Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, announced that she will host a foreign ministers’ meeting on Haiti Jan. 21, according to Global Affairs Canada, a government agency.
This virtual meeting will allow the international community to convey its commitment to supporting Haiti as the country confronts a number of critical issues, including growing insecurity, minister Joly said in a news release.
“Canada and Haiti have long been united by a deep friendship and close collaboration,” said Joly. “As a long-time friend and partner, Canada stands ready to support Haiti-led solutions to the country’s most pressing issues, and remains committed to supporting Haiti for a more democratic, safer and more prosperous future.”
The meeting will provide an opportunity for discussion between Haitian officials, foreign ministers of like-minded democracies and representatives of multilateral organizations — including the United Nations, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the International Organization of La Francophonie and the Organization of American States (OAS).
Prime minister Justin Trudeau and Haiti’s prime minister Ariel Henry will provide remarks to open the meeting.
Minister Joly and Prime Minister Trudeau Haiti conference reinforces support for an illegitimate leader with the Core Group
The Canadian sponsored conference seeks to undercut a broad civil society forum known as the “Commission for a Haitian Solution to the Crisis”.
“A tweet put Ariel Henry in power”, explained Monique Clesca, a member of the 13-person Commission for a Haitian Solution to the Crisis, in a recent CBC article headlined “Haitian commission sends message to Canada, U.S. — stop meddling in our government”.
“The Core Group of foreign ambassadors in Haiti appointed Ariel Henry”, noted Canadian Foreign Policy Institute director Bianca Mugyenyi. “Henry hasn’t been sworn in by any legitimate Haitian body.”
The “Core Group” is made up of the ambassadors of the US, Canada, France, Brazil, Spain and Germany as well as representatives of the European Union, United Nations and Organization of American States.
“Just imagine the Congolese, Indonesian, Nigerian and Filipino ambassadors releasing a collective statement on who should be prime minister of Canada. How would Canadians feel about that?”, added Jean Saint-Vil from Solidarité Québec-Haiti.
“The Core Group of foreign ambassadors has been dictating Haitians affairs for far too long”, noted Mugyenyi. “Friday’s conference is designed to reinforce US and Canadian domination of Haiti.”
“Insecurity is a major issue in Haiti”, explained Turenne Joseph from Solidarité Québec-Haiti. “But the country’s sovereignty being constantly attacked is a far more fundamental obstacle to Haitian prosperity.”
This a release published today by Canadian Foreign Policy Institute and Solidarité Québec-Haiti