NASSAU, Bahamas, January 26, 2023 – Bahamas Prime Minister Philip E. Davis “has ordered an immediate involuntary departure from Haiti of all diplomatic personnel or as soon as security conditions permit,” according to a statement released today by the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Up to this time, there was a voluntary departure order in place and all staff at the embassy chose to stay. Per the new instructions, they are to leave for home as soon as conditions permit,” the statement said.
The statement added: “This is only a temporary measure in light of recent developments which require a corporate security and intelligence assessment and restaging. This morning the Chargè reported that they had been stopped by Haitian police and relieved of their vehicle and weapons. This is part of a protest by the Haitian National Police against their own authorities.”
Noting that all “of our diplomats are personally safe, the statement added: “There also is a report of 5 Bahamians from Bahamasair who landed at Port Au Prince Airport who were unable to leave the environs of the airport. They are all safe and well.
“The security situation appears less stable over the past three days in the country, and we are taking steps out of an abundance of caution. The pattern of security concerns is one of ebb and flow and these withdrawals are sometimes necessary to regroup.
“The Security Forces in our country have been alerted to these developments. As soon as conditions permit a team will be sent back into Haiti without further announcement.”
Meanwhile, CNN reported that protesters and “some police officers protested at the official residence of Haiti’s prime minister in the capital Port-au-Prince on Thursday (January 26), decrying recent killings of police, according to one of his advisors.”
“The police officers and the protestors came here to make their voices heard. They are angry and we understand and hear them,” the advisor told CNN, requesting anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the current situation.
Social media images appeared to show protesters outside the prime minister’s residence, and at the country’s main airport, Toussaint Louverture International, according to CNN.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was returning to Haiti from a summit in Argentina on Thursday, was not at his residence during the incident. He has not commented publicly on the demonstrations.
“Amid widespread insecurity and gang violence in the country, the killings of several police officers in the line of duty this week has inflamed anger in the capital,” CNN reported. “Six police officers were killed on Wednesday, bringing the total number of deaths over the past week to at least 10, according to public statements by the Haitian National Police. The police did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.”
In an announcement tweeted Thursday by the police, Director General Frantz Elbé declared a state of “maximum alert” in light of the killings, CNN reported.
“The international community has condemned the targeting of police in Haiti,” CNN reported. “In a tweet, the US Embassy in Haiti wrote that it ‘offers its condolences to the families and friends of the brave … officers killed in the line of duty and appeals for calm to protect the population and allow a peaceful mourning period.’ “
“We stand together with the security forces as they fight against the armed gangs to restore the security of the Haitian people,” the Embassy also wrote.
The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti also tweeted its “energetic condemnation of the targeted and deliberate attacks by armed gangs against police personnel,” CNN reported.
