PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – A delegation of Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti on Sunday on a reconnaissance mission to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country following the East African country’s offer to help the Haitian National Police (HNP) in their bid to restore peace and security in the country.
Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Alfred Mutua, has said that his country’s commitment is to deploy 1,000 police officers to help train and assist Haitian police in restoring normalcy in the country and protecting strategic installations.
Two CARICOM countries – the Bahamas and Jamaica- have already said they are willing to provide personnel, and the United States has also indicated a willingness to put forward a Security Council resolution to back a deployment.
Last year, Haiti’s Prime Minister, Dr. Ariel Henry, sent an urgent appeal to the UN asking for “the immediate deployment of a specialized armed force, in sufficient quantity” to stop gang warfare in his country.
On Sunday, nearly a dozen senior police officers left the Toussaint Louverture International Airport under heavy security. The mission, led by Deputy Inspector General of Administrative Police Noor Gabow, will meet with Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry and Defense Minister Enold Joseph, among others.
Last week, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, urged the Security Council to ensure that a multinational police deployment force is sent to Haiti to restore peace and security.
In a report circulated to the 15-member Security Council, the UN Secretary-General outlined two potential UN options: providing logistical support to a multinational force and Haiti’s police and strengthening a UN political mission already in Haiti.
Last Friday, UN human rights officials denounced the “extreme brutality” of gangs in Haiti.
They said from January 1 to August 15, more than 2,400 people were reported killed, more than 950 kidnapped, and another 902 injured.
Last week, the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group (EPG) said it has been holding virtual discussions with Haitian stakeholders as efforts continue to deal with the ongoing socio-economic and political situation.
The group, headed by former St. Lucia prime minister Dr. Kenny Anthony and his two former prime ministerial colleagues, Bruce Golding of Jamaica and Perry Christie of the Bahamas, had traveled to Port au Prince last month to continue meeting with government and other Haitian stakeholders.
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