Marchers denounced the treatment of the football squad to Haiti under-17 by the Jamaican authorities, after both players have fallen patients.
Thousands March on Saturday in Port-au-Prince to protest the removal of Jamaica's football team to Haiti youth. "What happened to these young men that could happen to us all," said one marcher.
BY CHARLES JACQUELINE
JCHARLES@MIAMIHERALD.COM
PORT-AU-PRINCE - Angry about the treatment of children by a neighbor in the Caribbean, they came by the thousands - young and old, rich and poor, artists and athletes.
For three hours Saturday, they braved the sweltering heat, singing, dancing and walking shoulder to shoulder in an unusual display of solidarity for Haiti protest against what they call treatment discriminatory humiliating to Jamaica from Haiti's Under-17 football players during a World Cup qualifying tournament in Montego Bay.
"What happened to these young men could happen to anyone of us. We are here to send a response in Jamaica: They have people for defend,''said Jenell St. John, 31.
According to Dr. Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Federation of Haitian soccer team was forced to retire from competition after that Jamaican authorities were forced to return home because several members became ill with a fever that was later determined to malaria.
Jean-Bart, a physician, said the problems began when the delegation of 28 arrived in Montego Bay on February 3. The players were immediately subjected to medical examinations at the airport. few days later, two players came down with malaria. Bart After visiting a local pharmacy to obtain drugs, Jamaican authorities have shown in the locker room with a medical brigade and armed security, "he said.
After more tests and visits, the Haitian team was told that everyone would have to be tested. Bart said team members were then placed in quarantine and armed guards "sortie''prévenir blocked the team from leaving.
" They have not to feed them. They could not sleep and they were guarded by armed guards,''he said.
"He was so urgent for them to get rid of us they chartered a plane that had 176 seats, all the way from Washington, DC, in Montego Bay to pick us up,''he said. The delegation included 28 members. Bart said he believes the Jamaican authorities reacted as they did because they believed the players had cholera.
a sign protest, the Haitian government has recalled its charge d'affaires in Jamaica, Max Alce, back in Haiti.
Jamaica regretted the withdrawal of the team and the Minister of Nation of Foreign Affairs, Kenneth Baugh said the incident was a serious "misunderstanding.''
The Jamaican government has confirmed that its Ministry of Health recommended that the football team off the island of Haiti.
"The decision was inevitable and necessary to protect public health,''the government said in a press release.
"Officials of the Ministry of Health has made every effort to ensure that members of the Haitian contingent took part in accordance with health protocols in force in Jamaica. Care was taken to provide meals for people in quarantine, both in hospital and in the hotel where they were enrolled.''
But protesters, including Alix Jean-Baptiste, Haiti's former Minister for Haitians living abroad, said there was no misunderstanding.
He called for a boycott all products from Jamaica, Haiti and elsewhere.
"They detained the boys because they were afraid they were going to spread a virus. is unbelievable,''said Jean-Baptiste, a Haitian flag draped in oversized, he walked . "We should stand up and say enough is enough.''
" When you say Haiti, it is equal to the disease,''he added. " We must show the world that we are alive. We are on our knees, but we'll get up early.''
This message has resonated throughout March of several hours, which was organized by Petionville restaurant owner Margaret Rigaud.
"I could not believe that a fellow Caribbean countries have this attitude toward us,''said Rigaud.
Rigaud and others noted that the March was apolitical. However, for some there was a larger message. For weeks, the winds of nationalism were in Haiti During brewing what some say is the "most international interference la''communauté in Haiti's internal affairs after the disputed November 28 election. Foreign diplomats, for example. have publicly criticized President Rene Preval, prompting criticism that they are trying to dictate the future of Haiti.
"Jamaica was the final nail, where we just had to say enough is enough ' 'said Jack Daly, editor of Le Matin and one of the marchers. "We want to see a new relationship with the international community. What is happening now is simply unacceptable.''
few hours after marchers began their journey to post-quake downtown homeless encampment in front Presidential Palace broken, they finally reached their destination: the walled compound of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) headquarters.
Standing in silence when the national anthem of Haiti has played, they waved their flags in the air before a thunderous voice of the Caribbean asked officials to deliver this message to Jamaica, which does not have an embassy in Haiti, the country name.
"It is a country with a rich history," said Alphonse Leslie speaker. And while Haiti may not be many, he fought for what he has and must be respected, "he added.
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