Co-founder of a biowaste company, McKinnley Workman and business partner Sebastien Benoit were almost killed in Haiti for failing to pay local bribes. Workman and Benoit were attacked by an angry mob and their heaquarter facility destroyed with buildings set on fire. The attackers have taken over their business property in Croix-des-Bouquets, in Port-Au-Prince city.
It all started on January 29 when Workman and Benoit alighted from their truck and attempted to unlock the gate to their company headquarter. An armed group of up to 30 bandits emerged from hiding and attacked them, pelting them with stones until Benoit lost consciousness. The mob fired into the air, seizing the company truck and shouting they are in control of the community.
Seriously wounded and with cuts and bruises, the attackers made to drag Workman and Benoit into a nearby field to finish them off but neighbours and local farmers intervened to save them. Workman said she tasered one of her attackers and then yelled in Creole that they were US citizens. “Everyone will know what you’ve done and will be watching you,” she shouted as she helped to drag Benoit back to the truck.
The neighbours and local farmers that saved them went into hiding for fear of retaliation from the mob.
Workman and Benoit both graduated from the University of Central Florida. In 2017, they collaborated to establish a biowaste company that would mitigate Haiti’s agricultural and environmental problems. The company converts waste into fertilizer and fuel so that local farmers can access cheaper fertilizer and fuel. These are both energy-efficient and eco-friendly. The company recycled 9,000 tons of plastic and metals.
Just a few weeks before the attack, local farmers reported that they were being terrorized by the bandits. They also asked the company, Lakay Vet, for money since their facility is situated on their turf. When the company failed to play ball, all hell broke loose. The bandits took over the company facility and razed several structures to the ground. Drone videos show smoke rising to the air from torched company buildings.
“The company and the property are still being held and controlled by the gang,” Workman said. “We can still see the smoke from our burning infrastructure walls. It’s been a week since the bandits started spewing threats, and still the community is terrified.”