On Thursday, Canada's Ambassador to the United Nations, Marc-André Blanchard, Chairman of the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, said his group was concerned about the deteriorating situation political, economic and social in Haiti after his trip to the country in late May.

"Everyone we met in Haiti agreed on one point: exclusion and economic inequalities are the root causes of the political instability and deteriorating security situation," adding "there is a direct link between violence and the fact that there is no perception of an economic future for many people. The hopelessness is driving people into criminality [...]

There is a deep institutional and governance and rule of law crisis that is born out of a worsening economic situation, a gridlocked political process, and a pervasive feeling of social exclusion," said Blanchard at an informal meeting at the Economic and Social Council.

Blanchard recalled that the United Nations, which is in transition to a peace-free presence in Haiti, should address the root causes of the problems in the country "We want to make sure that we don't address only some of the symptoms. But we address the root causes of the issues in Haiti," stressing that gang violence in Haiti is not pushed by the drug lords "There are indications that it was fueled by some political parties and some parts of the business community. So you are dealing with a completely different situation."

SL/ HaitiLibre