PM Browne Calls for Collaborative Efforts to Restore Governance in Haiti

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has told the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York that an urgent, comprehensive, coordinated intervention is required to restore governance, security, and the rule of law in Haiti while resolving the humanitarian needs there.

Over the past week, there has been a surge in violence in certain parts of Haiti’s capital, resulting in the displacement of more than 3,000 people.

These individuals have been forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in improvised sites, leaving them susceptible to attacks.

As per the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than half of the displaced people in Port-au-Prince have had to vacate their temporary accommodations in host communities and move to improvised sites, where the conditions are incredibly dire.

“Historically, the scars of Haiti’s struggle for freedom from enslavement are juxtaposed with the exploitative economic interests of France in the 18th and 19th centuries and have left deep imprints,” Browne said

According to him, the burden of compensating France for over a century, essentially buying their liberty, has curtailed the developmental potential of the Haitian people for generations.

“Subsequent interventions compounded these challenges. Internally, episodes of autocratic leadership have further eroded the national fabric,”; he added.

PM Browne recalled that the recent mission by the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group, seeking a resolution to Haiti’s political deadlock, voiced deep concerns over the rising dominance of gangs and the ensuing human rights crisis.

“The immediate imperatives are clear: An urgent, comprehensive, coordinated intervention is required that will concurrently restore governance, security, and the rule of law while resolving the humanitarian needs,” he added.

He said the CARICOM Eminent Persons have strongly recommended that a transitional government, representing a broad spectrum of Haitian society, is essential for effective governance.

He said the goal is for this proposed transitional government to become a reality, providing the necessary leadership with external assistance to restore order and bring lasting peace and prosperity to the Haitian people.

“Antigua and Barbuda is firmly united in solidarity with the Haitian people. In this regard, I reassert my government’s commitment to collaborate with all Haitian stakeholders and the international community to reinstate the rule of law, restore democracy, and provide security and humanitarian relief,” according to PM Browne

The Biden administration has pledged $100 million to support a proposed multinational force led by Kenya to restore security to conflict-ravaged Haiti. The administration also urged other nations to contribute similarly.