The US Secretary of State will participate in a meeting in Jamaica to discuss Haiti’s political transition

Jakarta (MidLand) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will leave on Monday for Jamaica, where he will meet with the heads of Caribbean countries to discuss how to speed up the political transition in Haiti, according to a statement from the US Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Kingston, Jamaica today to participate in the high-level meeting on Haiti hosted by the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM),” reads a press release from United States Department of Foreign Affairs. Business received Tuesday in Jakarta.

Blinken will discuss proposals developed with CARICOM and stakeholders in Haiti to accelerate a political transition in Haiti involving the creation of an independent presidential assembly and the deployment of a multinational security force to regain control over a country overrun by armed gangs after its president was dismissed. almost murdered two years ago.

“The Minister (Blinken) will also meet with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness to discuss bilateral and regional issues and reaffirm our strong and enduring relationship with Jamaica,” read a statement from the US Department of Foreign Affairs.

Sputnik reported that the US embassy in Haiti evacuated all non-essential personnel from Port-au-Prince over the weekend at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The US Embassy said it remained open despite the evacuation of a number of staff.

Gang violence erupted in Port-au-Prince on February 29 when Prime Minister Ariel Henry visited Kenya to discuss the deployment of the military to fight organized crime. The armed gang stated that their goal was to prevent Henry from returning to Haiti.

The local government declared a state of emergency in the capital region and extended it until early April following violence perpetrated by armed gangs.

The Caribbean country’s interim government also said that weekend curfew restrictions will remain in place until March 11, from 6pm to 5am local time.

The policy aims to restore order by helping the government “regain control of the situation” in areas where armed gangs frequently attack police stations, airports and hospitals.

Prime Minister Henry has governed Haiti since July 2021, when then-President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home.

Prime Minister Henry is reportedly under pressure from the United States to resign and go ahead with the election, although a White House spokesperson denied the report on Wednesday.

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Reporter: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Publisher: Atman Ahdiat
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