When the helicopter finally left the ground from a grass field in Haiti, David Rocheleau says he finally felt a sense of relief.
After making it out of the embattled island nation plagued by anarchy and gang violence, the Quebec resident told CBC News it took a “convoy-like” row of armoured vehicles to get him to the helicopter headed to the Dominican Republic — all trailing behind a motorcycle that drove ahead to check for gangs in the area.
But Rocheleau said Canadian authorities had nothing to do with his rescue on Wednesday. Instead, he said, the business he worked with paid tens of thousands of dollars for the private rescue company, International SOS, to get him out.
He filmed his rescue and gave CBC News exclusive access to the footage.
“Someone in the Canadian Embassy who has all this information could have done this … that’s what pisses me off,” Rocheleau said. “If someone had their head together and took the initiative, they could have easily done it.”
Canada’s efforts to get citizens out of Haiti ‘not cutting it,’ says Quebecer who fled
David Rocheleau describes his ‘stressful and worrisome’ escape from Haiti and says the Canadian government’s support network in the country should be bolstered to support other Canadians stuck in Haiti. ‘The U.S. is doing it, why can’t Canada get out and do it?’ he told CBC’s Travis Dhanraj.
Roughly 3,000 Canadians are registered in Haiti, according to Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The government agency said Friday it responded to 245 inquiries since violence erupted earlier this month among rival gangs, closing the international airport in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and leaving foreigners stranded amid increasing kidnappings, robberies and violent crime.
GAC said some of the requests it received had to do with general travel information and the security situation in Haiti, while others concerned ways to evacuate.
But Tanya English said when her Canadian relative trapped in Haiti attempted to reach out for help, GAC was no help.
CBC News is not identifying English’s relative in Haiti in order to protect their safety, but it has been in direct contact with the relative, who is trying to conserve their phone battery amid an electricity shortage and granted English permission to share their story.
The Canadian, who spent decades doing humanitarian work in Haiti, was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and was supposed to return to Canada at the beginning of March for a followup treatment appointment, English said.
That trip never happened.
Canada hasn’t decided yet on evacuating citizens from Haiti, ambassador says
André François Giroux, Canada’s ambassador to Haiti, says the Canadian government is preparing for ‘all eventuality’ regarding its citizens in Haiti, but said ‘assisted departure’ is ‘very much a last-resort option.’ Giroux’s comments come after some Canadians told CBC News they feel abandoned in Haiti amid worsening violence.
Canadian frustrated with Ottawa’s response
Email correspondence between English’s relative and GAC was obtained by CBC News.
After being given information on how to keep themselves safe, the Canadian wrote on March 17, “Thanks for the info but I was hoping you could help me to evacuate. How can you help me to evacuate?”
Global Affairs then replied, “As you are registered with ROCA, it will enable you to receive important safety updates from the Government of Canada,” referring to Registration of Canadians Abroad, a free service that allows the government to notify travellers of an emergency.
On Wednesday, GAC asked the Canadian if they’d be willing to leave Haiti if departure options become available at a potential “cost recovery basis.” But the following day, it sent another email saying the government of Canada “is not facilitating assisted departures or repatriation flights for Canadians in Haiti at this time.”
“They get this glimmer of hope, thinking, ‘Ah, finally,’ and then they’re completely shattered again,” English said. “They’re just getting absolutely utterly depressed because absolutely nobody cares.”
GAC has not responded to specific questions from CBC News in time for publication, but the agency indicated it cannot comment on specific consular cases.
People take cover from gunfire near the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, on Thursday. Violence erupted earlier this month among rival gangs, resulting in a state of anarchy. (Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters)
Although the Canadian is still trapped in Haiti, they said they found a potential escape plan through a veteran-led non-profit based in Florida called Project DYNAMO. The organization has confirmed to CBC News that the Canadian requested its help.
But unlike Rocheleau, who waited on standby for two days at a hotel with armed guards hired to keep his group safe, the days went by and Project DYNAMO was unable to obtain the air clearance to get the Canadian out of Haiti.
“I have four helicopters sitting 20 minutes away from me right now — idle,” said Bryan Stern, the founder and CEO of Project DYNAMO. “They’re fuelled, they’re funded, they have pilots. Why won’t they fly? Well, the Dominicans will say that they can’t give us authorization to fly…. Haiti says [they] don’t care.” Haiti shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic.
