CARICOM concerned about violence in Haiti

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping has expressed concern about the violence in Haiti where opposition parties have been staging street demonstrations demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moise.

CARICOM chairman and St Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris said the regional integration grouping “is deeply concerned about the continuing violent protests in Haiti, which have resulted in the loss of life, property, destruction of infrastructure and caused grave distress.

“The Community calls for calm and a cessation of the violence, appealing to all involved to engage in constructive dialogue and to respect the Constitution, the rule of law and democratic processes so that issues can be resolved in a peaceful atmosphere and allow for the return to a state of normalcy,” he said in a brief statement.

On Monday, the leaders of the various political parties and groups adopt a common position demanding the resignation of President Moïse and his government.

“The observation is that the country is not governed. We cannot let the country go adrift with an incompetent person at its head,” said opposition Senator Youri Latortue.

Earlier this week, several Western countries condemned the “unacceptable acts of violence” in Haiti and called for all stakeholders including Haitian leaders “to engage in a constructive and inclusive dialogue in order to identify and implement realistic and lasting solutions to the political and economic."

Opposition political parties have been staging street demonstrations in support of their calls for President Moise to step down, after accusing him of not investigating allegations of corruption in the previous government over PetroCaribe, an oil alliance of many Caribbean states with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment.

They are also demanding fresh elections and jobs.

But, Moise has dismissed the calls for him to resign.

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