HAITI-Haiti cannot wait. The time for decisive, coordinated action is now.

WASHINGTON, CMC – Twelve Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have joined several other countries in reaffirming that Haiti’s path forward must remain Haitian-led, with the full ownership of its institutions and civil society.

In a joint statement, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago joined Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay in reaffirming their solidarity with the Haitian people and respect for Haiti’s sovereignty.

They said they are also doing so in a commitment to supporting Haiti at this critical moment in line with the resolution “Calling for Concrete Solutions to be brought to bear as a Matter of Urgency to Resolve the Grave Security and Institutional Crisis in Haiti” that had been adopted by the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly in Antigua and Barbuda in June this year.

Haiti has been facing political, economic, and social problems ever since its President Jovenel Moise was assassinated at his private residence in July 2021. Criminal gangs have all but taken complete control of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Despite the presence of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, hundreds of people have been killed and forced to leave their homes.

On August 20, the OAS Permanent Council received the Secretary General Albert Ramdin’s presentation of the updated Haiti Roadmap “Towards a Haitian-Led Roadmap for Stability and Peace with Regional and International Support”

This Haitian-led, internationally supported framework, in development with Haitian authorities, the United Nations, and Inter-American partners, sets security as the enabling condition for humanitarian response and the restoration of democratic governance through free and fair elections and introduces practical mechanisms for coordination, transparency, and resource mobilization to reduce duplication and drive a coherent response.

“We recognize the United Nations’ central role in promoting and maintaining international peace and security. We also acknowledge that violence perpetrated by organized criminal groups and gangs in Haiti, even outside of armed conflict, threatens lives and livelihoods as well as regional peace and security.

“In that spirit, we support the establishment of a UN Support Office for Haiti (UNSOH) and a transition of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to a new force that is focused on the establishment of a safe and stable environment, for Haitian authorities to restore and maintain the rule of law, including through dismantling gangs,” the countries said in their joint statement.

They paid tribute to Kenya for leading the MSS mission, as well as to the Bahamas, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Jamaica for contributing personnel, adding “considering that peace requires more than security operations, we will support Haitian-led efforts to address the root causes and drivers of violence, weak democratic institutions, corruption, poverty, and persistent striking social inequalities, as well as limited access to education and essential public services”.

The countries highlight what they say is the critical role of the OAS in strengthening institutional and operational capacities through a civil, humanitarian, and human rights approach while fully respecting Haitian leadership, national democratic institutionality, and international legal norms with particular attention to addressing sexual violence and protecting women, children, and members of other vulnerable groups.

“We, as member states of the OAS, stand ready to work in partnership, according to national capabilities and in line with OAS mandates, with the United Nations and with Haiti to advance the OAS Haiti Roadmap and support the Haitian people.

“We encourage voluntary contributions to the UN Trust Fund to support the new force to be established by the UNSC. We also welcome complementary support via the OAS SECURE-Haiti platform for HNP enablement, consistent with the UN framework.

“We reaffirm that Haiti’s path forward must remain Haitian-led, with the full ownership of its institutions and civil society. Humanitarian assistance, long-term socio-economic development, the protection of members of vulnerable groups, and respect for human rights and international law must remain at the core of our collective effort.”

The countries state that the OAS, CARICOM, and the UN must act in full coordination to ensure coherence, legitimacy, and effectiveness, adding, “Today, we send a united hemispheric message: Haiti cannot wait. The time for decisive, coordinated action is now.”