Adventist University in Haiti Closed Temporarily After Gang Activity
29 January 2024 |
Story adapted from AToday Latino:
The Adventist University in Haiti has become the latest victim of gang activity in Haiti. The campus, which is a significant part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s presence in Haiti, includes not only the university, but also primary and secondary schools, boarding schools, an auditorium, a bakery, and several other establishments. On January 23, 2024, at 2 p.m., the Granravin gang, a notorious group operating in the area, took control of the premises, posing a direct challenge to the community and the country’s educational and religious institutions. The takeover lasted 30 minutes, according to the Adventist Review.
In response to the crisis, the University’s administration issued a statement from the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, announcing the closure of its schools and faculties at all levels until further notice. The statement also urged employees to continue their work to the extent possible and called for prayer and prudence from the community. Fortunately, no one was harmed during the incident.
“Church services and activities on campus were suspended during the weekend,” according to a report on the Inter-American Division website. The pastor of the campus church, Edgard Etienne, encouraged members to “exercise caution and practice their faith in safer places closer to home.”
This incident has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s government in maintaining national security and protecting citizens and institutions from violence. The takeover of the Adventist University is seen by some as a direct challenge to the de facto government, given Ariel Henry’s close connections to the institution and his brother, Dr. Elie Henry, who is the current president of the Inter-American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The incident comes in the wake of a series of attacks on religious institutions in Haiti. Just days before the university’s takeover, six nuns and two companions were kidnapped, highlighting the increasingly chaotic situation in the Caribbean nation. In 2020, Dr. Elie Henry and his daughter Irma were kidnapped and released only after a hefty ransom was paid. As the Adventist University and its community recover from the incident, the broader implications for Haiti’s stability and the safety of its citizens and institutions remain a critical concern.
