Finding lasting solutions to Haiti’s deepening political, security, and governance crises is a top priority for the Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General, Ambassador Albert Ramdin, during his 2025–2030 tenure. “I have made Haiti a priority, and we are working very hard on Haiti currently. That is an effort that goes to the heart of the OAS, in terms of its core principles—about democracy, human rights, security, and development. And in Haiti, regretfully, all these issues are challenged at the moment, in the absence of a legitimate government,” he told reporters in an interview last week.
Forced migration from Haiti to nearby Caribbean nations like Jamaica and The Bahamas underscores the regional impact of the crisis. Ramdin reiterated his commitment to re-establishing the ‘Group of Friends of Haiti’ within the OAS and pledged to work closely with CARICOM and other international stakeholders. “I had good conversations in Jamaica about Haiti with the CARICOM leaders, with the Honorable Prime Minister Andrew Holness. And I want to make sure that we are clear about it,” said Ramdin, who attended the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Montego Bay, St. James, last week.
- Advertisement -
He praised CARICOM for its leadership and efforts in facilitating a governance process in Haiti, particularly through the establishment of the Transitional Presidential Council. “CARICOM has done great work in facilitating a process of governance by bringing together stakeholders to form the Transitional Presidential Council as a form of governance in absence of elections of a parliament and a cabinet government. I know that we need to work towards that end. But I salute CARICOM’s efforts—the Eminent Persons Group, the CARICOM chairpersons of Guyana and Suriname and also Barbados and now Jamaica,” he said.
The OAS, he added, will align its efforts with CARICOM’s framework and contribute to a broader, long-term strategy under a five-pillar ‘Haitian Road Map’ developed in consultation with Haitian authorities. The first critical focus is restoring security, especially ensuring access to vulnerable communities. “We need better security in Haiti. We need access roads to people who are in need of assistance to be free. We need the ports secure. And so security in different manifestations need to be addressed. Security and humanitarian assistance are to be provided, but they need to be well organised,” he explained.
Ramdin said the plan is in its final stages and will soon be presented to Haitian authorities, the United Nations, CARICOM, and other stakeholders. “We want to showcase how much is already being done in terms of assisting Haiti,” he added.
The OAS is also working on citizen identification initiatives to support future elections and ensure the integrity of democratic processes. Coordination meetings with CARICOM and the United Nations are expected by the end of the month to harmonize efforts and prevent duplication.
In addition to the OAS, other regional and international agencies—including the Inter-American Development Bank, the Pan American Health Organization, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture—are also involved in Haiti’s recovery. Ramdin stressed the need to go beyond basic humanitarian relief, emphasizing the importance of education, healthcare, and getting children back into classrooms.
“We need to get the political stakeholders which have been mobilized by CARICOM to develop a forward-looking agenda for Haiti, in terms of political and constitutional reform, as well as economic rebuilding. Key issues on health and education and security should lead us to elections,” he said.
Despite its unique set of challenges, Haiti shares many of the same issues facing other Caribbean nations, including climate change, debt burdens, migration pressures, and underdeveloped education systems. These common concerns, Ramdin said, require a unified and sustained regional response.
