News
Haiti needs more help to beat back gangs; Canadian Prime Minister still sees real progress
Garfield Ekon
Staff Writer
New York, USA, October 7, 2024 – Prime Minister of Canada, Hon. Justin Trudeau said “slow but real progress that is being made” in Haiti, and affirmed his country’s ongoing support for the beleaguered country, as he met on Monday with its interim Prime Minister, Garry Conille.
Speaking at a United Nations (UN) high-level meeting, with an advisory group for Haiti, in New York, United States (US), Mr. Trudeau said “we must come together” with a serious plan to address the humanitarian needs in the country first, and to ensure there is support for a political transition.
He also called on the international community to support the transitional Government while repeating calls he has made for two years for more countries to sanction Haiti’s political and business elites who have helped gangs sow anarchy.
The Canadian PM said Kenyan police officers must be given more support in leading a global effort to rout the gangs. Kenya is leading an international mission that has been controversial in Haiti but that the UN says is necessary to stop violence and curb the flow of weapons to other Caribbean countries.
Canada is closely invested in the response to the ongoing humanitarian, security, and political crises. A UN report released in June said surging gang activity had displaced nearly 580,000 people in the Caribbean country since March. More recently, the estimate related to the number of Haitians displaced due to the myriad of problems which led to a humanitarian crises there, has ballooned to 700,000.
Haitian Prime Minister Conille said on Wednesday that the Caribbean country was a long way from winning its war against armed gangs that control most of the capital, as a UN deadline for log-delayed support fast approaches.
“We are nowhere near winning this, and the simple reality is that we won’t without your help,” Conille said at an event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
“There is a sense of urgency because the Haitian people are watching with cautious optimism, they’re really hoping to see clear results.”
Haiti is currently facing a gang attack at the capital’s main port, Conille said, the key entry point for funding and goods.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said the gangs sew chaos, making it easier to prey on vulnerable communities.
Haiti’s last held election was in 2016. The country recently took its first steps toward a new vote, creating a provisional election council. During Monday’s meeting with Trudeau, Conille said Haiti is preparing for an election possibly in early 2026.
***MEDIA RELEASE***
Turks and Caicos, 28th April 2025 – On Saturday, April 26th, 2025, officers from the Marine Branch of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF) responded to a report of illegal migrants spotted in the mangrove area along the southeastern side of North Caicos.
The United States Coast Guard (Air Support Unit), the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment, and the Department of Fisheries and Marine
Resources Management supported the operation.
Upon arrival at the location, RT&CIPF officers apprehended eleven (11) male individuals, all confirmed to be of Haitian nationality.
The individuals were detained and transported to Providenciales, where they were handed over to officers from Border Force for processing and further investigation.
We continue to urge members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious maritime or coastal activity to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force by calling 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 to provide information anonymously.
Additionally, individuals are encouraged to download the Crime Stoppers P3 app to share information.
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