BARBADOS, January 9, 2020 – Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), said CARICOM is “deeply concerned at the continuing unsettled political, economic, humanitarian and social situation in its Member State, Haiti.”
“Indeed, we are particularly concerned about the several incidents of violence and the associated and tragic loss of life. The current crisis has adversely affected all sectors of the society and has brought about severe hardship for the people of Haiti,” Mottley said, in a statement on Thursday, January 9.
The CARICOM Chairman added: “It is urgent for all stakeholders in the country to engage in constructive and meaningful dialogue, in a spirit of good faith and concern for the nation, and towards resolving this prolonged crisis. The recent decision taken by the major stakeholders to ensure that the children of the country can resume schooling as a new school term commences is an important step forward and should serve as an impetus to addressing other areas of contention in the interest of the well-being of the people and of the country at large.
“The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) considers that our regional organization has a duty to do all that it possibly can to assist the people of our sister Caribbean nation of Haiti. We shall liaise with the Haitian Government to facilitate a visit by an advanced team led by the Secretary-General to explore with the Government and people of Haiti and other interested parties an acceptable way forward towards alleviating the present crisis.”
Officially assuming the chairmanship of CARICOM on Tuesday, December 31, Mottley expressed confidence that the 15-member grouping is on the right path towards a brighter socio-economic and political future for the Caribbean, adding that “our very history has been one of struggle but one of success”. She noted that it is against this backdrop that “we can take a fresh look at the path we would wish to set for ourselves and our children.”
“It is my sincere wish that our approach to the advancement of our people in every country of the Caribbean Community would be characterized by a level of clarity that is usually associated with 2020 vision,” she said.
Mottley will serve as Chairman of CARICOM for the next six months. She replaces , Allen Chastanet, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, who had served in that position for the previous six months
