Haiti, not sure which is the worst gang. Maybe the government officials who are not even there?
Haitian PM declared “persona non grata” by Dominican Republic government - The Haitian Times
Haitian PM declared “persona non grata” by Dominican Republic government
The Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry is officially prohibited from entering the Dominican Republic, after refusing last week to allow a flight carrying him to land on Haiti’s neighbor’s soil.
Overview:The Dominican authorities indefinitely banned Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry from entering Dominican territory, just days after refusing the landing of the plane carrying him from the United States. Since his return from an official visit to Kenya, Henry has struggled to enter Haiti due to the escalation of gang violence, forcing a no-flight to and from Haiti.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — President Luis Abinader announced that Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has been declared “persona non grata” in the Dominican Republic and is not welcome in his country indefinitely for security reasons. This official decision follows the refusal just days ago of the Dominican authorities to allow a private plane carrying Henry to land on their soil.
Henry had decided to take this route after being prevented from returning to the country due to the cancellation of commercial flights after gang attacks on the Toussaint Louverture International Airport. Projectiles hit planes, windows were pierced by bullets, and agencies were vandalized.
As a result of authorization not given to the plane to land in the Dominican Republic, the Haitian prime minister headed to San Juan, Puerto Rico. But he is still unable to return to Haiti. Henry, secured by FBI agents, was transferred to another location after several Haitians living in Puerto Rico protested at the hotel to demand his resignation. In Haiti as well, several personalities and sectors, including gang leaders, are calling for PM Henry to step down. He was in Kenya to finalize and sign a security deal that could facilitate the deployment of 1000 Kenyan police officers in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which Kenya is tasked to lead.
“This statement comes at a time of tension and violence in Haiti, where gangs have challenged the government’s authority, further complicating the political and social situation in the region.”
DOMINICAN GOVERNMENT
“This comes at a time of tension and violence in Haiti, where gangs have challenged the government’s authority, further complicating the political and social situation in the region,” said the Dominican government in a statement reported by the Dominican newspaper Listin Diario.
According to the Dominican newspaper, President Abinadel made this decision “in the interest of safeguarding the national security of the Dominican Republic.” For Abinader, the crisis in Haiti not only represents a humanitarian challenge but also constitutes a threat to the stability of his country.
Indeed, since Feb. 29, armed bandits have provoked an escalation of violence in Haiti while the prime minister was out of the country. They attacked and set fire to several public and private institutions on a regular basis, in spite of a state of emergency and nighttime curfew put in place by government authorities. Most major activities in Port-au-Prince and its surroundings have been paralyzed.
This growing insecurity situation in Haiti raises concerns in the Dominican Republic, where authorities call on the international community to join efforts to pacify Haiti. The Dominican government has therefore decided to take various measures to prepare for the consequences of the Haitian crisis, including preventing Prime Minister Henry, criticized in Haiti, from entering their country.
“We regret the absence of government and authority in Haiti,” said Abinader, noting that the presence of the Haitian PM in the DR is not appropriate. “The security situation is totally unsustainable.”
The Haitian Prime Minister is in Puerto Rico, while other ministers of his cabinet, including the ministers of justice, communication, environment and foreign affairs, are stuck abroad as well. They are uncertain about when they will be able to return to Haiti. Meanwhile, the government, under the leadership of Minister of Economy and Finance Michel Patrick Boisvert, has not provided any communication on this matter.
In Haiti, discussions continue without success to decide on the establishment of a transitional government after Ariel Henry. The power struggle among stakeholders has given no chance for relief. While some groups claim representation in any new government, others continue to reject the participation of certain personalities or sectors, according to several media reports.
In a video last week, the chairman of the Caribbean Community — CARICOM, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, lamented the situation where the Haitian government and political actors “are still unable to reach an agreement to bring Haiti back to the path of democratic order and restore security. According to Ali, the absence of key institutions in Haiti makes the process difficult.
“The situation is complex with many stakeholders. It is compounded by the absence of key institutions such as the presidency and parliament,” said Ali. “We urge all Haitian stakeholders to find an urgent consensus, given that they all agree that the solution must be Haitian-led and Haitian-owned,” he added.
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TAGGED: Ariel Henry, Claude Joseph, domican Republic, Guy Philippe, Haïti, haiti jailbreak, Haïti news, Haiti State of Emergency, Kenya, latest news, Luis Abinader, Moïse Jean-Charles, Paid, prison
Juhakenson Blaise
juhakenson@haitiantimes.com
I am Juhakenson Blaise, a journalist based in the city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I cover the news that develops in this city and deals with other subjects related to the experience of Haitians for the Haitian Times newspaper. I am also a lover of poetry. |
