GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Senior officials from Canada, the United States and Haiti met behind closed doors Wednesday to discuss the crisis in Haiti, a topic that is expected to dominate the annual meeting of the Caribbean trading bloc that opened in the Bahamas.
The CARICOM meeting, which began Wednesday night and will last three days, is hosted by Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis, who welcomed the rulers of the 15-member bloc and others, including the Haitian prime minister. Ariel Henry, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Brian Nichols, US Under Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Also attending the conference are Haiti’s foreign minister and interim minister of justice and public security.
One day before the meeting, Davis said at a press conference that the Caribbean leaders “lack the resources to face the Haitian problem on our own, we need foreign assistance. We hope that the north, Canada and the United States, will help.”
Davis and the other Caribbean rulers have complained about the increase in migrants because, they say, they are causing pressure to the government budgets of the small islands due to the arrival of hundreds of Haitians. The vast majority of Haitians are fleeing growing poverty and violence, including killings, kidnappings and rapes, as gangs grow in power following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.
During the opening of the meeting, Davis said that Haiti needs urgent attention due to deteriorating conditions in that country.
“I pray that we can agree on a series of concrete measures that will help move towards a solution that benefits the Haitian people and the region as a whole. We have learned that inaction carries its costs and consequences,” Davis told the other governors.
Members of Trudeau’s delegation said the visit will allow the rulers to discuss political, security and humanitarian assistance to Haiti and will contribute “to Haitian-led solutions to the current situation.”
Emmanuel Dubourg, the only member of Haitian origin in the Canadian Parliament, said the Canadian government is “discussing all kinds of options to help people in Haiti.”
The Caricom meeting takes place at a time when the Haitian prime minister continues to insist on the deployment of foreign forces, a request presented in October without the UN Security Council having ruled.
The United States and Canada, along with other countries, have sent military equipment and other resources to the Haitian National Police, but have not committed to sending troops, much to the frustration and discouragement of some quarters.
Without elaborating, Henry, Haiti’s prime minister, tweeted that he and Nichols had “an important business meeting” Wednesday morning.
The Caricom meeting will continue until Friday and the rulers are also scheduled to talk about food security, climate change and other problems affecting the region.
Other officials attending the meeting include US Climate Envoy John Kerry.
“Caribbean governments are seeking action, and input from the United States will be important ahead of what is expected to be a pivotal year for relations,” Wazim Mowla, deputy director and head of the Caribbean Initiative on Council, wrote in a recent essay. Atlantic.
“Given the challenges facing the region, the Caribbean no longer has time to wait for the United States to act, and the United States should not delay.”
