Antigua PM Browne wants Haiti’s interim leader Ariel Henry to “step aside”

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne stated at the CARICOM conference on Monday that Ariel Henry, Haiti’s interim leader needs to “Step aside’ to allow assistance and solutions for the political and socioeconomic situations in Haiti.

The 46^th CARICOM Meeting was initiated on the 25^th, and the overwhelming majority of attention has been on issues surrounding the nation of Haiti. The assassination of President Jovenel Moise acted as a catalyst for all the turmoil that would follow. The assassination created a power vacuum which exasperated leadership instability and trust in the government.

Moise’s presidency was riddled with controversy, specifically surrounding corruption which further fueled political unrest. This destabilization of government has caught the Caribbean's eye, the instability has spread out to surrounding regions through a developing refugee crisis, increased security threats and economic disruptions.

Haiti is currently a full member state of CARICOM, and the organization is fulfilling a moral and political obligation to assist Haiti in facing its challenges. In a telephonic interview PM Browne suggested that Henry’s involvement with the government is “part of the problem”.

He states “With no disrespect, my dear friend Henry is part of the problem and I think there are many in Haiti who believe that the interventions that are planned by the stakeholder groups are intended to prop up Henry”.

And goes on to say “At the end of the day, he barely has legitimacy and we have to be careful that perception is not seen as the reality of the Haitian people which could only serve to inflame the situation”

Last October the security council green-lit the deployment of troops under their Multinational Security Mission (MSS) to assist Haiti’s police force which Kenya offered to lead, but had the decision unruled through their high court last month.

Brown claimed that the French did not pledge “sufficient” funds towards deploying MSS, even stating “Perhaps we need to remind them of their historical role in Haiti and the legacy they have left behind.”