PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Dennis Francis, has ended a two-day official visit to Haiti, expressing support and solidarity with the Haitian people and urging all stakeholders to engage in a dialogue aimed at building political consensus towards a solution to the current crises.
During his visit, Francis held talks with Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry, indicating that the international community still remembers the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country and its citizens.
“They exchanged views on the ongoing political situation in the Caribbean Island, including the impending deployment of a Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2699,” according to a statement.
It said that Francis, the Trinidad and Tobago Ambassador to the UN, who is presiding over the current session of the UNGA, encouraged further progress to resolve the political, security, and humanitarian challenges to focus on the longer-term sustainable development of the country and the well-being of the Haitian people.
Francis also held separate meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Victor Généus, the Minister of Justice, Emmelie Prophète, and the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Sofia Loréus.
The statement said he expressed his concern about the escalation of violence, including sexual violence against women and girls being committed by gangs, and discussed possible mechanisms for enhanced protection.
Francis also received a “comprehensive briefing on the security situation in the country followed by a meeting with the representatives of UN agencies and funds in Haiti (UN Country Team) at the premises of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).”
He thanked the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti, María Isabel Salvador, her deputy Ulrika Richardson, and all the UN staff in Haiti for “their dedication to the execution of their respective mandates under challenging circumstances.”
In his encounter with political party representatives, the UNGA President “stressed the urgent need to identify concrete avenues in which the international community can support Haitian-led solutions to restore and maintain the country’s stability and sustainable development.
“The President further reflected upon the importance of returning to constitutional order and of reinstating Haiti’s most basic public services to meet the needs of the country’s population,” the statement said, adding that he “urged all political actors and national stakeholders to engage in a dialogue facilitated by CARICOM which aims to build political consensus, towards a solution to the current crises.”
On Tuesday, the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) said it would provide a draft framework of accord for the consideration by the various stakeholders in Haiti even as it acknowledged that the country “continues to hurt.”
The EPG is led by the former prime minister of St Lucia, Dr Kenny Anthony. It includes the former prime minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, and his former Bahamian counterpart, Perry Christie.
The EPG noted that the cycle of depredations and violence of the armed gangs continues, expanding to new areas and adding to the already high number of victims.
“The political actors, fully aware of this dire reality, continue their zero-sum approach to the efforts to reach an agreement that would bring an end to the protracted political deadlock, opening the way to address the other facets of the crisis.“
During his visit, Francis also exchanged with members of civil society and commended their active engagement in national discussions to improve good governance and promote human rights.
“For the President, a successful way forward must include the aspirations and reflections of the larger population. He encouraged the active participation of women, girls, and youth as an essential part of an all-inclusive political process on the future of Haiti,” the statement said.
Before leaving Haiti, Francis visited the Canapé-Vert School in Port-au-Prince and interacted with the students, adding, “There he witnessed the discipline of the students and saw the promise and potential of Haiti in their youthful eyes.”
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