Foreign Minister Bocchit Edmond chaired the Haitian delegation to the 30th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of State and Government, which was being held this week in Basse-Terre (St. Kitts and Nevis)

This meeting was organized around a number of topics of interest for the advancement of the integration process at the level of the Caribbean region, including the implementation of CARICOM's Single Market and Economy (Caribbean Single Market and Economie - CSME) and its corollaries that are maritime and air transport (connectivity at Community level, free movement of people, especially professionals and skills, integration of the regional labor market, as well as the issue of security, trade in services, investment and food security.

CARICOM Heads of State and Government highlighted the main challenges facing the region, such as the effects of climate change, volatile commodity prices, extreme vulnerability to natural hazards , transnational organized crime and the problem of mobilizing the resources needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The situation in Venezuela has been intensely debated by Heads of State and Government and other delegates. The development of the situation in Haiti in recent weeks has also been on the agenda.

Chancellor Edmond gave an update on the socio-political situation that prevails in the country since February 7 with serious repercussions on the national economy and has left at least 26 dead and 77 injured https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-27051-icihaiti-social-at-least-26-dead-and-77-wounded-in-protests.html . He requested the help of the International Community and the Caribbean Community, to contribute to the lasting resolution of the fundamentally economic problems of Haiti, which necessarily involves political stability, the strengthening of democratic institutions and of the rule of law and the creation of wealth and productive employment.

The Conference adopted a Declaration recognizing that the situation in Haiti, fueled by radical opposition groups and armed gangs, is due to a combination of political, economic and financial factors. It expresses its support for the Haitian Government while welcoming the return to calm and the decision taken by the President of the Republic to launch a national dialogue with the aim of addressing the root causes of the crisis and creating a climate of lasting stability in the country.

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-27072-icihaiti-politic-caricom-reiterates-its-call-for-calm-in-haiti.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-27051-icihaiti-social-at-least-26-dead-and-77-wounded-in-protests.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-26919-icihaiti-crisis-the-caribbean-community-concerned-about-the-situation-in-haiti.html

HL/ HaitiLibre