Caricom and the United States are optimistic about progress at the Haiti meeting

SAN JUAN (IF).- The Caribbean Community and the United States were “optimistic” on Monday as the high-level meeting on Haiti was held in Jamaica, and confirmed that they had made progress towards political transformation in that country.

“We are making progress,” Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said at a news conference in Kingston alongside the acting president of Caricom, the president of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Ali said that he was “very optimistic” and felt “completely confident,” while Blinken spoke that the talks were moving in a “positive direction.”

Common points

They all agreed that the solution to the crisis in Haiti must be “led” by the Haitian parties but with the “critical support” of Caricom countries and other international partners such as the United States, Canada and France.

Ali admitted that the discussions are “not easy,” and stressed that their focus is on “presenting options and ideas” to the Haitian parties.

International pressure is increasing to demand the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who has been in Puerto Rico since last Tuesday and is currently unable to return to his country.

“We all know that urgent action is necessary to help move things in a better direction,” said Blinken, who insisted on the “joint proposal developed with CARICOM and interested Haitian parties to accelerate Haiti’s political transition.”

Political transformation

Blinken stressed that this transition includes “the establishment of an independent and inclusive presidential council that takes concrete steps to meet the needs of the Haitian people.”

He stressed, secondly, that it should allow “the rapid deployment of a multinational security support mission” and, thirdly, “create the security situation necessary to hold free and fair elections and provide humanitarian aid” in Haiti.

In the same vein, Holness urged taking “firm and decisive steps before it is too late” and holding “free and fair elections” in Haiti.

Violence in Port-au-Prince has increased significantly since it became known on February 28 that Henry had pledged to hold elections before the end of August 2025.

This date is far away if we take into account that Henry had to end his term on February 7, according to the 2022 agreement.