On Thursday, September 3, 2026, Albert R. Ramdin, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), presented a report to the Permanent Council on the situation in Haiti and the results of the visit to the country from August 16 to 19 by a high-level inter-American and international delegation.

Secretary General Ramdin stated that security and elections were the country’s most urgent and closely linked priorities. He called on Haitian stakeholders and the international community to accelerate their efforts to restore democratic institutions through a credible electoral process.

"Haiti stands at a critical juncture. Our responsibility is clear: to strengthen security efforts, advance electoral preparations, deliver on the commitments already made, and ensure that international cooperation translates into tangible improvements in the daily lives of the Haitian people," said Secretary General Ramdin.

He stressed the importance of providing the Gang Supression Force (GSF) with the personnel, funding, logistical support and operational capabilities necessary to achieve results, while simultaneously pursuing efforts to strengthen the Haitian National Police and the criminal justice system.

Regarding the elections, Secretary General Ramdin commended the progress made by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and the National Identification Office (ONI), but stressed that preparations for the elections scheduled for December 13 needed to be accelerated.

He also confirmed that the OAS had received an invitation to deploy an election observation mission and had begun the necessary preparations.

The visit also provided an opportunity to advance initiatives in the areas of health and sustainable development. The OAS, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization and other partners, will work with the Haitian National Police (PNH) to establish trauma centers for the treatment of injured police officers.

In addition, Haiti’s membership in the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), facilitated by the OAS, was announced. This membership will give the country access to approximately US$168 million in financing, technical cooperation, and development tools. The OAS also launched a cooperation agreement with the Brazilian NGO Viva Rio to jointly create opportunities for youth and women affected by violence in Haiti.

During the same session, Haitian Foreign Minister Raina Forbin emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring security and constitutional order, while calling for decisive international support. "We must now move from solidarity to action, from commitments to implementation, and from promises to results. Two urgent priorities guide our actions today: security and elections."

For her part, Carla Barnett, the Secretary-General of CARICOM, stressed that regional and international efforts must remain focused on the needs of the Haitian people. "Our objective must remain to support the Haitian people in their search for solutions to the current crises of insecurity and governance, so that they can focus on long-term investment planning, job creation, and access to essential social services."

Secretary General Ramdin announced new follow-up measures led by the OAS, including an environmental technical mission, coordination meetings with international organizations, and a meeting of the Group of Friends of Haiti aimed at mobilizing political, technical, and financial support. Secretary General Ramdin also indicated that the OAS would facilitate the dispatch of a private sector delegation to explore investment and job creation opportunities, particularly for at-risk youth.

HL/ HaitiLibre