Sitting in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic’s capital, Stern expressed frustration that his group — which does rescues free of charge through donations — has yet to get permission to use the airspace from the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while for-profit companies have been able to operate similar missions.
Bullets can ‘start flying’ at any time
Paul Doucet, regional security director for International SOS, said in an interview the company credits its compliance with regional laws and connection with relevant departments to having received clearance to fly.
“I can give you complete assurance, 100 per cent, that [how much is charged per rescue] is not why we were successful.
“At no point did that play a factor in how we were able to conduct that mission.”
Doucet said he could not comment directly on how much International SOS charges for its rescue missions.
Roberto Álvarez, the foreign affairs minister of the Dominican Republic, said in an interview that there is no connection between whether organizations charge money for rescue missions and how quickly they receive approval from the ministry.
The delay in permits being granted is largely because of security checks that need to be done, he said.
Since the violence erupted, Álvarez said, about 500 people have received permission to fly from Haiti to the Dominican Republic.
Police officers point their guns during a confrontation with gangs near the National Palace in Port-au-Prince on Thursday. Gang violence in the country has closed the city’s airport and left foreigners stranded amid increasing kidnappings and robberies. (Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters)
“Every day [they] wake up with [their] bags packed, waiting and waiting,” Tanya English said about her relative, who is still awaiting rescue from Project DYNAMO. “When you get that discouragement every single day, hoping that it’s going to happen, and then it doesn’t.”
Her relative says the roof of their home is riddled with bullet holes from nearby shootings, which could become a real problem once it rains. Food is also getting scarce, with her family member mainly eating out of cans, English said.
Every time they leave the house to get food, “they dash for it,” she said. “You never know when bullets are going to start flying.”
They are still awaiting a response from Global Affairs Canada on possible ways to leave the country. “At the worst time … everyone is just turning their backs,” she said.
Haitian soldiers gather near a runway at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport following a gunfight with armed gangs near the airport, as the government declared a state of emergency, in Port-au-Prince on March 4. (Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters)
In an interview from his home in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., on Friday, the day after he returned from Haiti, Rocheleau said he and his wife were finally able to get a good night’s sleep for the first time since the violence erupted.
While Rocheleau said he never felt in imminent danger in Haiti, worries were always at the back of his mind. Before the escape plan with the private company was approved, the 63-year-old said he thought of trekking through the mountains to escape as he sat in his hotel and listened to gunshots outside.
“I could tell there’s someone out there shooting at somebody … but you’re trapped,” he said. “It was like a prison, but a prisoner at least knows there’s a release date.”
HOUSTON (AP) — Brian White scored in the second half to rally the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.
Houston (12-9-8) took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Ezequiel Ponce scored on a penalty kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Ponce’s third goal this season came after Amine Bassi drew a foul on Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite following a video review. It was Ponce’s sixth career appearance, all starts.
Vancouver (13-8-7) scored the equalizer in the 73rd minute when White, who entered in the 60th, used assists from Fafá Picault and Ryan Gauld to find the net for the 13th time this season. Picault’s assist was his fifth, matching his career high for a single season. Gauld’s assist gives him a career-best 13 on the season.
Yohei Takaoka, who had clean sheets in his last three starts, finished with one save in goal for the Whitecaps.
Steve Clark saved three shots for the Dynamo, who remain one point behind Vancouver in the Western Conference standings.
Houston, which was coming off a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, has allowed just 33 goals this season.
Vancouver — 6-2-2 in its last 10 matches overall — leads the all-time series 10-9-6.
The Whitecaps remain on the road to play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday. The Dynamo travel to play Austin FC on Saturday.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Pearce and Nathan Saliba scored in the second half — the first goals of their careers — and CF Montreal rallied for a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution on Wednesday night.
“In the second half, the guys came out a little more ambitious and above all, more connected,” Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois said. “It was a great second half of resilience and fighting spirit. Nathan and Sam were impressive.
“Impressive in covering the gaps and compensating for the teammates, and the individual defending – yes it’s true, it is a lot of weight on their shoulders, but that’s the job.”
New England (8-16-4) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute on Bobby Wood’s third goal of the season. Teenage defender Peyton Miller notched his first assist in his fourth career start and sixth appearance and Carles Gil picked up his ninth of the season. Peyton, at 16 years, 315 days old, is the eighth youngest player in league history to record his first assist.
