Haiti’s Grand Hôtel Oloffson Burns Down—Where Are the Big Guns?

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PORT‑AU‑PRINCE, Haiti — In a scene more tragic than a telenovela finale, Haiti’s storied Grand Hôtel Oloffson—the Gothic gingerbread palace where Mick Jagger once danced the night away—was torched by marauding gangs this past weekend. 

As embers smolder across social media, one burning question rises above the smoke: Why haven’t the U.S. or the Dominican Republic done anything to quell this carnage?

A Cultural Catastrophe

For decades, the Oloffson stood as the beating heart of Port‑au‑Prince’s arts scene. Singer Riva Précil, who grew up there, wept:

“It birthed so much culture and expression.… I learned to swim, dance, and sing at the Oloffson.”

Longtime manager Richard Morse, tuning in via drone footage from the States, went pale when the pilot called to say, “Take a seat.”

“I knew then that this wasn’t like the other times,” he sighed.

Gangs on the Rampage

Late Saturday, gangs swooped on the Pacot neighborhood. 

Resident James Jean‑Louis recounted seeing residents chased out as police and gangsters traded heavy gunfire. 

Journalists can’t even access the ruins—gang rule has locked down the area like a reality‑show finale gone wrong.

International Inaction: A Spectator Sport?

While Haiti bleeds cultural icons like the Oloffson, its northern neighbor—the Dominican Republic—and the mighty U.S. have twiddled their thumbs.

  • Why no joint task force? A bi‑national hurricane of SWAT teams?

  • Why no diplomatic scream? The Oloffson was more than bricks and mortar: it was Graham Greene’s Hotel Trianon, presidential palace, U.S. Marine hospital, Swede‑turned‑seaside refuge.

Michael Deibert, author and long‑time Haiti watcher, decried:

“The destruction of the Oloffson is symbolic of the destruction of Haiti’s history and culture.… so‐called leaders stand by with their hands in their pockets.”

Where Are the Big Stick Policies?

Haiti’s gangs have carved up neighborhoods with impunity. 

Tourists fled years ago. The government, stretched thin, can barely gawk. Meanwhile:

  • The U.S. launches occasional naval patrols (great for Instagram) but stops short of boots on the ground.

  • The Dominican Republic beefs up its border—yet the Oloffson’s murderers face zero extradition.

So here’s that question again: In the face of cultural genocide, why haven’t our mighty neighbors done anything to stop this gang violence? 

Is Haiti too small to matter? Too complex to fix? 

Or are we simply content to watch the gingerbread burn?

Hope Flickers in the Ashes

Morse, ever the optimist, vows to rebuild:

“There’s no life without hope.… We have to bring Haiti back—and the hotel back and the art and the culture back.”

Daughter Isabelle Morse adds:

“It’s not only a business, it’s our home.… More about moving back home rather than reopening the business.”

And so, while Haiti’s architectural jewels go up in flames, its neighbors remain silent spectators. 

Perhaps the next time the world burns, someone will remind them that culture deserves as much protection as any embassy. 

Until then, the Oloffson’s ruins stand as a challenge: When will we act before the next icon crumbles?


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#BurningGingerbread
#OloffsonGone
#HaitiCrisis
#GangViolence
#WhereAreTheAllies
#ProtectOurHeritage
#CulturalGenocide
#HaitiNeedsHelp
#USandDRWatch
#SaveTheOloffson
#HandsInPockets
#RebuildHaiti
#HopeInAshes
#NoMoreSpectators
#BringBackOloffson

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