Engaging Haitian gang leader Barbecue could help bring peace-PM Browne

Prime Minister Gaston Browne strongly feels that engaging with Haitian gang leaders, particularly Barbecue, could be an effective way of restoring peace in the troubled nation.

His comments come amidst the escalating violence and political uncertainties that Haiti is currently facing, prompting regional leaders to seek proactive and practical solutions.

Barbecue, known for roasting and then eating those who were killed, is said to be the most powerful man in Haiti now.

He suggested that even the gang leaders should be engaged in discussions to understand the source of the influx of firearms and other criminal activities.

“There are some slow movements. I am of the view that even the gang leaders, even Barbeque, for example, should be engaged’, Browne said

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Browne emphasized the need for a multinational presence to combat the pervasive gang activity in Haiti.

“I just believe that the situation is so tenuous with so many vicious gangs, we need to have really strong multinational forces…”Browne said it would also be helpful if the troops.

However, Prime Minister Browne clarified that engaging with gang leaders does not mean institutionalizing criminality or supporting any illegal activities.

The aim he said is to find a way to reduce the proliferation of guns and other harmful substances in the country, which has contributed to the instability in the region.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister also expressed his concerns about the United States’ role in supplying arms to Haiti, particularly the impact of the gun lobby in the US on the Caribbean region.

He criticized the influx of firearms from the US, citing that most of the guns that come into the Caribbean are from the United States, which is a significant contributor to the insecurity in the region.

His comments reflect the concerns of regional leaders regarding the root causes of the instability in Haiti and the need for coordinated efforts to address security challenges effectively.

The situation in Haiti is a matter of grave concern for the entire Caribbean region, and Prime Minister Browne’s recommendation of engaging with gang leaders could be a step forward in restoring peace and stability in Haiti.

Meanwhile, Haitian leaders have reached an agreement for a temporary government to tackle the ongoing gang violence in their nation.

Although the details of the agreement need to be approved by the outgoing authorities, it has been sent to the regional Caribbean body CARICOM by the members of the transition council on Sunday.

The agreement establishes a nine-member council, comprising seven voting members and two observers, representing political parties, the private sector and civil society.

This council will pave the way for presidential elections by early 2026, and its mandate will end on February 7, 2026.

The temporary government will replace outgoing Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who resigned on March 11, 2022, after the country plunged into deadly gang violence. CARICOM has been instrumental in the negotiations over Haiti’s latest crisis.

The agreement outlines that the council’s first task will be to elect a prime minister who, in collaboration with the nine-member team, will form a government charged with leading the country until democratic, free and credible elections can be held.

According to the agreement, no members of the council or the soon-to-be-formed government will be allowed to run in the elections.

Haiti has been suffering from political instability and crime for years, and no elections have been held since 2016.

The situation has worsened since late February 2022 when armed gangs attacked police stations, prisons, and government headquarters, forcing the shutdown of the port and airport in a spasm of anti-Henry violence.

The weekend breakthrough follows negotiations to succeed Henry that have been delayed by internal disagreements and legal wrangling.

The transitional body will have three priorities: security, constitutional and institutional reforms, and elections.

The agreement announces the creation of a national security council of Haitian experts who will oversee agreements on international security assistance, including on dispatch of the UN-backed mission.

Once CARICOM transmits the accord and a decree confirming its entry into force to the outgoing Henry government, the investiture of the new council will be confirmed.