Turning the Tide | Guyana's Contribution to Haiti's Shift towards Stability
After months of instability fueled by gang violence, and the deaths and injury of thousands of Haitian people the demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry has been heeded.
The resignation was announced to the world by current Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Guyana’s President HE Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali who was in Jamaica last week with other Caricom leaders, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and other officials.
His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali shaking hand with Secretary Blinken
It was also announced that a presidential council which would "hold relevant and possible powers of the Haitian presidency during the transition period until an elected government is established”.
These terms, although not quite the “Haitian-led solutions” called for from one of the main gang leaders responsible for much of the unrest in the French-speaking nation have been accepted.
According to international news reports, Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier has said he was going to call for a truce to evaluate the situation.
Stability returning to Haiti
“If Ariel Henry resigns, I think we are going to call for a truce just to evaluate the situation, just to allow the negotiations to take place between all sectors of society and the armed groups,” said Barbecue.
This would seem like the best possible outcome at this time. This was not the time for grandstanding or heroics as what was needed was an immediate solution to the violence and volatility in Haiti.
So then why would a former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, with a Doctorate of Philosophy on International Relations interpret this situation as anything but a victory for the people of Haiti. Why would he describe the tireless hours of planning, strategizing, and negotiations for a chance of healing for Haiti as a “squandered opportunity” for President Irfaan Ali.
Could this former freed drunk driver (and accused agent of manslaughter), have another motive for attacking the President?
Perhaps it is simply a case where the reportedly inebriated doctor is employing the school yard tactic that says to attack the biggest person on the playground to raise your own profile. Is Dr Gary Best trying to gain mileage for a some kind of run within his clearly lost political party or does he plan to break away and form his own party and is using every possible platform to “make noise”?
Rear Admiral Gary Best presenting at PNC/R headquarters
Inspire of this noise, Guyanese and the world have not been fooled and continue to see President Ali remains a giant among men because he knew that goal of the Caricom and all international partners remains to return Haiti to stability and on the path to prosperity.
Informed Guyanese also know that this is not the time to cherry-pick wins when the alternative would be continued suffering for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.