NASSAU, Bahamas –Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he is looking forward to speaking with international world leaders today about support and resources to assist with stabilising the situation in Haiti to allow for “free and fair” elections within that country, The Tribune reported on Wednesday, February 15, in an article written by Letre Sweeting.
He spoke at a press conference at the Office of The Prime Minister yesterday, in his role as chairperson of CARICOM heading this year’s 44th Heads of Government Meeting which will be held at the Baha Mar resort from today to Friday.
Mr Davis said he expects to see agreements made to address several long-standing issues throughout the Caribbean and The Bahamas, including healthcare, crime, food and energy security, irregular migration and assistance for Haiti.
Concerning the issues in Haiti, Mr Davis said he is hoping to discuss joint assistance with countries outside of the Caribbean for a “Haitian solution” to the crisis in Haiti.
“The Prime Minister from Canada (Justin Trudeau) is coming here to talk about the role that they may be able to play in assisting us,” Mr Davis said.
“What we at CARICOM have come to appreciate is that we do not have the resources to be able to deal with the Haiti problem ourselves and we do need outside help. And we’re looking to the north, Canada, and the United States to come to the fold to help. And it has to be a Haitian solution, not an American, Canadian or CARICOM solution. We’re here to help them find a solution,” he said.
“We do not have the capacity, nor do we have the resources to effectively bring stability, none of our Caribbean countries, either individually or collectively, could achieve that without the assistance. Once we have identified assistance from abroad, we are prepared to do our part to ensure that stability is obtained,” Mr Davis said.
“I think the international community is reluctant to intervene in the sense that we make it an international solution or it’s an occupation by the international powers. Rather, what we seek to have done is to stabilise the country sufficiently enough to allow for free and fair elections,” he said.
He added: “The path and journey to that is where the challenge for us is what we need to be able to ensure that persons who wish to offer themselves for elected positions in the country to form a parliament, to form government, persons are able to reach and speak to citizenry, to sell their programmes, their initiatives, share the philosophy and vision for their country, free from intimidation, and fear of violence, etcetera.” See complete article in The Tribune at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/feb/15/leaders-gather-nassau-caricom-meeting-prime-minist/
