Former Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding warned Wednesday that Haiti is “perilously close” to being a failed state and urged the international community and other stakeholders to play a more meaningful role in ensuring the future socio-economic stability and security of the country.
Golding, who is one of the three Caribbean Community (Caricom) Eminent Persons Group (EPG), seeking to facilitate inclusive dialogue among Haitian stakeholders to find a solution to the protracted multi-dimensional crisis in the country, also cast doubt on Haiti holding elections later this year.
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Speaking during a World Bank-sponsored webinar on Haiti, Golding said that since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, “gangs have expanded their control over vast sections of Port au Prince, the seat of government, making it virtually impossible to have an election of a new president within the constitutionally mandate period of 120 days”.
“The security situation has continued to deteriorate under the interim administration of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the delay in the restoration of constitutional authority drained the legitimacy of his administration and its inability to provide basic public services has sapped public confidence of government and its institutions.”
Golding, who, along with former prime ministers Dr Kenny Anthony of St Lucia and Perry Christie of The Bahamas form the EPG, said the collapse of the Prime Minister Henry government last year, led, with Caricom’s input, to the establishment of the rotating nine-member Haitian Transitional Presidential Council (TPC).
“It is not an ideal situation but it was designed to seek to ensure inclusiveness of the…political actors and political elements in Haiti. We have worked with them now over the last 18 months (and) I can’t tell you I am happy and satisfied with the progress.
“The political differences have continued to disrupt the process, to interfere with the program that had been hammered out at a meeting in Jamaica in March last year. But it is the best arrangement that we think can work.”
Golding said as a result, Caricom continues to provide support to its member state “bearing in mind the solution to the Haitian problem has to be Haitian led, Haitian managed”.
“Haiti has suffered enough from external interference and therefore we have to be very respectful of its sovereignty, bearing in mind it is the country which blazed the trail for independence of black countries.
“We provide support, but we do not instruct, we do not dictate,” Golding told the webinar being held under the theme “Haiti-Looking Towards Creating Solutions”.
The former Jamaica prime minister said none of the plans the TPC has set about, in terms of constitutional reform and the holding of elections in November of this year, can proceed unless there is a restoration of security.
“You cannot hold elections unless people feel free to leave their homes to go to the polling locations to cast their votes, and that issue has not been going well.”
He said Caricom is grateful that the Kenyan government has provided almost 1,000 troops on the ground, “but in discussions we had with the Kenyan commander two weeks ago, he indicated that for their efforts to be effective, they need an additional 1,500 boots on the ground”.
“My own view is that it is understated, but I am not a security manager, he is — 1500 additional boots on the ground is not undoable, provided the resources, financing for it can be put in place.”
Golding said he is sure if the financial resources can be put in place, “those 1,500 boots on the ground could be mobilized within the Latin American region, but it is absolutely necessary to get an effective force, an overwhelming force to be able to push back against the gangs to restore security”.
He said that in a global economy, in the state index, Haiti now ranks 103.5 on a scale of one to 120.
“It is perilously close to failure but if we can bring the security situation under control then we can proceed with the constitutional reform program, we can hold elections to elect a new president and a new legislature and then the rebuilding of Haiti can begin.”
The United Nations (UN) Security Council in 2023 passed a resolution for the Kenya-led MSS Mission, aimed at combating gang violence and restoring stability in the country. Criminal gangs are seeking to take complete control of the capital Port au Prince, and have launched several attacks, killing women and children among others.
Golding said Haiti is going to have a “long journey” to rebuild confidence, re-establish the institutions of government and making them functional, “and to achieve the potential I am convinced having been to Haiti several times in the last 18 months…but we have to get to that first stage and I think it is absolutely important for the international partners to step forward”.
“Without their intervention, it is not going to work,” Golding said, adding that he hopes the visit of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Caribbean this week, where he will meet with the Haitian leadership, will be fruitful.
“I am hopeful that those discussions will help to advance the cause of Haiti and to restore it as a settled, peaceful member of the international community,” Golding said. (CMC)
