(Ottawa) A military intervention in Haiti must be a last resort solution at this time because it could turn into a bloodbath due to the strong presence of street gangs who are armed to the teeth, believes Liberal MP of Haitian origin Emmanuel Dubourg,
Mr. Dubourg, who plays an important but discreet role in the Trudeau government’s response to the crisis in Haiti, says Canada is playing the right card, that of caution, by first imposing severe sanctions on the place of some members of the country’s political elite who profit from the criminal activities of gangs.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Emmanuel Dubourg, Federal Liberal MP for Bourassa
Faced with a worsening humanitarian crisis, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry called in early October for the intervention of armed foreign forces to restore order in his country and fight the gangs who block access to fuel and essential supplies as a cholera outbreak rages.
In recent weeks, Canada has come under pressure from the United States to lead an intervention force. So far, the Trudeau government has ruled out this option on the grounds that such an intervention must be the subject of a broad consensus in this Caribbean country.
“The situation in Haiti is catastrophic. We are experiencing several crises at the same time – a security crisis, a humanitarian crisis, an economic crisis and a political crisis. All this at the same time makes the situation in Haiti explosive,” says Mr. Dubourg, the only member of Haitian origin in the House of Commons.
We have to tackle this perfect storm. But the Haitian state is not in a position to deal with all these crises at the same time.
Emmanuel Dubourg, Federal Liberal MP for Bourassa
But given that gangs in the capital Port-au-Prince are “heavily armed” and growing in number, military intervention would be ill-advised at this time. “In the gangs, there are also minors. We can’t come in and say we’re going to clean up. It takes a strategy. The danger is that it turns into a bloodbath. »
Mr. Dubourg also pointed out that Haitians are “very divided” on this delicate issue, whether in Haiti or within the diaspora in Montreal.
“There have already been many other interventions in Haiti and nothing came of it. As soon as the soldiers leave the country, it starts again two or three years later. »
New penalties
This weekend, Mr. Trudeau took advantage of the Francophonie Summit in Tunisia to announce new economic sanctions against three major Haitian personalities: former President Michel Martelly and former Prime Ministers Laurent Lamothe and Jean-Henry Céant.
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Haiti’s Foreign Minister Jean Victor Geneus and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a discussion on the situation in Haiti, on the sidelines of the Francophonie Summit, in Djerba, Tunisia
According to Canada, this trio helped criminal gangs undermine the current Haitian government. The Trudeau government is urging its international partners to follow suit.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly also announced sanctions against a Haitian senator, Rony Célestin, who owns a villa in Laval bought for $4.25 million last year. Ottawa believes the wealthy politician is also illegally supporting gangs.
Other members of the political class have also been hit by sanctions, namely the president of the Senate, Joseph Lambert, and the former senator Youri Latortue.
According to Emmanuel Dubourg, these sanctions aim to attack the top of the crime pyramid in Haiti.
These sanctions, which target the political elite, have had a shock wave in Haiti. By attacking the top of the pyramid, the gangs will have more difficulty obtaining funding, will have more difficulty obtaining weapons and so on.
Emmanuel Dubourg, Federal Liberal MP for Bourassa
The Liberal MP for Bourassa said that military interventions in the past helped restore order for a while, but that the situation deteriorated again after the departure of the soldiers due to the fragility of institutions in Haiti. . “Canada cannot do everything. Haitians need to work together. Civil society must participate, institutions and politicians must contribute to all of this. Otherwise, it won’t be possible. »
He gave the National Police of Haiti the example. Canada has contributed to police training. But some of them left its ranks to join criminal gangs, for lack of sufficient salaries.
At the end of the week, the Prime Minister also announced an additional aid of 16.5 million to stabilize Haiti, of which half (8 million) must be used to meet the needs of the populations affected by the crisis and 5 million to help the Haitian authorities. to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate cases of corruption and economic crime, money laundering and related offences.
Cholera and malnutrition hit children, warns UN
A cholera epidemic that is sweeping Haiti is claiming more and more victims among children, at a time when malnutrition is also continuing to grow, UNICEF warned on Wednesday. This deadly combination means that around 40% of cholera cases in this impoverished country of more than 11 million people now affect children. About 90% of cases are reported in areas where people are hungry, the UN children’s agency said. UNICEF and the Haitian government are requesting US$28 million to feed, hydrate and treat some 1.4 million people affected by the crisis. This number is expected to increase as malnutrition increases, especially in areas such as the Cité-Soleil slum in Port-au-Prince.
Associated Press