The Revolution took a two-goal lead in the 35th minute and held it through halftime when 19-year-old Esmir Bajraktarevic took a pass from Gil and scored his third goal of the season and career in his first full season in the league. It was the 73rd regular-season assist in Gil’s career, tying him with Steve Ralston for the most in club history.
Montreal (7-12-10) pulled within a goal in the 54th minute when Pearce scored off a free kick after defender George Campbell drew a foul on New England’s Mark-Anthony Kaye. It was the first goal for Pearce in his third career start and fourth appearance.
“Playoffs are the goal. Maybe it wasn’t in the best form, but in the end, we are picking up a point,” Pearce said. “We came into this game confident, ready to play our own game. Everyone tries their best, whenever the players are called on, we are always ready, and we are always giving it our best.”
Montreal scored the equalizer in the 68th minute on the first career goal by Saliba, a 20-year-old midfielder. Saliba has made 34 starts and 48 appearances with Montreal in his two seasons in the league. Campbell snagged his second assist of the season and the third of his career.
“It’s an incredible feeling, it’s a goal I’ve been waiting for a long time. I’m extremely happy that I was able to score it and that it can help the team take this important point on the road,” Saliba said. “Pearce’s first goal gave us really good momentum and we kept up the pressure to go for a second goal. We got more solid defensively, and we came back ready after halftime, to push for these 3 points.”
Aljaz Ivacic finished with four saves in goal for the Revolution.
Jonathan Sirois stopped four shots for Montreal.
New England beat Montreal 5-0 on the road on Aug. 24.
New England leads the all-time series 16-13-4. Montreal improves to 5-8-2 on the road against the Revs.
The Revolution travel to take on Charlotte FC on Saturday. Montreal returns home to host the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adolis García hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, Cody Bradford pitched seven strong innings after the worst start of his career, and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Wednesday night.
The win kept the defending World Series-champion Rangers alive in the AL West race, trailing first-place Houston by 10 games with 10 to play.
García launched an inside sinker over the left-field wall off Toronto starter Bowden Francis (8-5) after Wyatt Langford singled.
“He swings hard, he swings a lot,” Francis said of García. “I guess the velo was dropping during that time.”
Bradford (6-3) allowed five hits and no walks while striking out six.
The seven shutout innings are the most in a game during his two-year career. He was knocked out of his previous start after allowing career highs in hits (nine), runs (eight) and homers (three) in 3 2/3 innings in a 14-4 loss at Arizona.
“Throughout the week, you’ve got to try and digest what happened, see where I can make adjustments, whether it was just game plan went wrong or just poor execution, or a little bit of both,” Bradford said. “Then you flush it.”
Bradford was perfect through four innings before Alejandro Kirk opened the fifth with a smash back to the mound that caromed off Bradford’s left foot and rolled into right field for a single. It extended Kirk’s hitting streak to a career-high 12 games.
Spencer Horwitz’s double to left-center put runners on second and third with no outs before Bradford retired the next three batters.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider credited Bradford’s “deceptive fastball.”
“When you’re throwing 89, 92, you’ve got to have pretty good deception with that at this level,” Schneider said. “Kept us off balance.”
Kirby Yates pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 31st save in 32 opportunities.
Francis, who took no-hitters into the ninth inning in two of his previous four starts, allowed a double to Marcus Semien, the Rangers’ first hitter of the game. He gave up five hits and one walk in six innings.
Francis has a 1.96 ERA in nine starts with 54 strikeouts and seven walks since being moved back into the starting rotation in late July.
“I don’t even want to get complacent, on cruise control,” Francis said. “Just keep attacking.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was a late scratch with a right middle finger contusion suffered during infield practice. Schneider said the team will get back x-rays on Thursday. Bichette was activated Tuesday following a calf injury and played for the first time in two months, going 2 for 5 with one RBI at the plate. … INF Will Wagner (left knee inflammation) will have the knee scoped on Thursday. Schneider said Wagner should be ready to start spring training. Wagner, son of former major leaguer Billy Wagner, was acquired from Houston at the trade deadline.
UP NEXT
Rangers rookie RHP Kumar Rocker (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will make his home debut against Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (12-11, 4.02) in the series finale. Rocker allowed one run in four innings at Seattle last Thursday in his major league debut.
