Haiti – Caricom Welcomes International Security Forces

Georgetown, Guyana – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping on Friday welcomed the announcement by two of its members that they are willing to join Kenya in sending a multi-national force to deal with the security situation in Haiti.

The Bahamas and Jamaica said they are willing to send up to 350 personnel to he French-speaking CARICOM nation after Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Alfred Mutua, said last weekend that his country’s commitment is to deploy a contingent of 1,000 police officers to help train and assist Haitian police restore normalcy in the country and protect strategic installations.

“The Caribbean Community hopes that the establishment of the multi-national force will be given full endorsement by the United Nations Security Council as a demonstration of the commitment of the international community to improve the security and humanitarian conditions of the people of Haiti and support restoration of law and order,” the 15-member regional integration movement said in a statement.

It recalled that regional leaders at their summit in Trinidad and Tobago last month, had “underscored their grave concern over the severe humanitarian, security and governance crises facing their sister member state.

“The Caribbean Community reiterates its pledge to continue efforts to collaborate with the Haitian Government and all stakeholders to find a Haitian-led solution to the plight facing their nation,’ the statement added.

A statement issued from the Office of the Jamaica Prime Minister on Friday, quoted him as informing the President of the Kenya, William Ruto, that Kingston and Nassau were committed to providing 350 personnel.

Holness expressed hope that more countries, whether in the region of the Americas, the continent of Africa, or elsewhere, would also step forward with personnel commitments, and that the requisite UN Security Council Resolution will be adopted in order to provide the appropriate jurisdictional framework for the security force. (CMC)