Year in Review: Tisdale man flees Haiti amidst gang violence

The Tisdale native had been to Haiti many times over the years and has encountered some turbulence in the country, but nothing to this extent.

“We’ve never seen the national airport close for this long of a period of time before, and the amount of gunfire actually directed at the airplanes, that’s a new situation here,” Phillips told northeastNOW in May.

Gunfire was a common occurrence during Phillips’ stay in Haiti. (Submitted/Richard Phillips)

Phillips said the situation in Haiti which had improved slightly after the unpopular Prime Minister announced his intent to resign deteriorated, with the violence and gunfire around the airport expanding across more of the capital city.

Phillips and his group were near the airport and were taken to what was thought to be a more secure location in the mountains. However, a gang was located nearby and gunfire resumed, so they were forced to flee by motorbike.

After several attempts to book a helicopter out of the country fell through, Phillips and his group were fortunate to flee Haiti. When asked whether he would return to Haiti, Phillips said a lot would have to change for the better for that to happen.

“A number of factors would have to line up before I went back again because this was a close call,” Phillips told northeastNOW after he left the country.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK

by Cam Lee

Year in Review: Tisdale man flees Haiti amidst gang violence

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