The option that an international force be deployed in Haiti to help the authorities deal with the gangs is reacting and causing some concern within the diaspora in Montreal.
The American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, continued his visit to Canadian soil and was in Montreal on Friday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Mélanie Joly. Their visit to the Jean-Talon market in the morning was disrupted by demonstrators. “No to any foreign military intervention in Haiti,” read one sign.
Mélanie Joly’s counterpart is trying to convince Ottawa to lead an international intervention force, as Canada weighs its options before making a decision on the best course of action. A team was sent to the site to find out more about the security situation, the level of organization of the local police and the humanitarian situation in the country.
Mélanie Joly and Antony Blinken then went to the Biosphere on Île Sainte-Hélène. It was Martine St-Victor, a member of the Haitian diaspora in Montreal, who hosted the event and a question period with students from the University of Montreal in particular. “What do you say to Haitians and members of the diaspora to reassure them? she asked the two politicians at the outset. I think there are some apprehensions about the operation that we will soon see on the ground.
In response, Minister Joly stressed that the situation in the country is “catastrophic” and that a security and humanitarian crisis is shaking the country. “The country has been paralyzed for 40 days,” she said. “Our goal is to help, not to intervene and impose. Our goal is to help, because we have an obligation to help, ”she insisted. The Minister then said that she “heard” the concerns of the Haitian diaspora in Montreal and said she was ready to work with the community “to hear their point of view”.
“Canada is Haiti’s best friend who can help, but we must ensure that there are regional forces involved,” she added, noting that equipment has been sent. in the country.
For his part, Antony Blinken insisted on the fact that “members [de gang] are connected to elites who run them, who finance them and that the state does not control”. He indicated that sanctions will therefore be imposed on the elites. “More needs to be done to support the police and the Haitian forces to bring back control,” he added. “We want a political transition, and possibly elections. But how to have elections when the Haitian people cannot even circulate. We must solve this problem of insecurity,” he said.
Friday noon in Winnipeg, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defense Minister Anita Anand did not rule out sending Canadian troops when asked about it.
“Before establishing any mission, we need to see a clear plan of action, a level of support from the Haitian people, government and opposition parties, and consensus on how we can ensure that by helping the Haitian people, we are ensuring a more solid future for them in the short, medium and long term,” said Justin Trudeau.