CARIBBEAN Community (CARICOM) leaders have remained engaged, as violence brought on by criminal gangs continues in Haiti.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here in Georgetown, CARICOM Chair, President Dr. Irfaan Ali of Guyana said the regional bloc is “very concerned” about the ongoing violence in the sister state.

“We have been having continuous meetings almost every night, because the Haitians have to get the presidential council in place, progress has been made, we are very concern about the violence,” Dr. Ali said, adding: “We have renewed our call that the multinational force needs to be on the ground as quickly as possible, [and] there must be a bridging security arrangement to help, immediately, to bring some level of normalcy and security so that the work can continue.”

On Monday, The Guardian reported that at least a dozen Haitians had died following gang attacks in in the communities of Laboule and Thomassin.

Last week, the CARICOM Chair held meetings with several other regional leaders and international partners to address the increased waves of violence in Haiti, and, following hours of discussions, Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned, thereby paving the way for the establishment of a new transitional governance council, as the country inches closer to hosting fresh elections.

The CARICOM Chair had highlighted that the transitional governance council will comprise seven voting members, and two non-voting observers.

The seven voting members will include one representative from several Haitian stakeholder groups, including the private sector.
Meanwhile, the non-voting members will be represented by one member from civil society, and one member of the inter-faith community.