Jamaica Prime Minister Offers to Send Troop to Haiti as Country Faces Crisis

The Haiti crisis has become so bad that the United Nations Security Councill called on member nations to send in troops to help keep the peace. With this call, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has told the country's House of Representatives that Jamaica is willing to help.

During his speech on Tuesday, Prime Minister Holness stated that he wants to help Haiti and "support a return to a reasonable level of stability and peace, which would be necessary for any inclusive, democratic process to take root."

Al Jazeera News noted that this would be the first time a nation within the Western Hemisphere offered to send boots on the ground into the embattled Caribbean nation.

This came after Haiti's prime minister asked for foreign military support, including troops, to help quell the violence happening in the island nation as violent street gangs continue to gain control. These gangs now control 60% of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.

U.N. Security Council Considered Haiti's Request but Did Not Take Action

The U.N. Special Envoy for Haiti, Helen La Lime, as well as U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have publicly announced that they are backing Haiti's plea for troops, but so far, both the United States and Canada have declined to send troops.

The situation in Haiti has so far gotten worse, as gangs became bolder by attacking courthouses and committing various atrocities. This includes Jimmy "Barbeque" Cherizier and his G9 gang which previously took over Haiti's largest gas terminal and crippled the country further.

According to the Associated Press, the U.N. Security Council did take Haitian requests for troops but took no action. Instead, they imposed sanctions on individuals like Barbeque.

This has ultimately frustrated the Haitian government, with the former chief of Haiti's National Police, Leon Charles. saying, "It is our impression that the international community has not yet taken stock of the urgency of the situation that the Haitian people are facing."

Charles spoke during an Organization of American States meeting and urged other countries to help as Haiti is "experiencing one of the most difficult moments in its history."

Malta's ambassador to the United Nations and the current president of the U.N. Security Council welcomed Holness's declaration but admitted that she has yet to receive any notification from other countries. She also acknowledged that a "multinational security force is very important and is required on the ground in order to stabilize the situation in Haiti."

Jamaica Urges Caribbean Community to Help Haiti

For their part, Jamaica has urged other members of their regional trade bloc, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which also includes Haiti, Barbados, Suriname, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, and others, that they must reach a consensus on Haiti.

Just last week, CARICOM issued a statement that condemned the recent killings of police officers at the hands of Haitian gang leaders. However, that may not be enough as Holness said that talks within CARICOM about the situation in Haiti are ongoing, according to Reuters.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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