Haitian PM Hopes International Community Will Agree to Multinational Support Force

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry says he hopes the international community will agree to a request for a multinational support force to assist the Haitian National Police (PNH) restore peace and security.

Addressing the end of year meeting with heads of diplomatic missions, representatives of international organizations, the dean and members of the consular corps here, Henry, said he wanted to thank the UN Secretary General, Antonia Guterres “for relaying to the Security Council our request for assistance from a specialized force to accompany our National Police.

“We hope that in the near future, this multinational support force for the PNH can be at work. We appreciate the support of the international community, which has confirmed its commitment to guide us in the search for a lasting solution to the crisis by taking the initiative to sanction those who support armed gangs and engage in illicit trafficking of all kinds,” he told the meeting.

Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says while he does not rule out the possibility of his country being part of a military intervention, or even leading one in Haiti, he also wants European countries to join the North American country in sanctioning the elites in Haiti over alleged ties to the violent gangs.

Speaking during a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, Prime Minister Trudeau noted however that Canada would seek to avoid some of its past mistakes as it responds to a request from Haiti’s Prime Minister Henry for a foreign military intervention.

Trudeau said Canada hasn’t closed the door on being part of a military intervention, or even leading one, adding “we haven’t taken anything off the table, but with 30 years of experience in Haiti, we know very well that there are enormous challenges when it comes to any intervention.

“It’s clear that our approach must change this time, and that’s why (there are) the sanctions we’ve placed.”

Haiti has been plunged into chaos with criminal gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom and opposition political parties staging street demonstrations calling for the government of Prime Minister Henry to step down. The opposition parties have also been calling for fresh presidential and legislative elections.

Henry, who took over the leadership of the country following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 7 last year, has urged the international community to send in troops to assist in maintaining law and order.

He has condemned persons whom he said want to acquire political power in the country without first seeking a mandate from the population and had vowed that the country will be in election mode before the end of 2022, which is now unlikely to occur.

“On behalf of the Government, on behalf of the Haitian people and on my own behalf, I would be grateful if you would convey to your families, to your respective governments and to the leaders of your organizations, our best wishes for the year 2023. May the year of grace 2023 be a year that sees peace return to all conflict zones around the world,” Henry told the diplomats and other representatives.

“We have the will and the firm determination to make 2023 the year of elections, which will allow us to restore our democratic institutions and to return the leadership of the country to elected officials freely chosen by the Haitian people,” he added.

Henry said he was launching a “final appeal to those who believe in democratic values, to join this national compromise which must lead us towards a transfer of power to elected officials at different levels of the State”.

Meanwhile, Canada has announced sanctions against two former government ministers who were forced to resign from the government in November.

“Canada has reason to believe these individuals are using their status as high-profile elites in Haiti to protect and enable the illegal activities of armed criminal gangs, including through money laundering and other acts of corruption,” according to a statement issued by Ottawa in respect to former justice minister Berto Dorcé and the former interior minister, Liszt Quitel.

Canada has already imposed sanctions against Joseph Lambert, Youri Latortue, Jimmy Chérizier, Gary Bodeau, Rony Célestin, Hervé Fourcand, Michel Martelly, Jean Henry Céant, Laurent Lamothe, Gilbert Bigio, Reynol Deeb and Sherif Abdallah.