CARICOM unable to reach consensus on Haiti

For the past three days, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been actively involved in addressing the situation in Haiti.

However, despite repeated meetings, no consensus has been reached among the Haitian government, opposition stakeholders, private sector, civil society, and religious organizations.

The Chairman of CARICOM, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, acknowledged the situation’s complexity and the challenges in coming to a consensus.

Haiti is essential to the 15-member regional integration movement, and its unfolding situation is a cause for concern.

The absence of key functioning institutions such as the Presidency and the Parliament, combined with outbreaks of violence and a lack of humanitarian aid, has further complicated the situation.

CARICOM has been urging all Haitian stakeholders to reach a consensus, given that they all agree that the solution must be Haitian-led and Haitian-born.

CARICOM recognizes that there must be a political solution that can anchor any stabilization of a security and humanitarian effort.

The fact that more people have died in Haiti in the early part of this year than in Ukraine, which is involved in a war with Russia, is a cause for alarm.

Hence, the issue is being taken to the United Nations Security Council, and it is clear that Haiti, even with a homegrown solution, will need the support of not just CARICOM but also the international community.

To achieve this, CARICOM emphasizes the paramount importance of a consensus among the key players in Haiti.

The regional leaders are continuing their meetings with all concerned, and CARICOM is fully committed to utilizing all its efforts and energies collectively to address this critical issue in Haiti.