WHEN any member state of CARICOM experiences internal events which threaten social order and sully good governance, the community responds collectively and methodically. The situation with Haiti has been no different.

Regrettably, there has been a number of positions made across social media which criticise CARICOM for what is felt is the intergovernmental organisation’s perceived lax approach to the ongoing crisis in one of its member states. Much of the attention has now been placed on the request for armed support from the government of Prime Minister Ariel Henry to arrest the worsening security situation, and clamp down on the rising control gangs have exerted over critical infrastructure.

The crux of the matter regarding CARICOM’s response, however, is that the bloc takes non-intervention and non-interference approaches. It can be a tough pill to swallow for those outside of the decision room that the sovereignty of every member state is essential. As a matter of principle, support, in this case for Haiti, must be requested by a member state in need before that support can be given.

But how did we get to this point? It’s safe to say that no person alive now has a lived memory of Haiti in peace. From the turn of the 20th Century, Haiti has seen its fair share of internal conflicts. CARICOM, whether through intergovernmental or regional citizens’ actions, has always been at the forefront of advocating for the stability of that country, recognising some of the unspoken forces which maintain the status quo, and working to strike a balance among many competing interests, seen and unseen.

In the country itself, Haitians had hoped that the leadership of Jean Bertrand-Aristide in the 1990s would bring much-needed stability to the country following the ‘Papa Doc’ and ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier regimes.

When global powers threatened to have Haiti dismissed from the Organisation of American States (OAS) in 2000 following concerns about its democracy, CARICOM responded by working with Haitian authorities to preserve the integrity of its election. The Haiti government, however, chose another course of action against the advice of a special delegation from the regional bloc.

CARICOM’s Chairman reported at the time that “there were no changes in Haiti’s position, and the Government of Haiti proceeded with the second round of elections as planned.

“The Caribbean Community is fully cognisant of the historical challenges which confront Haiti in its efforts to encourage and build a democratic culture. CARICOM is not, however, convinced that sufficient efforts are being made to surmount these challenges.

“CARICOM is, nevertheless, determined to remain engaged with the fraternal people of Haiti, and to continue to offer its support to that country in the effort to build democracy and democratic institutions.”

Much of that instability continued throughout the following years. CARICOM kept abreast of every event, and responded in kind, however it could. There is not enough room now to document, step-by-step, how the regional bloc dealt with each event in Haiti. It is easy, however, as has been the case for decades, to fall into the trap of perceiving CARICOM as being unconcerned, without considering the broader context in which these smaller, yet significant, events exist.

Regional leaders find themselves, again, in that position, following the assassination of Prime Minister Jovenel Moise last year, of placing Haiti’s stability high on the agenda for their annual meetings. Following that incident, the Heads of Government recalled that, “In accordance with its values, as expressed in its Charter of Civil Society, the Caribbean Community does not settle its differences by violence, which undermines democracy and the rule of law, but peacefully, through dialogue and recourse to democratic institutions.

“In light of Haiti’s Membership of CARICOM, and the family ties that bind the people of Haiti and CARICOM together, CARICOM expresses its willingness to play a lead role in facilitating a process of national dialogue and negotiation to help the Haitian people and their institutions to craft an indigenous solution to the crisis.”

CARICOM’s olive branch to Haiti continued, as noted in multiple statements, throughout 2022. President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has also done his part to inform the nation when these meetings are being held, a necessary step, considering the tsunami of unfounded sentiments which paint an inaccurate image that Haiti has been abandoned by her regional sisters. Haiti has not been left behind by her sisters.