KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) say Haitians must be empowered to govern themselves.

JCC President Christine Gooden-Benguche made the case for the Haitian people to take charge of their own affairs in a statement issued Monday, just before leaders from several Caricom Community countries, the United States, France, Canada, Mexico and Brazil were due in Kingston for a high-level meeting to discuss the deteriorating situation in Haiti.

Gangs have become increasingly emboldened in the French-speaking territory and have prevented Prime Minister Ariel Henry from returning to the country. Henry had travelled to Kenya to firm up an agreement for the deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police personnel as part of a multinational force to assist the Haitian National Police restore order to the country of 11.5 million.

The JCC questioned whether adequate provisions will be made to ensure the full participation of the voices and perspectives from Haiti, including Haitian Civil Society representatives and the church.

“We have noted the long travail for freedom that the Haitian people have endured, which is now manifesting in the current humanitarian and security situation that has engulfed the country. The path to be pursued by the current high-level meeting of leaders in Jamaica must employ the ethic of compassionate justice, which promotes the wholeness of the entire community and avoids any semblance of narrow political and economic interests,” Gooden-Benguche said.

“In short, all deliberations and actions must be centred around the recovery and well-being of the people of Haiti. Now more than ever, Caricom must lead the way to encourage the international community to advocate for Haiti’s international debts to be forgiven to allow fiscal space for nation-building,” she added.

The JCC president said it is the view of the Council that concerns regarding regional security and the restoration of peace and wholeness in Haiti are inextricably linked, and therefore, the balance between these two ideals must be found.

“In addition, we call on the churches throughout the region, in this holy season of Lent, to employ the prominent ritual of fasting as a catalyst which will lead to the liberation of the oppressed and relief for the suffering poor,” she said.