Dear Editor,

The country of Haiti is under siege by notorious criminal gangs taking over the capital city and other sections of the country. Thousands of incarcerated prisoners have escaped from a prison facility.

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Jamaica Observer report stated that Haiti’s Government declared a state of emergency on Sunday, March 3, 2024 after thousands of inmates apparently escaped from its largest prison during a major surge of gang violence that has immensely disrupted the country in many serious and negative ways, to the extent that the prime minister of Haiti, due to safety concerns, cannot return to the country and remains in a third party country.

The Government of Haiti has pointed to the monumental decline of security, principally in the capital Port-au-Prince, and increasingly violent criminal acts perpetrated by armed gangs, including vicious kidnappings and killings of citizens, violence against women and children, and looting, according to a statement from Finance Minister Patrick Boivert, who is serving as acting prime minister.

It also cited the attacks by armed groups on Saturday against the country’s two largest prisons, one in Port-au-Prince and another in Croix-des-Bouquets, which led to the escape of dangerous prisoners and caused deaths and injuries among police and prison staff.

What is happening in Haiti is scandalous, reprehensible, and tragic. Haiti desperately needs security manpower and equipment to restore, forthwith, law and order to the country. It is imperative that Caricom demonstrates clear leadership and takes a central role in facilitating a cumulative effort among the Haitian people to confront their challenges.

Also, Caricom, the United Nations Security Council, the United States, and Kenya need to formulate an agreement which would see at least 25,000 special operations team members and a peacekeeping team deployed to Haiti to provide protection for the citizens of Haiti, the Government, and State agencies as well as to apprehend the major criminal gang leaders who are directly responsible for the exponential increase in murders, shootings, rapes, and looting, causing bloodshed, mayhem, and violence that are destabilising the country.

Importantly, to restore law, order, and calm to the country, Prime Minister Ariel Henry needs to hold a general election. It is quite clear that he has lost the confidence of the people and the moral authority to head the Government.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his Administration, through the national security ministry and other agencies so responsible, should evaluate every single asylum request from Haitians who have entered Jamaica trying to escape from Haiti.

Robert Dalley

Montego Bay

robert.dalley1468@aol.com