UNSC to discusses Haiti as CARICOM fails to find common ground

The United Nation’s Security Council sat down behind closed doors to discuss the ongoing political and economic crisis in Haiti, after CARICOM announced on Wednesday that the Caribbean community was unable to arrive at a consensus with regards to resolving the issues in Haiti.

CARICOM members spent the better part of three days discussing the situation in Haiti with the hope that they could find a solution to the problem which would sit well with each of the parties involved.

CARICOM Chairman and the President of Guyana, Dr Irfaan Ali, stated the following, “Despite of many, many meetings we have not yet been able to reach any form of consensus between the government and respective stakeholders in the opposition, the private sector, civil society and religious organisation.”

In his opinion, the current scenario in Haiti is difficult to assess and control, even though it is an important step along the path to CARICOM’s regional integration movement.

President Ali added, “It is compounded by the absence of key institutions functioning such as the Presidency and the Parliament. This is further undermined by the outbreaks of violence and a lack of humanitarian aid.”

He also clarified that CARICOM is pushing stakeholders and individuals with influence in Haiti to find common ground as the solution to their problem must be led by a Haitian movement for it to be fruitful.

CARICOM is also cognizant of the fact that a political solution is necessary to solve other pressing matters as well.

With this in mind, President Ali said, “Consensus and getting a consensus is therefore of paramount importance, to anchor any stabilisation of a security and humanitarian effort.”

The stark reality is that more people have died in Haiti since the beginning of 2024 than in Ukraine in the same period of time. This fact alone gives regional leaders and the world much to think about, especially considering the fact that Ukraine and Russia are currently engaged in the largest conflict in Europe since World War 2.

President Ali remains optimistic that a resolution to the issue can be formulated, as he revealed that the matter would be taken to the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday.

He said, “It is clear that Haiti, even with a homegrown solution will need the support of not just CARICOM but the international community. We must have consensus among the key players in Haiti, they are all aware of the price of failure.”

President Ali assured the CARICOM leaders that they would remain committed to bringing stability to Haiti. He stated the following on behalf of CARICOM, “We in CARICOM are fully committed to utilising all our efforts and all our energies and dedicated as a collective on this pressing matter of Haiti.”

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has already called for the deployment of the UN Security Council’s security force with immediate effect, as decided in October 2023. In his opinion, this step is necessary to ensure the situation in Haiti does not devolve any further.

A mass prison break last weekend has complicated matters for Haitian authorities, who have deemed the incident to be a major threat to national security.

An estimated 4,500 inmates are said to have escaped, but the larger issue is that among them are known gang members and individuals who were imprisoned for their role in the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse on the 7th of July 2021.

The prison break was part of a gang-coordinated effort, which took aim at multiple national institutions and looked to facilitate the definitive collapse of the Haitian Government.

Turk explained the situation in the following statement, “This situation is beyond untenable for the people of Haiti. Since the beginning of the year, a staggering 1,193 people have been killed, and 692 others injured by gang violence.”

“The health system is on the brink of collapse. Hospitals often do not have the capacity to treat those arriving with gunshot wounds. Schools and business are closed, and children are increasingly used by gangs. Economic activity is asphyxiated as gangs impose restrictions on people’s movements. Haiti’s biggest provider of drinking water has stopped deliveries. At least 313,000 people are currently internally displaced.”

He has also reiterated his call for the immediate deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti (MSS), as the National Police urgently need support, to ensure that Haiti complies with international human rights standards and the Haitian people are protected.

Gangs have redoubled their efforts to drive Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry out of office, which has forced the authorities to impose seven-hour curfews and a state of emergency. The situation is tense as Port au Prince has all but been captured by the gangs.

Commissioner Volker Türk’s comments have forced the United Nations to accelerate its efforts as Prime Minister Henry remains in Puerto Rico, after having travelled to Kenya where he signed an agreement which allows the United Nations Security Council to send an international force led by Kenya, to ensure that the situation in Haiti is stabilized.

The world is now looking to CARICOM and the United Nations Security Council, the two institutions that have the capacity to bring safety and security to the people of Haiti and some balance to the nation’s political dialogue and economy.