WASHINGTON, DC — SIXTEEN years after a powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti, the scars of the disaster continue to be felt across the region and beyond, as member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) paused to reflect on its lasting impact.
The January 12, 2010 earthquake claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and triggered large-scale migration that has affected Caribbean territories and the United States.
On Wednesday (Jan. 21), St. Kitts and Nevis’ Ambassador to the OAS, Jacinth Henry-Martin, joined her counterparts from across the hemisphere during a sitting of the OAS Permanent Council in Washington, DC, for a moment of solemn remembrance.
“The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis joins this august body in solemn remembrance of the devastating earthquake that struck the Republic of Haiti on 12 January 2010, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives, displacing millions, and inflicting profound human, social, and economic loss,” she told the Council.
In her reflection, Ambassador Henry-Martin honoured not only those who perished, but also the resilience of the Haitian people.
“From a nation of historical overcomers emerged, from the rubble and the sorrow, valiant women and men who, despite unimaginable hardships, have continued to rebuild their communities, even in the face of persistent challenges,” she said, praising the “extraordinary courage and resilience” of Haitians.
The earthquake, which struck near Port-au-Prince and lasted for approximately 30 seconds, caused widespread destruction to infrastructure and cultural heritage. Its aftermath, compounded by ongoing challenges, has left many Haitians feeling overlooked by the international community.
Against that backdrop, the St. Kitts-Nevis diplomat emphasized the shared responsibility of OAS member states.
“It is therefore our collective responsibility to ensure that Haiti is not defined by this or any other disaster, nor by ensuing crises, but by its enduring contributions and its future promise,” she said. “As we commemorate this tragic anniversary, St. Kitts and Nevis reaffirms its confidence that Haiti and the Haitian people will continue to rise, drawing strength from their rich heritage, creativity, and resilience.”
She added that the Federation shares a vision of Haiti reclaiming “its rightful place of leadership among the nations of the Americas,” contributing to regional stability, prosperity, and democratic development.
Ambassador Henry-Martin also underscored the perseverance of the Haitian people, describing it as “a testament to the indomitable spirit of the first Black Republic and the first nation of the Americas to achieve independence.”
She recalled the solidarity shown across the Caribbean and the wider hemisphere in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“My Federation, together with our CARICOM partners and the wider international community, extended humanitarian assistance, technical support, and unwavering moral encouragement to our Haitian brothers and sisters — not merely as an act of charity, but equal as an expression of shared history, shared humanity, and shared destiny within the Americas,” she said.
Highlighting Haiti’s historical significance, she noted that the country’s 1804 revolution inspired liberation movements throughout the region and affirmed universal principles of liberty and self-determination.
Ambassador Henry-Martin concluded by calling for “sustained international cooperation, respect for Haitian ownership of its development path, and a renewed commitment to peace, institution-building, and inclusive growth.”
