National

Former Foreign Affairs Minister: Haiti Is In No Way Ready For A Peacekeeping Force

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield is warning against premature ground operations in Haiti. His comments come as the situation in Haiti worsens.

Published

8 months ago

March 11, 2024

Marlena Leonard

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield is warning against premature ground operations in Haiti. His comments come as the situation in Haiti worsens and gangs threaten civil war.

That’s former foreign affairs minister warning of the potential widespread consequences of the current crisis in Haiti.

Henfield was minister of foreign affairs when Haitian President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021.

Henfield, who is a former member of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, also served in a peacekeeping mission in Haiti in the 1990’s.

Thirty years later and with Haiti facing another wave of violence and unrest. Henfield says before any mission can be successful, there’s something else that needs to happen.

The Haitian prime minister is unable to return home after a meeting in Kenya over conditions there. He’s currently in Puerto Rico.

Prime Minister Philip Davis is in Jamaica for an emergency meeting with CARICOM leaders over the ongoing turmoil in Haiti.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkin is set to attend that meeting at the time of the interview, Munroe said those meetings hadn’t started yet.

He adds prioritizing maritime efforts is vital.

Henfield also had this to say on the Davis administration’s commitment of 150 Bahamian troops to help with the multinational team working to bring stability to Haiti.