New Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Belizean Prime Minister John Antonio Briceño says that the situation in Haiti is a cause for concern for the entire region and while CARICOM is working with the member nation, there are no quick fixes.
“We have devoted significant time over the past year in considering how the Community can best support Haiti in grappling with a multitude of crises on top of which is now a constitutional crisis. We do not have any easy or quick fixes.
“But what we know for sure, is that the Community will continue to walk alongside Haiti; we will continue to offer our support, solidarity and cooperation; and we will continue to advocate for an international response that is commensurate with the needs of Haiti,” Prime Minister Briceño told his fellow CARICOM leaders yesterday.
The 33rd inter-sessional meeting of CARICOM heads opened yesterday in San Pedro in Belize and is the first in-person meeting of the heads since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged.
Acting President and Prime Minister of Haiti Ariel Henry was also in attendance.
On July 7, 2021, Haitian President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home by armed men. He was at the time ruling by decree since elections were constitutionally due in October 2019. The terms of the decree came to an end in early February, which means that elections are now once again being discussed in the nation rocked by political turmoil. Henry assumed the Presidency following Moise’s assassination and now there are now escalating calls for him to step down and allow the Haitian people to elect their government.
He has promised elections by the end of the year but violence continues to rock the politically volatile nation. At the beginning of this year, there was also an attempt to assassinate Henry.
In August of last year, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the island resulting in more than 300 people losing their lives and hundreds more injured and displaced.
Outgoing CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne said Haiti is on the list of priorities for the community and more has to be done to help foster stability.
“Six months ago, hardly had I assumed my responsibilities as Chairman of CARICOM than we had the tragic news of the assassination of one of our colleagues, the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise. This was an event almost unheard of in our region, but a tragic reminder that our region is not immune from the forces of instability and criminality swirling around the world.
“Barely had Haiti come to terms with the tragic loss of her president, then she was struck by an earthquake; followed shortly by the passage of Tropical Storm Grace… Haiti is certainly among the priorities,” he told his CARICOM colleagues.
He offered his support to current Chair Briceño to deal not only with the situation in Haiti but also other issues affecting the region noting that there are certainly hard tasks ahead. Prime Minister Browne urged his CARICOM colleagues to work with Haiti in helping to resolve the deteriorating political situation in the country and the deepening public anxiety over citizen security.
“Our community has been engaged with Haiti at the highest political level and has offered to assist in crafting a Haitian-led solution to the present crisis, that will garner the support of all the political forces in Haiti, as well as the international community. Citizen security and political legitimacy, are what Haiti needs most at this time, and without these vital elements, Haiti’s economic and social prospects will remain grim.
“I am hoping that our Community can be the bridge to the UN and other major organizations of the international community, to bring these needed elements to Haiti, as well as, a strong measure of humanitarian assistance, rigorously applied,” he said.
Haitians fleeing their country have met with resistance from several CARICOM nations in spite of Haiti being a full member. There have been visa impositions on Haitians in several CARICOM territories and Guyana was one of the latest members to re-impose the visa requirement.
