A high-level regional and international delegation is in Haiti this week as the country prepares for elections and seeks to strengthen security, political institutions and humanitarian support amid an ongoing crisis.
The four-day mission, running from August 16 to 19, is being led by Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary-General Albert Ramdin and includes CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett, along with representatives from Haitian institutions and several international organizations. CARICOM said the delegation’s work is focused on political dialogue, security, elections, human security, investment and recovery.
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The visit comes at a critical point for Haiti, where authorities are attempting to move ahead with a long-delayed electoral process while armed gangs continue to control large areas of the country, particularly in and around Port-au-Prince.
The delegation is expected to meet with Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, Foreign Affairs Minister Raina Forbin and other senior government officials, as well as authorities responsible for security and the organization of elections. Discussions with Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) are expected to focus on preparations for the upcoming vote.
Haiti is currently scheduled to hold its presidential and legislative elections on December 13, 2026, according to the OAS, although the ability to conduct a credible nationwide vote will depend heavily on improvements in security and the government’s ability to provide access to polling locations.
Prime Minister Fils-Aimé has repeatedly insisted that Haiti will hold elections this year, despite the security challenges. His government has been working with the CEP to advance voter registration and other preparations, while international partners continue to push for a Haitian-led political transition.
The CARICOM delegation’s involvement reflects the regional body’s longstanding position that Haiti’s political future must be determined through a Haitian-led and Haitian-owned process, with regional and international partners providing support rather than directing the country’s political affairs. CARICOM has played a central role in efforts to facilitate political dialogue in Haiti since the country’s crisis deepened following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
Security is expected to remain a major part of the delegation’s discussions. The mission is also engaging with the Haitian National Police and international security partners as efforts continue to restore state authority and protect civilians. The OAS said the broader objective is to translate international support into practical assistance in security, institutional strengthening, humanitarian needs and long-term development.
The delegation’s agenda extends beyond elections. Representatives from the United Nations, Pan American Health Organization, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), Inter-American Defense Board and Inter-American Defense College are also participating. The broad composition reflects an effort to address Haiti’s crisis through coordinated political, security, humanitarian and economic measures rather than treating the electoral process in isolation.
For CARICOM, the mission also provides an opportunity to reinforce the Caribbean Community’s role in supporting Haiti’s return to democratic governance. Dr Barnett’s participation underscores the region’s continuing engagement as Haiti attempts to move from prolonged transitional rule toward an elected government.
The timing of the visit is particularly significant. After years without national elections, Haiti is now moving toward a potential vote while simultaneously confronting severe insecurity, displacement and institutional weakness. International partners therefore face the difficult task of supporting the electoral process without compromising Haitian ownership of it.
The delegation’s visit is intended to help close that gap by bringing Haitian authorities and international institutions together to identify practical support for elections, security and recovery. Whether those efforts can produce the conditions necessary for Haitians to safely participate in a credible national vote remains one of the country’s most pressing challenges.
