Caribbean Community Holds "Stakeholders Meeting" to Meet U.S. Demands

The recent "high-level" meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) convened on March 11 in Kingston, Jamaica revealed the extent of the pressure the United States, Canada and other foreign actors are putting on its member countries. These countries have been cajoled into submitting to the U.S. aim of taking over Haiti. This can only be achieved if they manage to suppress the striving of the Haitian people to get rid of all foreign exploiters, corrupt officials and thieves of various kinds who have plunged their island into anarchy and violence.

The purported purpose of the CARICOM meeting was to "discuss the security situation in Haiti." Far from it, it was to discuss and further the schemes for the takeover of Haiti.

According to CARICOM, the meeting, attended by "Haitian stakeholders," followed a series of discussions including those facilitated by the "Eminent Persons Group," a three-person group established by CARICOM Heads of Government in May 2023 "to represent them to extend the Community's Good Offices to the Government of Haiti and Haitian stakeholders." "Stakeholders" were represented in Kingston by delegations from Brazil, Canada – with UN Ambassador Bob Rae present and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau taking part via zoom – France, Mexico, United Nations and the U.S., with no elaboration on what precise "stake" they hold.

Discussions centred on the latest U.S.-led scheme to install a government in Haiti in violation of the right of the Haitian people to govern themselves without foreign interference. The U.S. State Department, represented at the meeting by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, noted that the meeting would "discuss a proposal developed in partnership with CARICOM and Haitian stakeholders to expedite a political transition in Haiti through the creation of a broad-based, independent presidential college as well as the deployment of a Multinational Security Support Mission to address the ongoing security crisis."

The situation in Haiti about which the U.S., Canada and others claim to be so concerned, is the direct result of the decades of foreign interference in Haiti aimed at installing a puppet regime which will favour their interests and deny the Haitian people their rights. Specific measures to formalize this foreign domination of Haiti have been in place since 2004 when the democratically elected government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown in a coup organized by Canada, France and the U.S. At that time the U.S. engineered the creation, via the UN Security Council, of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and a "Core Group" to facilitate the implementation of its mandate.

The "Core Group" is comprised of representatives from Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, the European Union, the U.S. and the Organization of American States, and is chaired by the UN Special Representative to Haiti. Ariel Henry, the much despised acting prime minister of Haiti who recently resigned pending a replacement, was installed by the Core Group in 2021 after the assassination of Jovenel Moise, the 43rd President of Haiti who was also installed by the Core Group.

Explicit in the decisions adopted at the "high-Level" meeting of CARICOM is that the U.S.-led foreign powers, including Canada, have given themselves the right to decide who will govern Haiti and will enforce their dictate with military force, with the acquiescence of what they call "Haitian stakeholders." This is fraud of the first order. The Haitian people have repeatedly rejected foreign interference and the deployment of foreign armies which have brought violence, sexual abuse and disease to Haiti in the past. No "agreement" imposed on the Haitian people against their will, on the basis of the modern-day version of the "white man's burden" that the Haitian people are unfit to govern themselves, will ever be accepted.

The Canadian people stand firmly with the people of Haiti and against military and political interference by foreign powers, including Canada. The Canadian government must be held to account for its participation in the ongoing crimes against Haiti and its people.

Final CARICOM Declaration Announces "Transitional Governance Arrangement"

The Final Declaration issued by CARICOM on March 11 says, "We are pleased to announce the commitment to a transitional governance arrangement, which paves the way for a peaceful transition of power, continuity of governance, an action plan for near-term security, and the road to free and fair elections."

Without an iota of shame, enemies of the Haitian people who have brought nothing but anarchy and violence to Haiti, accompanied by starvation, disease, unemployment, homelessness and despair, are speaking in the name of securing Haitian democracy, a "peaceful transition of power" and "continuity of governance, of which there is presently none thanks to the corrupt regimes they have put in place time and time again and their own interventions.

The "stakeholders' meeting" "acknowledged" the resignation of pretend Prime Minister Ariel Henry "upon the establishment of a Transitional Presidential Council and the naming of an interim Prime Minister."

The so-called Core Group established a "Transitional Presidential Council" to be comprised of seven voting members with each group who applied to join having one vote, as well as two non-voting observers said to be representatives of "civil society" and "inter-faith" communities.

Criteria for membership would exclude anyone who opposes the UN Security Council Resolution 2699, which authorized the UNSC "to form and deploy a Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti" of foreign intervention and occupation against the will of the Haitian people and sovereignty of the Haitian nation.

The CARICOM declaration repeats the shopworn high ideals of the Core Group and its ongoing occupation of Haiti, expressing commitment for "a transition that is based on inclusivity, encourages participation by all stakeholders, and paves the way for elections as soon as possible. This is the only sustainable path to a future of strong democratic institutions, peaceful resolution of conflict, and security and prosperity for all Haitians."

