Miami’s Haitians Cheer in Streets, Chant ‘No More Duvalier’

Car horns blared, homemade Haitian flags waved and hundreds of jubilant refugees chanted “No more Duvalier” today as Miami’s “Little Haiti” celebrated the president-for-life’s departure from his impoverished Caribbean nation.

“The city of Miami rejoices,” said Cuban-born Mayor Xavier Suarez. “We’d like to have freedom of democracy for Haiti. Indeed, we’d like to have freedom for the entire Caribbean, including Cuba.”

Police expected thousands to pour into the streets for a daylong party and cordoned off an area for it, watching the growing crowd from the roofs of surrounding buildings.

As residents awoke to learn that Jean-Claude Duvalier had fled to France aboard a U.S. Air Force jet, some went into the streets still wearing slippers or hair curlers.

“We plan to work hard and buy a ticket to go back home,” said Paul Gaughthier, 29, a Haitian who has lived in Miami for five years. “I belong to that place; over here I’m just like a passenger for a short time.”

Before dawn, the Rev. Gerard Jean-Juste, director of the Haitian Refugee Center, led about 75 people in prayer:

“Thank almighty God (for) helping us get away from the devil,” he said through a bullhorn. “Lord, you called us to see this great day--to see the torturer leave the country we love so much. Lord almighty, it is about time you turned a sweet breath to our mouths. We are your children.”

Later, the crowd cheered the mayor, who said he was sure the city and federal government would help anyone who wanted to return to Haiti.

“We’d like as many of you to stay. We welcome you and thank you for how lawful and hard-working you have been,” Suarez said.

Miami police closed streets in a two-block area in the heart of Little Haiti. Police spokesman Reginald Roundtree said officials were “committed to allow an orderly celebration to take place.”

Celebrations started within hours of an earlier, erroneous police report that Duvalier had fled, Jean-Juste said.

“I strongly advise my Haitian compatriots to celebrate in a very sober fashion. Let’s celebrate in discipline because we have a long way to go,” he said.

Last week, after false reports of Duvalier’s ouster, about 1,500 Haitian refugees took to the streets in a celebration that became a melee when a car plowed through the crowd, killing a 47-year-old woman.

In the disturbance that followed, five people were bitten by police dogs, one officer was shot with his own gun during a scuffle and another officer was struck in the head by a thrown object.

In all, eight residents and six policemen were injured. One man was arrested on charges of aggravated battery.

“We already have had one woman die,” Jean-Juste said, urging Haitians to avoid another melee. “Let’s celebrate in a disciplined fashion. That way those that want to go back to Haiti, to see their land, their grandparents, their parents . . . will stay alive.”