Haitian stakeholders engaged for guidance as efforts continue to end crisis

 

Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith says Haitian stakeholders have actively been engaged for guidance as regional and international partners seek to create stability in the French-speaking CARICOM nation.

 

At Wednesday morning's post cabinet press briefing, Minister Johnson Smith said a timeline has not yet been established for the presidential council to be in full effect.

 

The presidential council will be established to provide guidance and define a free and fair process for elections in Haiti. 

 

"The representative bodies agreed at the end of that meeting are now in the process of naming the members of the Council, which will then of course allow the naming of a new Prime Minister and from there on the other processes will unfold. It is this body, of course, that will also appoint a new Council of Ministers, and that will ultimately establish the Provisional Electoral Council, which can then define the process for elections." 

 

Minister Johnson Smith said the council was also one of the proposals made by the Eminent Persons Group as well as other Haitian stakeholders. 

 

She admitted that implementation of this next phase will require determination, the spirit of compromise and decisive action. 

 

Meanwhile, the Minister said CARICOM has not reached an agreement on how to treat with the movement of Haitian migrants to member states, given that most countries do not have a refugee framework.

 

"It is difficult to reach a regional position if you don't even have a national position," she said, noting that each country is focused on ensuring stability in Haiti. 

 

"We are trying to help Haiti solve its problems so that people are not seeking to leave. That is our aim. That is our primary aim and goal. I'm sure population recognises that refugee status does not automatically apply to someone once they have left the country. Whether you have a policy or not, that is a reality. And we know it's a deeply emotional issue. We recognise that as well. But international law is as it is. We have not been in breach of it despite what some people would like to say," she asserted.   

 

Mrs. Johnson Smith said Jamaica and other CARICOM countries are continuing training for its peacekeeping mission in Haiti despite the delayed deployment of Kenyan troops.

 

She added that preparations are still actively underway and that the Kenyan government is reviewing the circumstances for deployment.