CARICOM Heads meet in Jamaica to help settle crisis in Haiti

KINGSTON,  Jamaica, March 11, 2024 - The crisis in Haiti will be on the region’s agenda today, as CARICOM leaders meet in Kingston in yet another effort to solve the leadership, security and humanitarian difficulties in that CARICOM member state.

Headed by CARICOM Chairman Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and host Prime Minister Andrew Holness, The CARICOM officials will meet at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in St Andrew.  

for high level talks about solving the problems in Haiti.

This meeting will be the latest in a series of facilitation efforts by the regional bloc to advance political dialogue and consensus in Haiti.

Jamaica’s hosting of the meeting falls within the context of its ongoing key role in CARICOM’s response to the situation in Haiti, including the Community’s contribution to and advocacy for greater international support for the United Nations Security Council-sanctioned Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to Haiti.

The United States, France, Canada, the United Nations and Brazil have also been invited to the meeting. However, It's not clear whether Haitian Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry will be in Jamaica for the meeting.

Its understood however, that he is now prepared to tender his resignation as soon as there is an arrangement for leadership in Haiti.

Dr Henry, has been in Puerto Rico since last week, unable to enter his country after having travelled from Kenya, where he signed an agreement allowing for a Kenya led United Nations Security Council sanctioned international force to restore peace and security in Haiti.

However, on his way back, the criminal gangs led by Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier, a former police officer turned gang leader, attacked the airport to prevent Henry’s return. He was also denied landing by the neighbouring Dominican Republic and ended up being given asylum by the United States in Puerto Rico under the protection of the FBI.

Haiti now  finds itself at a crossroads, with President Henry's authority hanging by a thread as he resides in what could almost be termed exile in Puerto Rico, and the demand by Chérizier for the resignation of Henry or the country may face the  specter of civil war and potential genocide.

The CARICOM chairman said the region  wanted to find a way to ease the socio-economic and political chaos in that country of about 12 million persons. Ali said the region wants “to bring resolution to this highly complex matter, where persons’ lives and livelihoods are at stake.”

It's understood that Antigua and Barbuda will not participate in  the meeting to discuss the situation in Haiti.  This is the third time that Antigua and Barbuda has recently avoided meetings relating to Haiti.

US Congressional Pressure

In the meantime, US Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus McCormick as and the Co-Chairs of the Haiti Caucus, are urging their colleagues to join the Biden administration and the international community in urgently funding aid to restore security in Haiti.

In a statement, the US legislators said the time had come for Prime Minister Ariel Henry to do what is right for the Haitian people. 

The legislators say Mr Henry should not return to Haiti, and he should immediately hand over power to a transitional consensus government. 

They say it is crucial that all parties in Haiti urgently put aside their differences and form a transitional government that does not include Ariel Henry, criminals and or associated organizations.

The US legislators say personal ambitions are not worth the blood of innocent Haitian lives. 

-30-