Basseterre, 16 February 2024 – The Right Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, Minister of
Affairs on Tuesday 13th February 2024 participated with his CARICOM colleagues in
consecutive virtual meetings- firstly with the US Assistant Secretary of State for the Western
Hemisphere Affairs, Brian Nichols and subsequently in the Eighteenth (18th) Informal
Consultations of the COFCOR.
Tuesday’s virtual meetings primarily focused on the ongoing situation in Haiti, status of
preparations for the international security force as well as the continuing advocacy for voluntary
support to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.
The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2699 (2023), adopted on 2nd October 2023,
inter alia, authorized a Kenya-led security mission in Haiti for one year with a review after nine
(9) months.
The United States has pledged 200 million to the mission and Jamaica, the Bahamas and
Antigua and Barbuda have already pledged to send personnel. Kenya may deploy up to 1000
troops.
CARICOM Member States had previously called for international assistance for the Haitian
National Police (HNP) to quell the surge in gang violence, restore stability in the country, and
pave the way for free and fair elections. The CARICOM Eminent Persons Group (EPG) remains
engaged with Haitian stakeholders to ensure that they fulfill their commitment to develop the
relevant framework agreement for a governance structure in support of political stability and
democracy in the country.
Minister Douglas is pleased with the solidarity being expressed by the global community on the
MSS mission and on the advancement of the process to date. He however, expressed that the
Government and people of Saint Kitts and Nevis remain gravely concerned about the multi-
pronged crisis in Haiti and promised that Saint Kitts and Nevis will continue to remain both
seized of the situation and engaged in the ongoing deliberations on the deployment of the
international armed force to assist the Haitian people.
