By Dessalines Ferdinand
The emergency summit, held on Monday afternoon at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, was convened to address the dire situation in Haiti and saw a significant gathering of leaders and envoys from CARICOM nations, the United States, and other stakeholders. The summit aimed to address the escalating political crisis, violence, and unrest in Haiti, which has created an untenable situation for its citizens.
The opening remarks acknowledged the leadership of the summit’s conveners, including the President and Prime Minister Holness, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as the sustained commitment of CARICOM heads of government and international partners towards aiding Haiti during this critical period. The collective challenges faced by the Haitian people were eloquently outlined, setting the stage for the discussions.
The primary objective was to listen and gather ideas for a way forward. This included emphasizing a joint proposal by CARICOM and Haitian stakeholders to expedite a political transition. A proposal for a broad-based, inclusive, independent presidential college was outlined to address the immediate needs of Haitians, enable the swift deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission, and create the necessary security conditions for free and fair elections, humanitarian assistance, and economic recovery.
The past several days have seen intense discussions, including phone calls and video conferences, highlighting the Haitian-led nature of the proposal, with critical support from international partners. The deteriorating security situation has underscored the importance of the Multinational Support Mission, with the United Nations Security Council reaffirming its deployment.
During this High-Level Meeting on Haiti, a significant announcement was made regarding the United States Department of Defense doubling its support for the mission to $200 million, bringing the total U.S. contribution to $300 million for the United Nations-backed multinational security force intended to assist Haitian police in combating gangs. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced an additional $33 million in humanitarian aid.
Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley noted that Haitian stakeholders had largely agreed on the urgent installation of a presidential council to identify a prime minister, who, along with the council, would establish a government. A provisional electoral council should also be established, excluding those involved in future elections, Mottley added during a news conference.
Mexico’s Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena mentioned her country’s contribution to the shared Haiti security fund, without specifying an amount, and urged more progress on stemming firearms trafficking throughout the region.
The summit also emphasized the principle that only the Haitian people should determine their future, with CARICOM, the United States, and other partners playing supportive roles. The day’s discussions were deemed intense and productive, aiming to finalize a plan for a positive path forward. Gratitude was expressed towards the leadership and participants for their efforts towards achieving consensus on a sustainable, inclusive, and representative transition for Haiti.
The outcomes of the summit have laid the groundwork for continued discussions and actions towards stabilizing Haiti. The increased financial support and commitment to a Haitian-led resolution underscore the international community’s dedication to assisting Haiti in navigating this extraordinarily difficult time.”
Photo Credit: AP
