Press Releases
CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY E. PLASKETT EXPRESSES CONCERN AND EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE LOST IN THE RECENT IMMIGRANT BOAT ACCIDENT
Washington, D.C.,
May 13, 2022
For Immediate Release Contact: Tionee D. Scotland PRESS STATEMENT CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY E. PLASKETT EXPRESSES CONCERN AND EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE LOST IN THE RECENT IMMIGRANT BOAT ACCIDENT Washington, DC – Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett today expressed her concern on the recent migrant boat accident that took the lives of 11 individuals and left 38 others stranded in open water: “I was deeply saddened to hear of the tragic boat accident off the coast of Puerto Rico that resulted in the loss of so many lives. Of the 38 survivors, 36 were Haitian migrants. “The nation of Haiti faces a tremendous, ongoing humanitarian crisis—recent natural disasters, including a major earthquake, tropical storms and hurricanes, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and health insecurity. These dire conditions prompt large numbers of individuals to attempt to travel, often under extremely unsafe and dangerous conditions, all in an effort to secure a better reality for themselves and their families. As the Member of Congress who represents the Virgin Islands, the only congressional office within the English-speaking Caribbean, the plight of my Haitian brothers and sisters is one that troubles me often. “Rural infrastructure investments can lead to higher productivity, employment and income opportunities—solid infrastructure powers businesses, encourages trade, and provides much needed protection for countries from the unpredictability of the natural environment—all things that Haiti is missing in large part because the U.S. has neglected to develop meaningful trade relationships there and in the larger Caribbean that could help strengthen critical infrastructure, create jobs, provide better opportunities and prevent tragedies like this recent one from happening. It is imperative for nations like ours to take responsibility for the gross and oft-times unacknowledged exploitation that accompanied generations of colonial rule in places like Haiti by doing the hard and necessary work to provide long-term solutions for the ongoing crisis faced by the people of Haiti as a whole. “My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were lost and with those who are now in recovery.” |