Antigua and Barbuda Sympathizes with Haiti Amid Escalating Violence

By Aabigayle McIntosh

Government officials here in Antigua and Barbuda are sympathizing with the people of Haiti, who remain under a State of Emergency due to violent clashes.

Haiti is in the midst of a crisis that has seen an explosion of gang violence in the last week.

Information Minister Melford Nicholas said Tuesday evening on his Taking Stock program on Pointe FM, “It is not the first time that Haiti has presented this particular challenge, we mostly feel helpless without us being able to intervene to turn the Haitian situation around”, Minister Nicholas said.

In the meantime, Members of the Caricom Community remain in consecutive talks with the relevant stakeholders in Haiti, seeking an amicable end to the ongoing conflict.

Caricom Chair Guyana President Dr Irfaan Ali said in a statement issued on Wednesday that they are yet to agree after days of talks.

“The situation is complex with many moving parts. It is compounded by the absence of institutions such as the presidency and the parliament.

“This is further on the mind by the outbreak of violence and the lack of humanitarian aid. We have been urging all Haitian stakeholders in the urgent need for a consensus, given that that they all agree that a solution must be Haitian lead and Haitian owned”, Dr Ali said.

He stressed that getting a consensus is of paramount importance.  He further pointed out that that there must be a political solution to anchor any stabilization of the security and humanitarian forces.

“The fact that more people have died in Haiti in the early part of this year than Ukraine must give anyone in Haiti and the international community serious pause. It is clear that Haiti, even with a homegrown solution, will need the support of not just Caricom, but the international community,” the Caricom Chair said.

To achieve this, he is again emphasizing the need for consensus among the people of Haiti.

Gangs in Haiti continue to surround the country’s main airport in the capital Port-au-Prince, making it impossible for the de facto prime minister to return to his country.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry is currently in Puerto Rico, unable to get back to Haiti amid gang violence