By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 8, 2021 — In solidarity with the Haitian people, on March 17, 2021, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States approved by consensus a resolution expressing concern over the grave political, security and human rights situation in Haiti and offered to send a Good Offices mission, the OAS revealed on its website.
“An invitation was received from the Government of Haiti, and a Good Offices Mission will visit Haiti this week and meet with a range of stakeholders, including the government, opposition and civil society,” the OAS said, in a statement published on its website. “The objective of the Good Offices Mission is to facilitate a dialogue that would lead to free and fair elections.”
The statement added: “The Mission is composed of the permanent representatives to the OAS of Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the United States, with support from the OAS General Secretariat and the Special Representative of the OAS Secretary General in Haiti. The Mission will last three days, from June 8 – 10, 2021.”
According to The Miami Herald in an article written by Jacqueline Chrles, the latest round of violence in Haiti “has gotten so fierce that the armed gangs that have terrorized large parts of the capital are targeting the police themselves and their stations.”
“In the past week, nine police stations have been attacked, at least 15 weapons stolen and a Haitian police inspector killed,” The Herald noted. “Seven other officers have died in metropolitan Port-au-Prince amid violent clashes between warring gangs that have forced thousands of Haitians to flee from their homes along the southern edge of the capital since the start of this month.”
The Herald added: “The attacks, six of which occurred almost simultaneously on Saturday night, come as a five-member delegation from the Organization of American States arrives in the volatile country Tuesday for a two-day visit. Members include the permanent representatives of the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and a representative of Secretary General Luis Almagro.
“The hemispheric organization has said it hopes to facilitate a political dialogue between the government, members of the opposition and civil society amid the deepening political and constitutional crisis and worsening violence.”
