By Tom Tracy - Florida Catholic

PLANTATION | A national Catholic youth ministry leader who has led youth programs in Haiti and the U.S. said the world must assist the troubled nation but not yield to outlaw gangs wreaking havoc there. 
“I don’t think you can negotiate with them — it’s (a question of) how do you bring in justice,” said 
Paul Albert, a Haitian American, director of Missions for Life Teen in Northeast Georgia and cofounder of Missionary Impulse, a nonprofit that evangelizes and serves the poor.

Albert spoke with the Florida Catholic about the Haiti crisis during a visit March 16 to St. Gregory the Great Church in Plantation where he gave a keynote address to an Archdiocese of Miami National Eucharistic Revival Summit.

Born in Boston to Haitian parents, Albert’s family were deeply involved in the Haitian Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and with his wife and children, he has served as a Life Teen missionary in Haiti.

His nonprofit entity, Missionary Impulse, supports targeted educational, humanitarian and evangelization projects in Haiti.

Due to the political unrest and violence, many schools in the major cities have been unable to open. In response, Missionary Impulse has opened a school, “La Maison des Enfants Ecole Prèscolaire (House for Children Montessori School) in the country side of Jonc-Dodin, Haiti.

He said he is supportive of a coordinated global security and humanitarian intervention in Haiti so long as it isn’t laden with hidden agendas or profiteering.

“I do think we need real international help from other countries to help and assist (Haiti) out of love and not how they can benefit from this situation,” Albert said, noting he hasn’t been to Haiti personally since 2020, when the country began to experience the heightened security crisis associated with gangs based in the nation’s capital.

Recent news reports indicate Haiti’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse as gang warfare rages on, with only a single hospital in Port-au-Prince open while others are short-staffed as patients suffer and die.

Meanwhile, gang leaders have reportedly rejected attempts by foreign nations to create an electoral road map and a path to peace as the country plunges deeper into violent chaos following the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

“This is the worst thing I have ever seen things, and in talking to my parents — who are born and raised there — they say this is the worst they have seen in their lifetime,” Albert said.

He noted that as far back as 2018 and 2019 the gangs were starting to create real insecurity in Haiti, but since 2020 there has been four years of consistent violence.

“Our hearts are broken – you want to help but you don't know how. Everyone who has relatives or friends you know there you try to send them funds. People are starving and basic human needs aren’t being met,” he said.

“I think everyone is trying to help as best they can and inspire help and the two go hand in hand: My personal opinion is that as you help with basic human needs, I think you need to give the Gospel as well, so finding a way to do both,” Albert said.

Churches and parishes in Haiti, he said, are probably some of the only entities still functioning there at this time. Some have had to adjust to the current situation by doing a little bit less than normal, but still manage to carry on.

“To be honest, the church is the only consistency that exists. Government has dismantled schools — which are sometimes open, sometimes not, and hospitals are in the same situation,” Albert said.

He added that Haiti has been through many periods of severe crisis in one form or another, including some associated with earthquakes and hurricanes, but that the international community needs to stay focused on this situation for the long term.

“We can't forget about this; we have to keep talking about it, sharing about it, keep sharing with our political leaders, friends, families and churches,” Albert said, because “if we ignore it the rest of the world forgets that this is even happening.

“We need to keep the world's attention on Haiti right now so the world can help respond to the crisis and keep praying.”