Alberta volunteer among Canadians trapped in Haiti

A man from Alberta volunteering at an orphanage in Haiti is among those trapped in the country, as violence continues to spread in the Caribbean island nation.

Barry Kalinski, reeve of the Municipal District of Bonnyville, is stranded in a mountainous village about five hours from the capital of Port-au-Prince.

"There's always been a little bit of violence," Kalinski said in an interview on CBC'sRadio Active Monday.

"But this time, it really went south. I've never seen this before."

Kalinski is among Canadians, Americans and other foreign nationals struggling to escape Haiti amid surging unrest and violence by criminal gangs that have overrun much of the capital and closed down its main international airports.

Radio Active6:29Alberta reeve stranded in Haiti

We hear from Barry Kalinski, the reeve for the Municipal District of Bonnyville, who is currently stuck in Haiti.

Kalinski, along with members of his church, Bonnyville Pentecostal Church, have supported the orphanage for several years since it was started amid the widespread devastation of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Kalinski hadn't visited Haiti since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and was eager to see the orphans he's developed close ties to.

"As soon as I got there, there's a girl that's always came to me, she always hugs me and she's close to me, so as soon as she seen me she probably hadn't seen me for two and a half years instantly she runs up and hugs me," Kalinski said.

"That's what draws me back to Haiti."

Situation quickly escalated

Kalinski arrived in Haiti on Feb. 26, days before the violence hit a peak on March 2. Chaos escalated as gangs forced Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign, burning police stations and releasing thousands of prisoners.

Gangs have long opposed Henry, saying he was never elected by the people, as they blame him for deepening poverty, but critics of the gangs accuse them of trying to seize power for themselves or for unidentified Haitian politicians.

Global Affairs Canada said Tuesday there are currently 2,993 Canadians in Haiti registered with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. Global Affairs has responded to 134 inquiries since March 3, the day the government of Haiti declared a state of emergency in the region surrounding Port-au-Prince, in response to gang violence and the deteriorating security situation.

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Amid the political unrest and violence in Haiti, the U.S. is pushing for Canada to lead an international ground operation in the Caribbean country. Greg Beckett, an associate professor of anthropology at Western University who has worked in Haiti since 2002, discusses Canada's role and the ongoing violence in Haiti.

Advisories to avoid travel to Haiti over the years haven't deterred Kalinski from visiting the orphanage.

"If everybody listened to that there would be nobody helping out in Haiti whatsoever," he said. "So that's the reason why I go."

Now two weeks since he was originally scheduled to leave Haiti around March 7, administration in Bonnyville has had regular communication with Kalinski, the municipality said in a statement, with prayers for his safety, his safe return, and for the people of Haiti.

"He's very passionate about it," said deputy reeve Josh Crick, who's taken over Kalinski's duties while he's unable to return. "He's a very generous man. He just wanted to go help out again."

"Ideally, I'd like to see him back safe and sound tonight or tomorrow, but I don't know when he's getting out, so I'll just be praying for his safety."

The Government of Canada is not planning assisted departures or repatriation flights for Canadians in Haiti at this time, a Global Affairs spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

"However, we continue to monitor and assess the security situation very closely, and we will work in co-ordination with our allies as the situation develops."

Kalinski said he's been in touch with different programs trying to get Canadians and Americans out.

While he's safe in the remote area where he is, fuel and food supplies could run out with time as the country's main ports remain shut down.

"It's not affecting us too badly yet here, but in time it could for sure," Kalinski said.