Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has provided an update to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the work underway by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to facilitate Haitian-led and Haitian-owned solutions to the country’s ongoing crisis.
Johnson Smith, who spoke in her capacity as Chair of the Council of Foreign and Community Relations during a meeting convened by the UNSC recently, said “on behalf of CARICOM, I underscored the severity of the impact of the conflict on the people of Haiti, in particular women and children; and explained the real possibility of delay permitting the crisis to evolve into a full-blown civil war with severe implications for the wider region. I also briefed the meeting on the outcomes of the High-level meeting convened in Kingston, on March 11, 2024 by the President of Guyana in his capacity as Chair of the CARICOM Heads of Government and hosted by Prime Minister Andrew Holness”.
The Minister advised that the outcomes of the meeting in Kingston include an agreement to establish a Transitional Presidential Council, as well as the announcement by Prime Minister Ariel Henry of Haiti that he would resign upon the formation of this Council and the appointment of an interim Prime Minister. She further explained the intended modalities for the establishment and scope of work of the Transitional Presidential Council and provided an update on progress made towards its establishment. Key stipulations for membership in the Council included disqualifying anyone indicted or convicted, those under UN sanctions, individuals planning to run in the upcoming Haitian election, as well as anyone who opposes UN Security Council Resolution 2699 that seeks to provide for urgent and effective security support for the Haitian National Police (HNP).
Minister Johnson Smith reiterated the urgent need for the international community to provide financial, logistical and personnel contributions to humanitarian assistance in Haiti and for the deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, which was mandated by the UN Security Council in October 2023. She reaffirmed CARICOM’s appreciation to the Government of Kenya for their commitment to leading the MSS and expressed thanks to all countries who had either started providing support to Haiti or had pledged to so do.
Following the UNSC meeting, Minister Johnson Smith discussed with UN Secretary-General, His Excellency António Guterres, CARICOM’s unwavering efforts to address the crisis. The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation of CARICOM’s role and thanked Jamaica for its leadership in the process. In response, Minister Johnson Smith conveyed CARICOM’s gratitude for the efforts of the Secretary-General and requested the UN’s continued support for the MSS Mission and related efforts to bring about stability, peace and prosperity for the people of Haiti
