Caribbean
Urgent Summit in Jamaica to Address Haiti’s Crisis Amidst Escalating Anarchy
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In a crucial gathering set for Monday in Jamaica, leaders from the region are convening an emergency meeting to deliberate on the increasingly dire situation in Haiti. This initiative comes in the wake of escalating violence in Haiti, culminating last week when armed factions orchestrated a siege on numerous areas within the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince.
Amidst the chaos, the United States Embassy saw the evacuation of non-essential personnel, facilitated by U.S. Marines on Sunday. This move left behind a contingent to reinforce the embassy’s security in the aftermath of violent confrontations, particularly affecting Port-au-Prince’s political district. The turmoil also prompted the departure of the German ambassador and several EU officials from Haiti, as battles intensified. In response, Germany’s foreign ministry has relocated its operations to the Dominican Republic, planning to continue from there indefinitely.
The assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021 marked the beginning of Haiti’s descent into turmoil, with armed groups exploiting the power vacuum to assert dominance over the capital and its peripheries. The situation escalated dramatically towards the end of February when a coalition led by Jimmy Cherizier, also known by his alias “Barbecue,” a former police officer turned gang leader, launched assaults on key locations including police stations, prisons, hospitals, and the airport.
The aftermath of these attacks has seen thousands of inmates from two prisons, including the national penitentiary housing over 4,000 individuals, now free and causing further unrest. Civilians, in a desperate quest for safety, broke into a public building last Saturday, seeking refuge over their own homes.
Amidst the violence, Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s efforts to reinforce Haiti’s security with Kenyan police forces were thwarted when he could not return to the country. Initially attempting to land in the Dominican Republic, his flight was redirected to Puerto Rico following the closure of Dominican airspace to Haitian flights.
With gangs calling for his resignation, Prime Minister Henry, whose term was set to end in February 2022, has pledged to stay in office until general elections can be conducted, promising a timeline extending to August 2025. Despite not being elected and lacking confirmation as Prime Minister, Henry is seen as a key figure in Haiti’s attempts at governance, especially in the absence of a functioning legislature due to expired lawmaker terms and a decade without general elections.
Despite growing calls for Henry’s resignation, U.S. officials have opted for a more cautious approach, emphasizing the need for a swift transition to a government that includes a broader base of stakeholders. CARICOM’s push for Henry’s departure has met resistance, with U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller underscoring the importance of establishing an empowered and inclusive governance structure without directly demanding Henry’s resignation.
As violence persists in Port-au-Prince and security forces remain overwhelmed, the path to restoring order in Haiti remains uncertain. The upcoming meeting in Jamaica, featuring discussions between CARICOM leaders and representatives from the United States, France, Canada, and the United Nations, aims to explore solutions for stabilizing Haiti and providing essential humanitarian assistance, as articulated by Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, the current CARICOM chair.
Caribbean
Haiti Appoints Garry Conille as Interim Prime Minister Amid Escalating Crisis
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Haiti’s Transitional Council has appointed development specialist Garry Conille as the new interim prime minister, following the controversial selection and subsequent removal of Fritz Bélizaire. The decision comes amid increasing political turmoil and widespread violence in the nation.
The initial appointment of Bélizaire was met with significant backlash, with critics accusing the council of disregarding its own selection procedures. In response to these concerns, the council restarted the selection process, ultimately choosing Conille to assume the role.
Garry Conille, previously the regional director for UNICEF in Latin America and the Caribbean, brings experience to the prime ministership, having briefly served in the position from October 2011 to May 2012 under then-President Michel Martelly. His prior tenure ended due to an investigation into government officials holding dual nationality, which is prohibited by Haiti’s constitution.
Conille steps into his role at a critical juncture, as violence from armed groups surges and state forces struggle to maintain order. One of his immediate challenges will be the delayed deployment of a Kenya-led security force intended to bolster the Haitian National Police. Originally scheduled for this week, the deployment has been postponed by at least three weeks due to incomplete preparations, including the construction of necessary bases and provision of essential equipment for the 200 personnel.
Beyond addressing security concerns, Conille faces the daunting task of reviving Haiti’s economy, which is suffering from severe inflation and the disruption of internal trade routes controlled by armed groups.
The Montana Accord, a civil society organization with representation on the transitional council, has criticized the council for its lack of transparency and slow progress in addressing the country’s deteriorating situation. They accuse the leadership group of failing to take meaningful steps towards stabilization, while the population continues to suffer and gangs expand their control.
UNICEF confirmed that Conille would be stepping down from his role as regional director, but he has yet to make any public statements regarding his new appointment.
Caribbean
Fritz Bélizaire Named Interim Prime Minister of Haiti by Transitional Council
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Fritz Bélizaire has been designated as Haiti’s new interim Prime Minister by the nation’s transitional council, a pivotal move aimed at steering the country toward fresh elections and restoring democratic governance. The announcement came on Tuesday, positioning Mr. Bélizaire as the successor to Michel Patrick Boisvert, who temporarily filled the role during former Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s international engagements.
Complications arose when Mr. Henry found himself unable to return to Haiti, leading to his resignation and the installation of Mr. Boisvert as the acting head of government. This situation prompted the formation of a transitional council tasked with charting a course forward for the nation.
The decision to appoint Mr. Bélizaire was not unanimous among the council members, with four endorsing him and three expressing reservations due to their unfamiliarity with his previous roles. Mr. Bélizaire served as the Minister of Sports under President René Préval from 2006 to 2011, a tenure that, according to Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics analyst at the University of Virginia, left him relatively unknown in political circles. Dr. Fatton suggested that Mr. Bélizaire’s low profile might actually facilitate broader acceptance as Prime Minister, offering a potential advantage in his new role.
Edgard Leblanc Fils, the president of the transitional council, affirmed the selection, emphasizing that Mr. Bélizaire represents a unifying figure capable of transcending political divides and fostering consensus. “This is a very good choice for Prime Minister,” Mr. Fils remarked. He highlighted the council’s commitment to overcoming internal conflicts and advancing toward stability and electoral processes.
The transitional council aims to stabilize the nation sufficiently to conduct elections by February 2026, at which point their mandate concludes.
Caribbean
Multiple Passengers Vanish During Cruise Ship Visits to BVI, Sparking Immigration Fears
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The British Virgin Islands government is actively seeking information on the whereabouts of a Colombian woman who vanished after disembarking from a cruise ship, escalating concerns over potential illegal immigration. Monica Marcela Pineda, a passenger on the Norwegian Sky, failed to reboard the ship following its stop in the territory last Sunday, according to a government bulletin. Authorities confirmed that Pineda neither left the territory by other legal routes nor returned to the departing cruise ship.
This incident is not isolated. Recent weeks have seen similar disappearances involving passengers from the same vessel. On April 19, another port call by the Norwegian Sky saw two more passengers, Pascal Bosman from the Netherlands and Martire Cabrera, a Dominican Republic national with a St. Kitts & Nevis passport, also fail to return to the ship in Tortola without any record of them leaving the BVI by alternative means.
Further, on March 10, three Colombians—Jean Carlo Ospina Cano, Pamela Mesa Escobar, and Yesica Yogana Marin Ramirez—similarly disappeared after the Norwegian Sky docked in March. None of these individuals have been seen since disembarking.
The recurring disappearances of these five individuals during various visits by the Norwegian Sky in recent months have heightened concerns about illegal immigration in the British Virgin Islands. Authorities are urging the public to provide any information that could help address these incidents and ensure the integrity of the territory’s borders.
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