This post is also available in: Kreyol
(Mikey) is a poor worker with no means of defending himself except for his two hands to demand change for his work conditions. And as compensation, they shot him.
Fignolé Saint-Cyr, Secretary General of Center for Autonomous Haitian Workers
The Caracol Industrial Park has seen massive protests led by thousands of workers fighting for higher wages in recent weeks. Back in 2012, the inauguration of the industrial park was ushered in with much fanfare by the Clinton Foundation, the IDB, the US State Department, and the PHTK administration. These factories and the 60,000 jobs it would offer were touted as a significant transformation and promise for Haiti’s economy. A year later, reports of failed promises, too little pay, and not enough jobs were already being releasedustrial park, built on land largely out of the ind owned by forced-out peasants.
In 2013, Al Jazeera reported: ‘Most critically, fewer than 1,500 jobs have been created — paying too little, the locals say, and offering no job security. ‘We thought there was going to be some benefit for us,” says Ludwidge Fountain, 34, laying his domino with a satisfying smack. He worked for two months at the park as a guard, taking home about $3.40 a day, until his contract ran out. ‘Maybe it’s good for some of the people inside the park. Everyone else got nothing.'”
Today, a decade later, thousands of workers — at what has only turned out to be sweatshops — are protesting salaries that amount to about USD $4 a day. However, their efforts to secure living wages have largely fallen on deaf ears, receiving very little news coverage.
Though they have received very little attention, these protests have been met with much state violence. On January 20th, there were videos and social media posts stating that Haitian police had allegedly shot one such protester.
We were unable to find any news sources reporting on the claims being made on social media. We were, however, able to obtain a message from a Caracol union leader via voicenote through our friends at Konbit Jounalis Lib that clarified that the worker “Mikey” was indeed shot, but is still alive and in the hospital recovering.
Here is the full transcribed and translated message from the Secretary General for the Center for Autonomous Haitian Workers, Fignolé Saint-Cyr:
It was a strike for wages and worker rights. One worker was shot, but he did not die. His name is “Mikey.” He is working in module one at S&H Global at Caracol. The boss called the police to shoot in there while workers protested for their lives to change. The Caracol people always do this. We say that this is abuse. Our comrade must receive reparations not only from the Caracol company but also from the Haitian justice system must hold the police accountable in this matter.
(Mikey) is a poor worker with no means of defending himself except for his two hands to demand change for his work conditions. And as compensation, they shot him. We strongly denounce this, and we are asking the world, human rights oganizations to stand in solidarity with Mikey.
