CARICOM leaders to meet Monday to discuss solution to Haiti crisis

The situation in Haiti remains volatile, with political violence escalating and ongoing challenges in the leadership transition. Caribbean leaders, under the chairmanship of Irfaan Ali, the president of Guyana and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), are planning to meet in Jamaica on Monday to discuss a solution to address the current state of affairs in Haiti.

The meeting aims to address issues critical to stabilizing security and providing urgent humanitarian aid to the Haitian people.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who assumed office after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, is facing increased pressure to resign. Henry remains in Puerto Rico, unable to return to Haiti, following his trip to Kenya to seek approval for a United Nations-sanctioned foreign military force to address the situation in Haiti. However, Kenya’s High Court declared the plan unconstitutional.

Henry’s tenure, according to a 2022 political agreement, should have ended in February, but he remains in power and has suggested delaying elections until August 2025. This decision has led to a surge in violent gang activities, primarily targeting government buildings in Port-au-Prince. Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, leader of the G9 Family and Allies gang, has issued threats of “civil war” and “genocide” if Henry does not step down.

International leaders, have expressed support for a proposed partnership between CARICOM and Haitian stakeholders to facilitate a peaceful transition of power. The U.S. Embassy in Haiti reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Henry to support this proposal to restore peace and stability to Haiti, allowing the Haitian people to resume their daily lives without the threat of violence and despair.

The situation remains complex, and the outcome of the upcoming meeting of Caribbean leaders may play a crucial role in determining the path forward for Haiti.