(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Georgetown, Guyana) – “The people of Haiti deserve the opportunity to experience another way of being to determine their destiny, to secure their rights and to be free from oppressive forces from within and without.”
These were the words of host Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, as he made an impassioned plea for the people of Haiti at the High-Level Meeting on Haiti, held on Monday 11 March in Jamaica.
The meeting which followed weeks of intensive discussions involving CARICOM, Haitian stakeholders and international partners, ended with breakthrough agreements on a peaceful transition of power in Haiti.
Prime Minister Holness said, “what Haiti needs now is new cohesive domestic resolve … a long-term reconstruction and support plan from the Region and the international partners.”
The Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti, he said, was a “critical and a necessary first step to restore basic Law and Order and provide an environment of stability to allow the distribution of assistance and the crafting of medium and long-term Solutions.”
The Jamaican Prime Minister said that strong, decisive action, was needed “to stem the tide of lawlessness and hopelessness in Haiti.” He went on to state that “this cannot be allowed to happen, not in our hemisphere with our longstanding democratic tradition and reputation as a Zone of Peace.”
Underscoring the centrality of “Haitian voices” in charting the course forward for their country, Holness said “the Haitian people must feel and know that they are a vital part of the process having ownership in its planning and implementation.”
He called on all parties to work collectively, noting, “disjointed effort will be no match for those who would seek to sow discord and prevent a just and secure future for Haiti.”
Prime Minister Holness expressed satisfaction with being able to convene the meeting at short notice, saying it was done with “great determination that this time we will do for Haiti what needs to be done.” He added, “Jamaica remains firmly committed to the Haitian cause as was demonstrated through the conduct of our regional responsibilities within the MSS Mission, our level of engagement in CARICOM and at the United Nations.”
The Prime Minister commended the Chairman of CARICOM, H.E. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, for his determination in convening the engagement. He also praised other CARICOM Heads of Government whom, he said, had been intensively engaged in discussions and outreach to Haiti, over the past weeks. The countries which were represented and the agencies which committed or indicated support for the Meeting also came in for high praise from the Jamaican Prime Minister.
