Haitian crisis discussed during President Ali, Secretary Blinken telephone conversation

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who is the current Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the ongoing Haitian crisis during a phone call on Monday.

According to a release from the office of Mr. Blinken’s spokesperson, the two officials “discussed efforts to support Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council and the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti.”

The Secretary reportedly reiterated that the United States values CARICOM’s support of Haitian efforts to promote inclusive and representative governance.

Last month, Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry agreed to resign following the establishment of a new transitional presidential council that is expected to take the country embroiled in crisis to fresh elections.

Henry’s resignation will come as a result of the formation of a new governance arrangement. And during a meeting in Jamaica, Dr. Ali pointed out that the governance decisions outlined were taken only after consultations with a diverse group of Haitians ranging from political players, members of the religious community, the private sector and civil society.

Commenting on the engagement between President Ali and Mr. Blinken, Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud disclosed that Dr. Ali has been trying to figure out a Haitian-led solution “every day and for many hours.”

“All Guyanese must be proud of the leadership and compassion being extended to the Haitian people,” Mr. Persaud said.

The challenges of the already fragile country boiled over in 2021, when its President Jovenel Moise was assassinated. Gang violence has engulfed the country and the United Nations (UN) estimates that conflict in the country killed about 5,000 people last year.

Henry has been functioning as interim Prime Minister since then but there have been mounting calls for him to resign. Last month, when CARICOM leaders met for their biannual summit in Guyana, it was decided that Haiti would get fresh elections by August 31, 2025.