Govt, Caricom working for solution to Haitian crisis – Pres Ali

…procuring essential food, medicine becoming increasingly challenging – UN

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has reminded the region that the Guyana government and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), which he chairs, continues to direct stringent efforts to the formulation of a Haitian-led solution to the turmoil in Haiti.
Speaking at Tuesday’s handing-over of $110.8 million in humanitarian aid for Palestine, President Ali also referenced the situation in Haiti. He noted that Guyana continues to give its support to the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) appointed by Caricom last year to assist Haiti.
The members of the EPG include former Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Perry Christie; former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding; and former Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Dr. Kenny Anthony.
“We’ve been supporting efforts there. We’ve also dedicated resources as a government. I’ve committed Guyana will continue to support the work of the EPG. I’ve committed our continued support as we define the role of the EPG. And we set out the task of the EPG in the coming months, as we work towards helping and supporting the Haitian people in their quest,” the Head of State said.
Throughout the process, the Caribbean Community has been careful to stress that this is a Haitian led effort. President Ali reinforced this message, noting that they are merely supporting the Haitians as they seek to return their country to normalcy.
“This is a Haitian led initiative, owned by the Haitian people in their quest to have their country return to normalcy and to have the institutions of state functioning,” President Ali further explained.

Food and medicine
Meanwhile, Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, held a briefing at noon on Tuesday, where he also referenced Haiti. Worryingly, he revealed that procuring essential food and medicine is becoming increasingly challenging.
This is with the international airport closed, main ports barely functional and roads to the capital blocked. Additionally, fuel is becoming increasingly scarce, with the price soaring on the black market amid transportation woes.
Earlier this month, Haiti had formally announced the creation of the nine-member transitional presidential council, which will be tasked with choosing the country’s next prime minister and Cabinet, a long-awaited move considering the spate of violence in Haiti.
It was announced in the decree that the Council will exercise certain presidential powers until a new president-elect can be inaugurated no later than February 7, 2026. The council’s mandate will thus end on that date, with no provision for an extension.
Previously, embattled Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry had announced he would resign once the council had been created and a new Prime Minister chosen. Henry’s announcement in March had come amid mounting pressure from a spiraling security breakdown and concerted efforts from Caricom and Haitian stakeholders, with the assistance of the international community, to broker a way forward.
Coming out of these crucial talks among Caricom Heads in Jamaica on how to return Haiti to a state of normalcy, the regional bloc had announced that the Presidential Council would be established to guide Haiti towards elections and the restoration of order.
This announcement was made by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, when she addressed the media at the press conference following the talks. Mottley said that 80 to 90 per cent of proposals put on the table were agreed to by the stakeholders.
Further, Mottley explained that the next interim Prime Minister would work with the Presidential Council to establish a government. Additionally, a provisional electoral council would be established as a critical institution.
Additionally, Mottley had noted that as a regional community, Caricom has agreed with its international partners on four principles, including that persons on the Presidential Council should not run in any future elections in Haiti.
Haiti has been engulfed in turmoil since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Since then, the streets have been overrun by gangs, and there has been a continuous cycle of violence.
That violence flared even more when, in February, criminal gangs in the capital Port-au-Prince conducted coordinated attacks targeting Police Stations, prisons, critical infrastructure, and civilian sites in the city.
On March 2, armed gang members raided two penitentiaries, reportedly freeing some 3800 inmates, after which Haitian authorities announced a three-day State of Emergency and imposed a nighttime curfew. (G3)