Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has suggested that there should be discussions with gangs in Haiti to help end the current crisis in that country.
He made the disclosure during a press briefing held on Monday.
According to a recent article from news.un.org, United Nations (UN) human rights office’s designated expert on the country, William O’Neill said gangs are tightening their grip on the capital, violence is spreading, and “suffering permeates all social strata” in a nation teetering on the brink.
The first quarter of 2024 was the deadliest for Haitians with about 2,500 people killed or injured in gang violence.
“The issue of Haiti ,it’s a serious problem,” Skerrit said. “But we continue to work, we continue to help and I said yesterday at the church service, we cannot have Haiti fatigue. We have a duty and obligation to Haiti, but if I were to express my personal point on Haiti, I have suggested that there are many who supported that position and that we should have had a conversation with the gangs in Haiti.”
He continued, “The gangs in Haiti are too crucial, a player, for you to not engage them and if you do not engage people you leave them to their own devices.”
According to the Prime Minister, sanctions are not going to change the attitude of any gang leader or gang member in Haiti.
“I was Chairman of CARICOM then and I went ahead and I spoke to Norway, because Norway had played a very crucial role in facilitating discussions and negotiations between the government of Colombia and FARC,” he explained. “ FARC was a terrorist group, and you have now people who are part of FARC in parliament, in congress, in part of the government in Colombia.”
Skerrit added, “ And so, I understand people do not want to engage with gangs and so on, but they’re part of the society. We do not hate them, we hate their behavior and their actions and how do we get them to change their behavior and actions.?”
The Prime Minister pointed out that he is not Haitian, nor part of the Haitian Government, “I can only suggest…but if there’s a problem in society, we have to talk.”
“ I still believe it’s not too late. We cannot set aside anybody in terms of finding a solution for peace. Because without peace in Haiti, without law and order in Haiti, there is no future for Haiti,” he remarked.
Furthermore, he stated that if after consultation with the gang leaders, they do not want to behave, “ then you go after them, you eliminate them. It is as simple as that.”
“You get an opportunity to change your ways and so this is my personal view on the Haitian situation. This is not a CARICOM position,” he noted.
In the meantime, he revealed that the Norwegian Government was prepared to provide the resources and the framework for this and to facilitate discussion.
“And I was prepared myself, I told them, to go to Haiti and be part of the conversations with the gangs, so this is where we are,” Skerrit added.
Of course they should engage with what they term “gangs”. As long as the Western countries label you gangs, commies etc. these are code words that you are the good guys fighting to get back your country whose resources they’re trying to keep. It’s an old fight against destabilization from since 1804, today being called gangs.
Leave Haiti to develop on their own, with reparations like everyone else who got and are today at doing very well after reparations.
Just bring the rest of them over here. Simple. We need help.
I agree totally. that’s where you strong. I would recommend you take the lead on this one. Go meet BBQ and make him some promises. you have a record of negotiating favour’s with international crooks and criminals. Leadership matters. go haiti meet with him on his turf.
Fake Labour power again,trying to impersonate the real Labour.UWP impersonate people every time they are under pressure.For the first time Ibo is out of Rikers island in 25 years.The Dominica police once worked in Haiti,as Wayne James the brother of Edison James.
I agree with Roosevelt that those in authority should engage the gangs in discussions. In order to solve differences you have to have discourse with your adversaries.
When CARICOM appointed the Eminent Three comprised of former prime ministers to devise a plan to bring normalcy to Haiti, and they decided not to involved the gangs, that was a fatal mistake.
So for the first time as prime minister, Roosevelt has it right this time around.
mr slowly going senile just like joe biden was in the usa