TAMPA, Fla. — Haiti continues to deal with turmoil following the news Prime Minister Ariel Henry plans to step down. It follows nearly two weeks of gang attacks on government targets across the capital city, Port-Au-Prince. Updates are being followed closely by Tampa Bay's Haitian community. Among those watching developments is Laisse Oscar. 

What You Need To Know

  • Laisse Oscar is one of those among Tampa Bay's Haitian community who is watching developments out of Haiti

  • Oscar said she left Haiti with her family in 1991 during similar political unrest 

  • Family members still in Haiti tell Oscar their biggest concern is the growing scarcity of food

  • Oscar said she'd like to see more international aid to help the people most in need

“It hurts a lot because I personally, I have my sister, I have an uncle and nieces that’s writing me all the time, texting me, ‘We don’t have any food. We cannot go anywhere. Can you help us?’” said Oscar, manager of Kreyol Delight. The Haitian restaurant on East Busch Boulevard is owned by her brother- and sister-in-law.

Oscar said she grew up on Lagonav, the tiny island just off the Haitian coast. Her family left when she was 14 years old.

“We left Haiti in the same situation. Our president had left - Aristide - and they were going around, raping girls,” Oscar said. “My mom, she got us on the boat and left in 1991 with us.”

After spending a year at Guantanamo Bay, Oscar said she and her family made it to the U.S. in 1992. She said she used to return every three-to-six months.

“It hurts me a lot to not be able to go back home because I have two houses back home in Haiti, and every time I will travel back, it was just the inner child. I felt so, so happy and relieved that I was going to go back home,” Oscar said.

She told Spectrum News she’d like to see stronger international efforts to help the people most in need.

“We’re not getting the help that we need. Every day, they’re crying for help, they cry for more help, and no help is coming,” she said.

Oscar said she’s hopeful the country will stabilize once the prime minister steps down following the creation of a transitional presidential council.

“I have great hopes and dreams that Haiti will get back to normal. I’m praying,” Oscar said.