KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says it will hold a three-day consultation on Haiti to build consensus and allow inclusive participation in a neutral environment.
“I can advise that the invitations were issued to the Haitian stakeholders by Prime Minister (Philip E Davis) of The Bahamas, chair of the Conference of CARICOM Heads,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness told Parliament.
He said that CARICOM leaders had endorsed the June 11-13 meeting following Jamaica’s offer to host the consultations during its participation in a mission to Haiti.
Holness told legislators that Kingston would be providing the venue for the consultations as well as arrangements to facilitate the attendees, who will include representatives from Haiti; the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), which comprises three former prime ministers, the CARICOM Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett and representatives from international partners and donor support for Haiti.
“Prime Minister Davis and I will officially hand over the process to the EPG at the opening event. However, I must underscore and emphasize that, notwithstanding any representation from states regionally, the consultations themselves will only involve the Haitian stakeholders supported by the EPG with their requisite technical personnel. The EPG will update CARICOM as appropriate and necessary,” he said.
The EPG, comprising former St. Lucia prime minister Dr. Kenny Anthony, his former Jamaican counterpart Bruce Golding, and the Bahama’s former prime minister, Perry Christie, has been tasked, along with a small team comprising the technical expertise in mediation, security, and political research supported by the Caricom Secretariat, to facilitate consultations with Haitian stakeholders.
Holness said it is essential that the need for confidence, confidentiality, and patience be respected as this is a necessary but delicate process of consultation is engaged and should be done without interference.
“I also underscore that these consultations are for the Haitian people; it is their meeting as they seek to determine what is in the best interest of their country. While Jamaica and others in the region have a key interest, it is also incumbent on all of us at this time to adopt a posture of non-interference in the process while being active in support and allowing the space for the dialogue to be held” he said.
Holness said Jamaica is hopeful that the consultations will be a significant step in restoring stability in Haiti.
“We recognize that it is a process that will need continued support by Jamaica, CARICOM, and others to ensure a satisfactory conclusion. The people of Jamaica and our brothers and sisters in Haiti can be assured that this government will do all it can to support this process towards restoration of peace and stability in Haiti,” he said.
Opposition Leader Mark Golding said he supports the move to have the Haitians design a solution to their problems and that any attempt to impose on Haiti any extra-territorial solution, whether it be at the level of international development bodies or individual governments outside of Haiti, should not be encouraged.
“Haiti has suffered terribly from foreign interference over the years, centuries of it, quite frankly, which have contributed to their underdevelopment, poverty, and challenges they have now. This is an example of Caricom playing a beneficial role in finding a solution with an approach that is sound in principle and should be supported.
“I hope that the upcoming meeting of the Haitian stakeholders will have full participation by a broad cross-section of representatives of the key groups within Haiti that must come on board to design a way towards Haiti once again being a functional democracy, which is in the interest of us all. We certainly support the Haitian people in their efforts to solve their problems,” Golding said.
Last month, United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, described Haiti as a “tragic situation” and that Haiti faces dramatic humanitarian needs, including a political system that is paralyzed and levels of violence by gangs “that are appalling,”, especially after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.
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