In separate statements, the United Nations Security Council and CARICOM yesterday expressed deep concern at deteriorating conditions in Haiti and urged dialogue among stakeholders.
In its statement underlining growing international concern about the situation in Haiti which has been wracked by unrest for months, the members of the Security Council voiced concern regarding the ongoing political impasse.
“They reiterated the immediate necessity for Haiti’s stakeholders to engage in an inclusive and open dialogue to form a government that responds to the needs of the Haitian people without further delay”, the statement said.
The statement added that members of the Security Council had noted the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), and the good offices role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti. They emphasised the need for all stakeholders to continue to avail themselves of this opportunity and act promptly.
“The members of the Security Council emphasized the urgent need to address deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Haiti through coordinated action by the government of Haiti, the United Nations, and the international community.
“The members of the Security Council recalled the need for the government of Haiti to address the underlying causes of instability and poverty within the country. They urged all stakeholders to refrain from violence and to resolve differences through peaceful means. They stressed the importance of ensuring that those responsible are held accountable and of bringing justice to the victims of the recent spikes of violence, in particular the violent events of November 13 and 14, 2018 in La Saline and November 4 to 7, 2019, in Bel Air”, the statement added.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their commitment to working with Haiti towards a democratic, peaceful, and secure future.
CARICOM Chairman Mia Mottley in her statement said the community is “deeply concerned at the continuing unsettled political, economic, humanitarian and social situation in its Member State, Haiti. Indeed, we are particularly concerned about the several incidents of violence and the associated and tragic loss of life. The current crisis has adversely affected all sectors of the society and has brought about severe hardship for the people of Haiti”.
Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, said it is imperative for all stakeholders in the country to undertake constructive and meaningful dialogue, in a spirit of good faith and concern for the nation, and towards resolving this prolonged crisis. She said that the recent decision taken by the major stakeholders to ensure that the children of the country can resume schooling as a new school term begins is an important step forward and should serve as an impetus to tackle other areas of contention in the interest of the well-being of the people and of the country at large.
She added that CARICOM “considers that our regional organization has a duty to do all that it possibly can to assist the people of our sister Caribbean nation of Haiti. We shall liaise with the Haitian Government to facilitate a visit by an advanced team led by the Secretary-General to explore with the Government and people of Haiti and other interested parties an acceptable way forward towards alleviating the present crisis”.
