Jamaica to Continue to Monitor Developments in Haiti

Jamaica remains involved as part of CARICOM’s response to the crisis in the Republic of Haiti, accelerated by the assassination of its President Jovenel Moïse on Wednesday, 7th July 2021.

Monday, 12th July 2021

Jamaica: Jamaica remains involved as part of CARICOM’s response to the crisis in the Republic of Haiti, accelerated by the assassination of its President Jovenel Moïse on Wednesday, 7th July 2021. Giving a statement in the Senate on July 9, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, said Jamaica condemns the heinous incident and stands in solidarity and aid with Haiti & its people, including members of the Haitian Diaspora in Jamaica. “We continue to monitor the developments and continue willing to render assistance as we are able,” she said, remarking that Jamaica, CARICOM and the wider world community, have been profoundly shocked and disheartened by the tragic news of the assassination of President Jovinel Moïse. “We join with the international community & with Haitians at home and in the Diaspora, in wishing Lady Moϊse a full & speedy recovery, even as we mourn with her on the death of her husband,” she said. She pointed out that PM, Andrew Holness, has conveyed his own deepest condolences to the family of President Jovinel Moϊse, on behalf of the Govt and the people of Jamaica. Senator Johnson Smith told since the emergence of the most recent electoral crisis over a year and a half ago, linking to the term of office of the President & the holding of elections, CARICOM, particularly at the level of Heads of Government, has consistently sought to occupy Haiti. She stated the situation has also been discussed on numerous occasions, including at the Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Govt held in February 2021, where it was agreed that an Expert Group should be built to prepare a report for the attention of Heads. She notified that at the 42nd Conference of the Heads of Government, held from July 5-6, Heads of Government got an update on the findings of the CARICOM Expert Group and circulated a statement on the situation. Minister Johnson Smith stated the assassination of the President has precipitated another level to the crisis, and Heads of Government have shown that calm & security are paramount at this time. “A Special Emergency Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Govt was convened on the very day of the assassination, to address the tragic developments in Haiti. In the meeting, the Heads of Government reaffirmed their eagerness to engage stakeholders in arriving at an agreed solution. CARICOM also admitted to its willingness to play a lead role in facilitating a process of national dialogue & negotiation to address the current crisis. The Community also issued a statement,” she disclosed. Senator Johnson Smith stated as a mark of respect, all CARICOM Member States and the CARICOM Secretariat are to fly their national flags and the CARICOM Standard at half-mast for three days commencing from 7th July 2021. Additionally, she said the flags would also be flown at half-mast on the day of President Moïse’s funeral, which is to be stated. Ms. Johnson Smith said that the Interim Prime Minister- Dr. Claude Joseph, has shown that the electoral timetables, which had previously been stated and which were carried by CARICOM and the wider international community, will be followed. “We will remain to monitor developments in this regard,” she said. She disclosed that parts of the Caribbean Community, including Jamaica, have also been working by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations (UN) to assure that attention continues focused on the electoral disaster in Haiti, that Haiti continues a part of the deliberations and that there is no external imposition. “We all recognise that much remains to be done and CARICOM is committed to living engaged thereon. In this respect, the leaders of the region remain their oversight of the Community’s attention and response, with due respect to the sovereignty of Haiti and the principles on which the Community is set up. It is appreciated that the circumstances in our sister island, its systems & institutions which have been the subject of international assistance, proceed to require support,” Mrs. Johnson Smith stated. She notified as well that the United Nations had provided assistance, the OAS and the Core Group (consisting of representatives from Brazil; Canada; France; Germany; Spain; the EU; the United States of America and Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General and the OAS), during the period of uncertainty. She further noted that too that the Organisation of American States began a Good Offices Mission to Haiti from 8th to the 10th June 2021, on the invitation of President Moïse. She notified that the Good Offices Mission, which incorporated CARICOM representation, was an inclusive fact-finding gesture that initiated a dialogue among key stakeholders such as the government, opposition, business, religious and civil society to seek to find a viable solution to the ongoing political situation in Haiti. “We note that the first recommended step in finding this solution was the naming by President Moïse of a new PM, Mr. Ariel Henry, a day before the tragic incident occurred,” she said. As it compares to the current situation in Haiti, she said that Interim Prime Minister, Dr. Claude Joseph, has announced a 15 days “State of Siege,” which commenced on 7th July 2021, following an amazing meeting of the Council of Ministers. She revealed that the State of Siege means that all borders are closed, and martial law is temporarily forced with the military and police empowered to enforce the law. “It has also been proclaimed that Haiti continues in a state of relative calm. As the people of Haiti come to terms with the unfolding progress, we request the relevant stakeholders to remain calm, to develop a sense of peace, to protect & preserve lives and livelihoods, as well as the maintenance of maintaining law and order,” she added. Leader of the Opposition Business in the Senate, Senator Peter Bunting, stated the Opposition joins the Government in showing condemnation of the assassination of President Moïse and a full and speedy recovery of Lady Moïse.