Wednesday, June 21, 2023, Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica and Chair of the Council on Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) chaired the 2023 Canada-CARICOM Group of Foreign Ministers meeting, held in Washington D.C. on the margins of the 2023 Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly.

Ministers reaffirmed the enduring value of the deep and dynamic Ministers acknowledged that the ongoing political and security crisis in Haiti is a humanitarian challenge and de-stabilising influence in the region, and that it must be addressed through coordinated international action and Haitian-led solutions.

They re-affirmed the need for a national, inclusive political dialogue to reduce tensions in Haiti and that collective efforts towards such a dialogue must continue. Ministers summarised the key priorities for Haiti, including strengthening the security sector, supporting inclusive political dialogue, imposing targeted sanctions, and addressing humanitarian needs. They commended Canada’s coordination role with the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti and the Haitian National Police to facilitate international security assistance to Haiti.

Canada welcomed CARICOM’s concrete action, including their efforts to support political dialogue, the recent appointment of an Eminent Persons Group, the extension of the Community’s good offices to the Government of Haiti and Haitian stakeholders, including the Kingston Talks hosted in Jamaica https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39779-haiti-politic-ariel-henry-back-from-jamaica-empty-handed-video-speech.html and https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39754-haiti-politic-opening-of-the-summit-on-the-haitian-crisis-in-jamaica-pm-speech.html , and the offers to train Haitian police and service personnel.

Ministers emphasised the need to maintain forward momentum and not lose sight of the daily impacts of the crisis on all Haitians.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39779-haiti-politic-ariel-henry-back-from-jamaica-empty-handed-video-speech.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39754-haiti-politic-opening-of-the-summit-on-the-haitian-crisis-in-jamaica-pm-speech.html

HL/ HaitiLibre