Those who respond to emergencies in Orange County are making efforts to strengthen their connections with a variety of communities, including the Haitian population that lives in the area.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office sponsored a community meeting on Wednesday at the Pine Hills Community Center. Many of the deputies who attended the meeting were themselves Haitians.
The purpose of the meeting was to connect with Haitian citizens and offer assistance in light of the fact that a flight ban makes traveling to and from Haiti more difficult.
After an incident on November 11 in which a Spirit Airlines plane was hit by gunfire and forced to make an emergency landing, the flying ban was implemented. Following its departure from Florida, the airplane was en route to Port-au-Prince, which is located in Haiti.
The gathering, which was attended by approximately twenty individuals, provided an opportunity for members of the community to meet face-to-face with deputies, discuss resources, and start the process of establishing a friendship that will last.
It is not only significant for the Haitian community, but it is vital for any community because it gives you the assurance that your opinion is being heard, as stated by Deputy Mondezy Lindor.
Given that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) established a 30-day flying restriction between the United States and Haiti on Tuesday, the timing of the meeting seemed especially important.
This embargo was issued in response to gunshot events that occurred in Port-au-Prince, which involved two planes.
Rose Desdunes, a local Haitian resident, expressed her concern on the situations that are now taking place in Haiti.
It is quite unsettling to watch the news and observe that the situation is getting progressively worse day by day. According to her, “this travel ban is going to be very detrimental to Haiti.”
When confronted with these difficult circumstances, both people of the community and deputies underlined the significance of providing support to one another.
According to Lindor, “At this point, it is important to lean on one another because we understand one another from the culture as well as the language and the morals and ethics,” in addition to the fact that we share the same language.
Continuing to hold meetings with Haitian people and other community groups is something that the OCSO intends to do in order to establish continuing connections.