Colonel Telbert Benjamin, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, has stated that his team is ready to assist an international security force in Haiti if Prime Minister Gaston Browne requests it.

The French-speaking CARICOM nation has faced political unrest since the assassination of former president Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.

Gangs have seized control of the city port of Port-au-Prince, and they have recently demanded Prime Minister Ariel Henry resign to restore peace. Henry has since resigned.

Antigua and Barbuda, along with other Caribbean countries like Jamaica, have offered military support to help address the ongoing violent turmoil in Haiti.

Benjamin told State Media that officers have been undergoing training in fundamental soldier skills to enhance the proficiency of the force’s personnel.

“There is a regional framework for training in terms of preparation for Haiti, so we are a part of that process. We are in the shoot, so to speak, waiting on the opportunity to begin our focus training for that event, but that is obviously dependent on the direction of the political directorate,” he added.

In recent news, the influential Haitian gang leader, Jimmy Cherizier, has taken a strong stance against the foreign nations’ efforts to establish an electoral road map and bring peace to the country.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, he rejected any such attempts.

Meanwhile, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) convened an emergency meeting last week to discuss the ongoing situation in Haiti.