by STAFF WRITER
ROSEAU, Dominica, Mar 19, CMC – Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Tuesday said he believes there should be a high-level meeting on Haiti similar to what was held in Jamaica earlier this month as he criticized the slow pace of international support for ending the political and socio-economic situation in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
Speaking at a news conference, Skerrit said that regional leaders will be meeting by Zoom at 8.00 pm (local time) on Tuesday night to discuss the progress made so far regarding the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) paves the way for a peaceful transition of power and continuity of governance in Haiti.
“The situation in Haiti is very very serious and I believe that the international community has not placed the kind of seriousness or attention on Haiti that it has placed on other parts of the world,” Skerrit told reporters, acknowledging the efforts being made to prevent Russia from overriding Ukraine for example.
“I am not grudging them but Haiti needs help and some have promised the help and the help is not forthcoming. Now I understand there are certain complications in Haiti with regards to the gangs, the violence, no government institution functioning, and so forth, but where there is a will there is a way”.
Skerrit said he believes “there is not a deep-seated will and therefore we are unable to find a more direct path to assisting Haiti with its challenges”.
He said Haiti has had a long history of foreign intervention, acknowledging the reluctance of some in the international community to come forward to help Haiti.
He said from the CARICOM standpoint, “What we have sought to do is to lead the way working with the Haitian people …in getting them to understand and to define a Haitian-led solution to Haiti’s situation.
“What we have been doing is to provide the logistical support, the guidance, the encouragement of all of the actors in Haiti and we have met with all of the actors in Haiti…and as a matter of fact for March and February, I have spent more time on Haiti than I have spent on Dominica issues.
“Tonight we have a meeting at 8’o o’clock in Haiti again to follow up on some of the outstanding issues. I know that the Haitians have been meeting among themselves…to look at the possibility of establishing a provisional presidential council to set a date for elections…”
Skerrit said Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry has indicated a willingness to resign once the council is established, adding “There have been some movements based on what the Haitian people have been telling us because we are in touch with them daily…and my hope and prayer is that the Haitian people, even though they would not be able to agree on everything…agree on somethings.
Kenya had signed an agreement with Prime Minister Henry earlier this month, allowing for a United Nations Security Council-sanctioned international force led by the African country to restore peace and security in his troubled country.
Skerrit said he believes “people are waiting for the transitional presidential council to be put in place before they come in and so the security forces would not come in, I suspect on what we know, until and unless this council is put in place and a prime minister has been declared..and so one can have the authority to speak and take action.
“Having said all of this, I still believe that some of the countries can do more and one gets the sense that we are dragging our feet and time is not on the Haitian people’s side because the situation is getting worse and worse and I think we can just hope and pray that something can be done sooner rather than later, because it is already late.
” My suggestion to CARICOM is that we should convene another meeting similar to what we had in Jamaica with all of the Americans, the Canadians, the European Union, French, CARICOM, Brazil, and others to assess because it is over a week since we met in Jamaica and to assess where we are and what else needs to be done to support the Haitian people”.
Skerrit said he is aware of a UN Security Council on Haiti this week, saying “We do not want more speeches, we do not want more talking.
“The Haitian people need money and they need all the help they can get to restore their lives and livelihood and to allow people to go back to normal living,” Skerrit added.
CMC/pr/ir/2024