PINE CASTLE, Fla. — Several Haitian leaders in Central Florida, including the president and chairman of the Greater Haitian American Chamber of Commerce, came together Friday evening in the predominant Haitian neighborhood of Pine Castle to address the political unrest stemming from gang violence in Haiti.

What You Need To Know

  • Haitians in Central Florida came together in Pine Castle Friday to discuss various viewpoints on Haiti’s instability 

  • Dozens of Haitians attended the event

  • Friday’s meeting addressed multiple topics, including gang violence, political unrest and foreign adversaries

The meeting, which was attended by dozens of Haitians, saw discussion of various viewpoints on Haiti’s instability, which ranged from the United States’ past interference on the island to modern-day solutions focused on creating a more stable, independent Caribbean country.

“Tonight is all about how can we come together, you know, how can we consolidate our voice and how can we amplify the resources that are available,” said Jean Perpillant, chairman and president of the Greater Haitian American Chamber of Commerce, who moderated Friday’s community town hall.

Those at the meeting also discussed recent reports of prisoners being set free from the country’s largest prison, and the recent burning and looting of Haiti's National Police director’s home.

“They’ve been continuing to cause violence and threaten and expire the residents that are there in Port-Au-Prince,” Perpillant said.

Friday’s meeting brought a ray of diverse perspectives filled with emotions, with some leaders in the area disagreeing with one another on what a proper solution should look like. However, they all agreed they want a free Haiti that rightfully allows its citizens to showcase what the Caribbean country has to offer, both domestically and globally.

“We all want to see Haiti come back to what we all know it ... and what we all strive for it to be,” Perpillant said.