LIMA, PERU– The Organisation of American States (OAS) is being urged to do more to deal with the socio-economic and political situation in Haiti even as Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry called on “the entire international community, all the countries that are friends of Haiti, to stand by our side.”
Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the OAS, Sir Ronald Sanders, addressing the 52nd Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly here, said that the Gaston Browne government wanted to make it clear “that Haiti cannot be left by itself to deal with rampaging, armed gangs who kidnap, terrorize and enrich themselves, defying all laws and tearing down institutions. “
Sir Ronald said the gangs in Haiti must be brought under control without further delay.
“The countries, in this Assembly, with the resources to help, should do so, and the Haitian authorities must provide them with the guarantees, including stomping our corruption, that is necessary to help.
“The alternative is creating a criminal state in our midst and a base for criminal activity in our neighborhood. The Haitian people do not want this. They are the victims,” the Antigua and Barbuda diplomat told the hemispheric body.
“This OAS must help and help now,” he said, adding that the “OAS can be a force for good, an instrument of peace and prosperity and an influence for democracy and development, but only if we reform it, respect it and resource it,” Sir Ronald said.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed Washington “sincerely appreciate (s) Canada’s leadership in convening what an incredibly timely and critical discussion on the situation in Haiti, which builds on introductory talks that we’ve had on Haiti on the margins of the UN General Assembly and at the senior-level international partner’s meetings that we’ve held since December of last year is.
“We are deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation on the ground. We strongly condemn the acts of violence, the looting, and the destruction of the past weeks, including the gangs’ continuing fuel blockade, which has had a devastating impact across Haiti, undermining the health and safety of thousands of people.
“We’ll continue to promote accountability for those responsible for fomenting the violence, particularly economic and political actors instigating these events for their interests,” he added.
Blinken commended the efforts of the Haitian National Police, “who have been working tirelessly to try to keep the peace.
“But they need our help. They need our continuing support.”
Over the past 18 months, the US Secretary of State said the United States had allocated more than US$90 million in security assistance to strengthen the Haitian Police’s capacity to counter the gangs,” adding that the administration is “coordinating closely with our partners to discuss what more we can do.
“We remain committed to working with the international community and the Haitian people as they seek to restore security and democratic order for a more prosperous future, support for the political track, which is so critical, and the necessary economic and humanitarian support,” he said.
The statements by Sir Ronald and the Blinken came less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Henry, in a national broadcast, said he was launching “a solemn appeal to all the Haitian people, to all people of goodwill to make our voices heard, to mobilize us, to come together and to block the way to all these bad people who think they can bring a whole people to their knees and think that is the only road to gain power.”
In his third broadcast in as many days, Henry said he was asking the entire international community and those in the region “that are friends of Haiti to stand by our side and help us fight this humanitarian crisis.
“We want the international community to help the country get the fuel out for distribution and for activities to resume,” he said.
Earlier this week, a particular unit of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) launched yet another operation to try to open access to the Varreux Terminal, which has been blocked for more than 20 days by the coalition of G9 gangs.
Despite the clashes between the police and the bandits being intense throughout the day, media reports said the operation was unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the Gheskio Centers, which is dedicated to operational research, training, and services for diseases having a significant public health impact in Haiti, is warning that thousands of lives are in danger and is calling for the restoration of access to fuel to allow for other resources of the country, including drinking water being made available to the people.
It said that the fuel is also needed to transport patients to hospitals and to carry out investigations on the strains of the Cholera disease that re-surfaced here after a three-year absence.
“Unblocking will prevent thousands of deaths,” it added.
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