Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to travel to Nassau, The Bahamas, to attend the 44th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom). Tops on the agenda of the event in Bahamas is finding ways to deal with the worsening of the situation in Haiti. Trudeau is participating as a special guest at the 15-16 February meeting of heads of government from 15 Caribbean member states.
As reported, the leaders are expected to talk about more political, security, and humanitarian aid for the Haitian people and Haitian-led solutions to the current situation in Haiti.
Of the Caricom countries, Bahamas and Turks & Caicos islands feel the impact of Haitian immigration.
Canada has already taken an active role placing strong sanctions on the finances of major business leaders in Haiti, sending patrol aircraft and security equipment to the Haitian police as well as humanitarian aid.
The Canadian government stated on the trip:
“The visit will provide an opportunity for the leaders to consider further regional political security, and humanitarian assistance in support of the Haitian people and Haitian-led solutions to the ongoing situation in Haiti, which is having a devastating impact on the Haitian people,” the Canadian prime minister said.
“As a steadfast partner, Canada has taken action in response to the egregious situation, including by providing support to the Haitian National Police, deploying a long-range patrol aircraft to disrupt the activities of gangs, coordinating the delivery of vital security equipment purchased by the Haitian government, providing humanitarian support, and implementing robust sanctions on those responsible,” he added. “We will continue to stand with the Haitian people as they strive for a brighter future.”
Haiti secured provisional membership on 4 July 1998 and on 03 July 2002 was the first French-speaking Caribbean State to become a full Member of Caricom. Caricom nationals have a right to enter a member state, and when they enter, are to be given a stay of six months.
Nevertheless, Caricom countries have been negligent in applying this policy in the case of Haitian nationals. On the contrary, Caricom heads of government have been insistent in criticizing the Dominican Republic immigration policies regarding Haiti. This led to the Dominican Republic switching to the SICA Central American bloc of countries and joining Central American country trade efforts instead of moving up in status and joining Caricom. The Dominican Republic has free trade agreements with both Caricom and Central American bloc countries.
Read more:
Caribbean National Weekly
13 February 2023