SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic, Leaders of the Central American Integration System (SICA) are supporting a call made by the Dominican Republic for the international community to intervene in the ongoing socio-economic and political situation in Haiti.
According to the Declaration of Santiago de los Caballeros, issued at the end of the meeting of Heads of State and Government last weekend, the representatives of Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and the Dominican Republic, expressed concern at the ongoing economic, social, political and humanitarian situation in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country which they said hinder the development of the country.
“We support the urgent call that the Dominican Republic has made to the international community in order to address this serious crisis, launching joint actions and efforts to enable a lasting and sustainable response in Haiti,” according to the Declaration that was signed by the SICA leaders.
“The international community has an obligation to come to the aid of Haiti to overcome the suffering endured by this people and, above all, also so that its Government can assume a higher level of responsibility,” said Dominican Republic President Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona.
Haiti has been plunged into chaos with criminal gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom and opposition political parties staging street demonstrations calling for the government of Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry to step down. The opposition parties have also been calling for fresh presidential and legislative elections.
Henry, who took over the leadership of the country following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise on July 7 last year, has urged the international community to send in troops to assist in maintaining law and order.
Henry has been condemning persons whom he said wanted to acquire political power in the country without first seeking a mandate from the population.
In a nationwide radio and television broadcast on Sunday night, Henry made a commitment that the country would be in election mode before the end of 2022. But that appears to be unlikely to occur.
Meanwhile, Belize Prime Minister John Briceño has assumed the Presidency Pro-Tempore (PPT) of SICA, succeeding President Abinader Corona of the Dominican Republic.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Briceño congratulated the Dominican Republic for its accomplishments during the term of its presidency and pledged Belize’s full support in advancing the efforts of the Dominican Republic on the implementation of SICA’s regional agenda.
As the PPT, Belize will be steering the regional integration process based on the five priority pillars of SICA integration, which are economic and social integration, institutional strengthening, democratic security, climate change, and sustainable development.
“Along with these pillars, Belize will also focus on issues high on its national development agenda, such as climate change, food security, migration, and deeper engagement with CARICOM and SICA< according to a government statement issued in Belmopan.
Belize’s presidency will be for the first six months of 2023. The country last held the PPT of SICA in 2018.
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