The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which is a grouping of 20 countries, recently issued a statement condemning President Donald Trump’s alleged derogatory comments about Haiti.
“The Caribbean Community is deeply disturbed by reports about the use of derogatory and repulsive language by the President of the United States in respect of our Member State, Haiti, and other developing countries,” according to the statement. “CARICOM condemns in the strongest terms, the unenlightened views reportedly expressed.”
CARICOM includes 15 Member States and five Associate Members. It is home to roughly 16 million citizens, 60 percent of whom are under the age of 30, including Indigenous peoples, Africans, Indians, Europeans, Chinese and Portuguese, according to CARICOM’s official website. The community is multi-lingual; with English as the major language complemented by French and Dutch and variations of these, as well as African and Indian expressions.
“It should be recalled that Haiti is the second democracy in the Western Hemisphere after the United States and that Haitians continue to contribute significantly in many spheres to the global community and particularly to the United States of America,” according to CARICOM. “CARICOM therefore views this insult to the character of the countries named and their citizens as totally unacceptable.”
Last week, Trump referred to Haiti and African nations as "sh*thole countries" during a meeting with a bipartisan group of senators at the White House, a Democratic aide briefed on Thursday's meeting told NBC News.
“Of additional concern, is this pattern of denigrating Haiti and its citizens in what seems to be a concerted attempt to perpetuate a negative narrative of the country,” according to CARICOM. “We are especially saddened that such narrative emerged around the time of the anniversary of the devastating 2010 earthquake which took so many lives of citizens in that country.”
The Full CARICOM Statement
"The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is deeply disturbed by reports about the use of derogatory and repulsive language by the President of the United States in respect of our Member State, Haiti, and other developing countries. CARICOM condemns in the strongest terms, the unenlightened views reportedly expressed.
"Of additional concern, is this pattern of denigrating Haiti and its citizens in what seems to be a concerted attempt to perpetuate a negative narrative of the country. We are especially saddened that such narrative emerged around the time of the anniversary of the devastating 2010 earthquake which took so many lives of citizens in that country.
"The Caribbean Community expresses its full support for the dignified statement of the Government of the Republic of Haiti in reaction to this highly offensive reference. It should be recalled that Haiti is the second democracy in the Western Hemisphere after the United States and that Haitians continue to contribute significantly in many spheres to the global community and particularly to the United States of America.
"CARICOM therefore views this insult to the character of the countries named and their citizens as totally unacceptable."
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