HAITI-Media group condemns the attitude of the government towards an injured colleague in Cuba.

PORT AU PRINCE, CMC—The media organization SOS Journalists on Friday “strongly condemned” what it termed the attitude of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) and the government of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé in “abandoning” journalist Jocelyn Justin, who is due to undergo surgery in Cuba.

“Once again, and unfortunately, the authorities have failed to fulfill their commitments, including the one made very recently, to provide the ailing journalist with accommodations in Cuba, food, and medical expenses essential for his recovery,” SOS Journalists said in a statement.

Justin’s lower jaw was shattered by bullets fired by gangs during violent incidents on December 24, 2024, near the General Hospital. The attack left three people dead, including two journalists, and 10 others injured.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has since called for urgent action by the CPT, with international support, to protect journalists and the right to information.

SOS Journalistes says it does not understand the “behavior of the executive authorities, who appear to be acting in bad faith in the case of Justin, who finds himself in a very delicate situation in Cuba.

“Just a few days ago, the government assured SOS Journalistes that everything necessary would be done to ensure the journalist received all the assistance his case required,” the media group said, noting that the injured journalist needs less than US$2,000 to cover the cost of the remainder of his medical stay in Cuba.

“The government cannot claim that it lacks the means to meet this requirement,” SOS Journalistes said, adding that it “regrets having to revisit this issue, which we thought had been resolved.

“SOS Journalists calls on the Transitional Presidential Council and the government of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé to honor their commitments and act immediately to remedy this problem, allowing the journalist to receive treatment, food, and the purchase of the medication he needs,” it said.

RSF said that journalism in Haiti is beset by an unprecedented crisis, marked by extreme criminal violence that had intensified since 2022 when at least six journalists were killed in connection with their work.