Names Submitted to CARICOM for "Transitional Council"
Bypass Haitian People

Le Nouvelliste reports that "The vast majority of political and societal organizations involved in negotiations with CARICOM heads of government have already submitted the name of their representative to the Transitional Presidential Council." None of these proposals have been submitted or even announced to the Haitian people, only to CARICOM and the Core Group.

The confirmed representatives are: Edgard LeBlanc Fils of the Collective of January 30 Political Parties; Laurent St Cyr, representing the business sector as part of the organization December 21 Agreement; Leslie Voltaire, reportedly put forward as representative for the board of Fanmi Lavalas. The Montana Agreement negotiation support committee is in a quandary whether to participate or not. Professor Dunois Erick Cantave, coordinator of the Montana Agreement, said, "I am still outraged and skeptical about this process" but, he added that "there is a current that thinks that we must be present in all battles despite our reservations [...]" Groups within the reactionary alliance known as the December 21 Agreement have submitted at least three different nominations, with each vying for the favour of the Core Group and its attempt to restructure its governance arrangements over the Haitian people.

Calls for People's Organizations to Take Control of Volatile Situation

On March 10, the National Movement for Liberty and Equality of Haitians for Fraternity (MOLEGHAF) issued a statement calling on the people's organizations to take control of the volatile situation in the country. Amongst other things, the statement said that MOLEGHAF rejects "any proposal aiming for a transition under the dominance of American imperialism" as "a pact with the death of the masses." "All progressive-revolutionary political parties and organizations that embrace imperialism, the CORE GROUP, OAS, United Nations Security Council, under the administration of Biden, declare themselves enemies of the exploited class in the country." The movement went on to say that it rejects any alliance that is not aligned with the people and the masses, that instead of ending neo-liberal policies, will continue sowing discord among the popular masses, as is happening now. "The conspiracy is rising, and it will end in an election to place their satellites in power under the guise of people's democracy."

In a statement released on March 13, the Black Alliance for Peace addresses what lies behind the headlines in Haiti. It points out that the reality is that the crisis in Haiti is a crisis of imperialism. Those countries calling for military intervention – the U.S., France, Canada – have created the conditions making military intervention appear necessary and inevitable. The countries calling for intervention are the same countries that will benefit from intervention, not the Haitian people. For 20 years, those countries that cast Haiti as a failed state actively worked to destroy Haiti's government while imposing foreign colonial rule, the statement points out.

The statement elaborates further: "Haiti is currently under occupation by the U.S./UN and Core Group, a self-appointed cabal of foreign entities who effectively rule this country. [...] Over the past four years, the Haitian masses have mobilized and protested against an illegal government, imperial meddling, the removal of fuel subsidies leading to rising costs of living, and insecurity by elite-funded armed groups. However, these protests have been snuffed out by the U.S.-installed puppet government."

The Black Alliance for Peace points out that the armed groups (the so-called "gangs") mainly in the capital city of Port-au-Prince should be understood as "paramilitary" forces, as they are made up of former and current Haitian police and military elements. These paramilitary forces are known to work for some of Haiti's elite, including, some say, Ariel Henry (Haiti's soon-to-be former de facto prime minister). It should also be noted that Haiti does not manufacture guns – the guns and ammunition come primarily from the U.S. and the Dominican Republic – and the U.S. has consistently rejected calls for an arms embargo. "When we speak of 'gangs,' we must recognize that the real and most powerful gangs in the country are the U.S., the Core Group, and the illegal UN office in Haiti, all of whom helped to create the current crisis," the statement says.

The statement points out that today Haiti is important for U.S. geopolitical and economic viability. It is in a key location in the Caribbean for U.S. military and security strategy in the region. It points out that Haiti's economic importance "stems from what western corporations perceive as a vast pool of cheap labor, and its unexploited land and mineral wealth."

The Black Alliance for Peace denounces CARICOM leaders, especially Barbados' Prime Minister Mia Mottley "for not only supporting U.S. planned armed intervention in Haiti and offering their police and soldiers for the mission, but for also following U.S. and Core Group dictates on the way forward in Haiti. They also denounced the role of Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio "Lula" da Silva "for not only continuing Brazil's role in the Core Group, but for also leading the charge, along with the criminal U.S. government, for foreign armed military invasion of Haiti."

"In solidarity with Haitian groups, the Black Alliance for Peace denounces "the UN approved, U.S.-funded, Kenyan-led foreign armed invasion and occupation of Haiti." "We are adamant that a U.S./UN-led armed foreign intervention in Haiti is not only illegitimate, but illegal. We support Haitian people and civil society organizations who have been consistent in their opposition to foreign armed military intervention," the statement says.

Note

The members of CARICOM are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat (a British overseas territory in the Leeward Islands), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

(With files from the CBC, CARICOM, PMO and U.S. State Department)

This article was published in

Volume 54 Number 20 - March 2024

Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS54206.HTM