OTTAWA, Canada, CMC – Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Barbados counterpart Mia Mottley have agreed to “continue to work closely together” on a number of global issues, including the ongoing political, socio-economic situation in Haiti.

A statement issued by Canada’s Office of the Prime Minister noted that the two leaders “spoke” over the last weekend expressing “concern over the deteriorating security in Haiti and the need to help address the political, security, and humanitarian crises in the country.

“They emphasised the importance of Caricom’s (Caribbean Community) role in supporting an inclusive political dialogue and recommitted to working together to help address the urgent needs of the Haitian people,” the statement said.

Late last month, Trudeau and the United States President, Joe Biden both expressed concern about the deteriorating situation in the French speaking Caricom country and in a joint statement, pledged to increase community support to the people of Haiti, in particular by offering them security and humanitarian aid and better support for the National Police of Haiti (PNH).

Trudeau said that in order to counter the crisis and support peace and security “Canada is investing an additional CAD$100 million (One Canadian dollar=US$0.74 cents) to provide enhanced policing support and equipment to the Haitian National Police, to bolster Haitian-led solutions to the crisis and support peace and security”, rather than lead an international force of several thousand men in Haiti”.

The situation in Haiti has deteriorated significantly since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, and opposition politicians calling for fresh elections and the removal of Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry. In addition, armed rival gangs have been terrorising citizens, engaged in kidnapping for ransom and other criminal activities.

The statement said that during their deliberations, both Trudeau and Mottley also discussed “the importance of improving access to concessional financing for countries vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

“They agreed to work together to address today’s global financing needs of developing countries through innovative and inclusive solutions. They also committed to work jointly to advance efforts to reform the international financing system. This would ensure equitable access to resources needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” it said.

The statement said that the leaders also spoke about their roles as co-chairs of the United Nations Secretary-General’s SDG Advocates group and next steps to advance priorities and to ensure continued progress.

“Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Mottley agreed to continue to work closely together,” the statement concluded.