Colombia Calls for Caribbean Unity to Help Haiti Overcome Crisis

MONTERIA, Colombia.— Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia on Friday issued a strong call for regional unity, emphasizing the need for autonomous solutions to help Haiti emerge from its current crisis. She made these remarks during her address at the summit of the Association of Caribbean States.

In a context where Haiti is enduring increasing instability due to armed gang violence, the situation is highly concerning, with United Nations reports indicating over 5,600 deaths and more than 1.2 million displaced persons, illustrating the scale of violence plaguing the country. Armed gangs control a large part of Port-au-Prince, the capital, as well as other municipalities, forcing thousands of citizens to flee their homes. Sarabia underscored the importance of collective and solidarity-based action, while asserting that the Haitian people must be the sole architects of their destiny.

The Colombian minister described Haiti's situation as a multidimensional crisis, requiring an urgent and coordinated response from Caribbean nations.

In her speech, Laura Sarabia highlighted the shortcomings of regional integration and called on ACS member countries to intensify their cooperation. «Haiti's stability is the concern of the entire region. It must come through active solidarity, respectful of the sovereignty and voice of the Haitian people,» she stated, arguing that this solidarity must respect the principle of self-determination and the authority of nations, while also emphasizing common climatic challenges that require concerted action.

«Haiti's future must not be conditioned by external interventions, but must result from the solidarity of Caribbean nations, combining respect for sovereignty and collective action,» she declared, rejecting any idea of external intervention that would conceal a form of international assistance.

The ACS summit brought together 25 member states and 7 associate members. It is a week dedicated to exchanges between the nations of the Greater Caribbean Week. Themes such as regional security, sustainable development, the impacts of climate change, and good neighborliness among member countries are addressed during this summit.

Jean Mapou