiting them are incredibly persuasive and know exactly how to target them.
It’s heartbreaking because these young boys, who should be in school and focusing on their future, end up losing their lives or, worse, causing harm to others. It’s like a tragic cycle—either they’re victims, or they become part of the violence themselves. It’s such a waste of potential, and it’s so frustrating to see it happen over and over again.
Q: What’s the solution, do you feel? Or is there any solution that’s been put forward? I guess it’s really rehabilitating these kids, these young people that are involved, telling them there’s a better way to live and convincing them about it. The gangs have probably become their family to a certain extent. How do we get them out of this? It’s going to be a long fight.
DB: It’s such a complex issue, and because of that, the solutions are going to have to be just as complex. It’s not something that can be fixed with one quick answer. For real change to happen, Haiti needs a governance that’s selfless and truly focused on creating a better future for everyone. That means improving agriculture, supporting manufacturers, uplifting our artists, and showcasing the beauty of Haiti—our culture, music, and talent.
But right now, we’re in such a tough spot that we also need outside help. For example, the plan to bring in 400 Kenyans fell through—it just didn’t work. And even when we try to bring in resources, like modern equipment, a lot of it never makes it to Haiti.
So, it’s clear we need both: strong leadership from within and a more structured, reliable support system from outside. There’s no simple fix here. It’s going to take a combination of smart governance, external support, and the right tools to start turning things around.
Q: Do you think that the Haitian people are disappointed about the real lack of international help that’s coming in? The Kenyans are there and I think there are some Jamaicans there. But, you know, there were lots of promises being bandied about by different countries. I know The Bahamas is supposed to send help.
DB: For this to work, we need the right equipment—everything that’s necessary to actually combat the situation. Right now, it’s not working because the gangs somehow have access to heavy-duty arms and ammunition, way beyond what’s normal. They’re better equipped than they should be, and our police force just isn’t able to match that. They don’t have the resources or the protection they need, and that’s a huge problem.
So yes, at this point, we definitely need outside help—a strong foreign force to step in. But here’s the thing: Haitians have to be at the center of decision-making when it comes to this kind of support. Foreign forces can’t just come in and act on their own terms. We need to make sure they’re working with us, respecting the needs of the Haitian people, and focusing on solutions that will actually help us rebuild and move forward.
I just hope more people realize how critical this is. Without the right tools, the right support, and leadership that truly listens to and empowers Haitians, we’re not going to break this cycle.
Q: There are so many things going on worldwide. Everybody’s focus, as you said earlier, Ukraine. And then there are other things that crop up. And then, every time something new comes along, people forget about Haiti.
DB: It is actually a complex situation. They’re trying, though, and we’ll see how things unfold. Typically, two countries—Russia and China—have never agreed to send a force to Haiti through the UN. But I wouldn’t say we need something permanent; who knows what exactly is needed, though? I’m not an expert, honestly.
But what I do know is that we’ve reached a point where a strong, well-equipped force is absolutely necessary. It’s clear that something significant has to be done at this stage.
Q: It’s daunting, actually, the scale of the issue. But one question as well. I guess almost all of the violence and most of these issues are based in Port-au-Prince. What about if you go up north? Cap-Haitien? Do they have the gangs up there, too?
DB: I’m really proud to say that Cap-Haitien has managed to stay relatively safe. The police there have been doing a good job of spotting any gang activity before it gets out of hand. It’s the same with other provinces too. Life in the provinces tends to be a bit quieter and less populated, so it’s harder for gangs to infiltrate those areas the way they might in more crowded places.
However , the gangs still have a huge impact. They disrupt things like the gas supply, medication, and even food supplies, causing major interruptions in the supply chain. It’s tough because these basic necessities are often blocked, making life harder for everyone.
Q: Yes, the supply chain must be hampered by the gangs that surround Port-au-Prince. I was discussing the impact on our Hanwash initiative in the south. They were saying that one of the issues with Leogane, Les Cayes, etc. Is that the gangs block the roads out of Port-au-Prince, so things can’t get through. They had issues with some of the material that was supposed to be coming in for the wells in Leogane. And they took ages to get the items through but they eventually arrived.
DG Dominique, Congratulations on the upcoming Symposium, Hanwash will of course, assist with getting the information out to everyone when the date is finalised. Thank you for discussing the situation in Haiti and many thanks for taking the time out of your crazy schedule to share your perspective.
Sheila Bethel 28/11/2024