The Bahamas Commit to Sending 150 Officers to Haiti
In Support of a Multi-National Force
NASSAU, Bahamas, (CMC) – The Bahamas government on Wednesday says it is committed to sending 150 officers to support a multi-national force in Haiti as the Caribbean Community (Caricom) country welcomed a Kenyan-led police mission.
Escalating Violence in Haiti
The Bahamas is prepared to lead such a force to Port au Prince as escalating violence between armed gangs and police is fuelling a humanitarian crisis that has displaced tens of thousands of people.
Lack of Authorisation from the United Nations
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that The Bahamas would send personnel to Haiti as part of the multi-national force “once authorised by the United Nations (UN) Security Council.”
“We now urge the passing of a UN Security Council Resolution in support of this force,” the statement added.
Fuelling Gang Warfare and Instability
Gang warfare has increasingly plagued Haiti since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and many service providers have been forced to close, leaving a growing number of people in this country of 11.45 million without access to healthcare, food, education and other basics.
Kenya’s Commitment
In a statement over the last weekend, Kenya’s Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua said 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.
International Support
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken welcomed the statement from the African country, adding that Washington was looking forward to working with partners of Haiti to advance this process successfully, including through a UN Security Council Resolution authorising a multinational force to Haiti.
The Bahamas’ Commitment
In its statement, The Bahamas said it was looking forward to working with Kenya and other partners in Haiti to assist in efforts to bring about peace and stability.
“We appreciate that this is, as the Kenyan Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua stated, a decision to, “[stand] with persons of African descent across the world, including those in the Caribbean, and aligns with the African Union’s diaspora policy and our own commitment to Pan Africanism.
“We also look forward to cooperating with hemispheric partners, including the United States and Canada,” Nassau said, adding that the Bahamas will continue to support the Caricom-led Eminent Persons Group, which includes former Bahamas prime minister Perry Christie and his colleagues Dr Kenny Anthony of St Lucia, and Bruce Golding of Jamaica, and the Organization of American States’ Haiti Working Group chaired by Trinidad and Tobago.
“These regional and Diasporic approaches to addressing insecurity caused by gang violence are critical to creating a safe space to foster political consensus and to restore democratic order.”
Last year, Haiti’s Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry sent an urgent appeal to the UN asking for “the immediate deployment of a specialised armed force in sufficient quantity” to stop gang warfare.
Conclusion
The situation in Haiti has been deteriorating for some time, and the deployment of a multi-national force is seen as a crucial step towards restoring peace and stability. The Bahamas’ commitment to sending 150 officers is a significant contribution to this effort, and demonstrates the country’s willingness to work towards a solution to the crisis in Haiti.
FAQs
Why is the situation in Haiti so dangerous?
The situation in Haiti is dangerous because of the escalating violence between armed gangs and police, which has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of people displaced.
What is being done to address the situation?
A multi-national force, led by Kenya, will be deployed to Haiti to assist in restoring peace and stability. The Bahamas has committed to sending 150 officers to support this effort, and the UN Security Council is being called upon to authorise the deployment of a multinational force.
What is the impact on the people of Haiti?
The ongoing violence and instability in Haiti has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis, with thousands of people displaced and struggling to access basic necessities such as healthcare, food, education and shelter.