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On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will convene with Caribbean leaders in Jamaica to address the worsening violent situation in Haiti. There is mounting pressure on Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down.
Henry is anticipated to participate in a private meeting called by Caricom, a regional trade bloc, whose members have been pushing for a temporary government in Haiti due to ongoing violent protests calling for Henry’s departure.
“Although significant advancements have been made, the stakeholders have not yet reached the necessary level,” Caricom stated on Friday when announcing an immediate meeting in Jamaica.
Starting on February 29, violent gangs have been targeting important government locations in the Port-au-Prince city of Haiti. These attackers have set fire to police stations, shut down major airports, and stormed the country’s top two prisons, resulting in the escape of over 4,000 prisoners.
Numerous individuals have lost their lives and over 15,000 people have been displaced from their homes due to attacks by gangs in their neighborhoods. There is a shortage of food and water as street vendors and shops catering to the impoverished in Haiti have depleted their supplies. The primary port in Port-au-Prince is still shut down, leaving numerous containers of vital resources stranded.
Unfortunately, Henry is still barred from entering his home country. He arrived in Puerto Rico last week but was denied entry into the Dominican Republic, which is on the same island of Hispaniola as Haiti.
Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State for the United States, and David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary for Britain
When the assaults commenced, Henry was in Kenya advocating for the implementation of a police unit from an East African nation, which has been postponed due to a decision made by the court.
More and more individuals are calling for Henry to step down, as he has not made any public statements since the attacks commenced.
Over the weekend, the US military announced that it had deployed additional forces to increase security at the American Embassy in the country. The military used helicopters to transport troops to the embassy compound, according to the US Southern Command. It emphasized that there were no Haitian passengers on board the aircraft, likely attempting to dispel rumors about government officials fleeing amidst the escalating gang violence in Haiti.
Ariel Henry, the Prime Minister of Haiti
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The neighborhood around the embassy in the capital, Port-au-Prince, is largely controlled by gangs.
According to the statement from Southcom, this transportation of staff to and from the Embassy is in line with our normal procedures for enhancing security at Embassies around the world, and no Haitian individuals were present on the military plane.
In some situations, individuals who are not essential can consist of the loved ones of diplomats. However, the embassy had already instructed nonessential employees and their families to leave in July. The employees that left the embassy may have been completing a rotation and will be replaced by new staff.
Dominican President Luis Abinader’s office released a statement on Saturday stating that “due to safety concerns, Henry is not allowed to enter the Dominican Republic.” In light of the ongoing border closure between the Dominican Republic and Haiti on the island of Hispaniola, this decision has been made.
Members of the General Security Unit of the National Palace
The security situation in Haiti was described as unmanageable and a direct danger to the safety and stability of the Dominican Republic. The statement warned that without urgent implementation of a peacekeeping force, the situation could worsen.
Leaders from the Caribbean have urged for an urgent gathering in Jamaica on Monday to discuss the ongoing crisis in Haiti. They have extended invitations to the United States, France, Canada, the United Nations, and Brazil to attend the meeting.
After President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021, Henry, a neurosurgeon, was selected as the prime minister of Haiti.
It was uncertain if Henry would attend the CARICOM conference in Jamaica.
The unrelenting gang attacks have paralyzed the country for more than a week and left it with dwindling supplies of basic goods. Haitian officials extended a state of emergency and nightly curfew as gangs continued to attack key state institutions.
Source: independent.co.uk
