On the heels of a decision by the United Nations (UN) Security Council to send a Kenyan-led multinational security force to Haiti to restore peace and order, the Haiti Support Group here in Guyana mounted a protest outside of the CARICOM Headquarters, calling on the regional body not to support an international security force moving in to Haiti.
Standing on the picket line today, Member of the Guyana-Haiti Support Group, Danuta Radzik told News Source that Haiti does not need another intervention.
“The majority of the people of Haiti do not want any intervention or any invasion and they have said that over and over again. There have been countless interventions and invasions of Haiti by the US, by Europe and it has never worked, and the Haitians know these things have not worked,” Radzik said.
The UN led intervention, however, has met a stumbling block with a Judge in Haiti temporarily blocking the Kenyan government from sending Police to Haiti following an application by an opposition politician.
However, together with Charlene Wilkinson – a University of Guyana Lecturer and Group Member – Radzik submitted that none of the interventions in the past worked to the benefit of the people of Haiti.
“Ariel Henry who is the President – he is a de facto president – he was not elected by the Haitian people, and his rule has let to the deterioration where the situation just gets worse and worse in terms of violence, in terms of kidnapping, in terms of rape of women and girls, in terms of people having to flee their homes and where they live and try and get somewhere to safety,” Radzik added.
She said instead of supporting another “invasion,” CARICOM should push for a transitional representative Government that would ultimately facilitate free and fair elections. Haiti is a member of CARICOM.
“CARICOM should abide by the wishes of the Haitian people, and what the Haitian people have said, and this is over a long period of time where the situation is getting worse and worse, is what they need is a transitional representative government, so it could stabilize the country and then lead to free and fair elections and elections free from fair because right now, Ariel Henry is not an elected leader, but unfortunately, the UN and even CARICOM is recognizing him, and therefore allowing him to rule Haiti,” Radzik said.
Last July, CARICOM said it was in support of moves by international partners such as Kenya to strengthen the Haitian National Police (HNP).
At the time, the CARICOM leaders also welcomed a statement by the Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry that he will not seek election but will head a Transition Government to secure the arrangements to transition the country from the security and humanitarian crisis until the holding of credible, free, and fair elections.
A CARICOM Eminent Persons Group (EPG) has also been working with the Haitian Government and stakeholders in an effort to find a Haitian led solution to the crisis.
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