Bahamas.- The multinational force, spearheaded by Kenya, to restore security in Haiti is slated to commence deployment on May 26, as announced by Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas.
The Bahamas has pledged to dispatch 150 Defense Force officers to bolster maritime security as part of this multinational effort aimed at stabilizing Haiti.
Mitchell also expressed approval of the recent election of Fritz Bélizaire, former Sports Minister, as Haiti’s new prime minister.
“This process is led by Haiti, and Caricom (Caribbean Community) has made every effort to bring it to fruition,” stated the Bahamian diplomatic chief, emphasizing the role of the Caribbean organization and its mediation between Haitian factions.
According to reports from Bahamian media, the new prime minister enjoys widespread acceptance among Haiti’s elites, and the international community recognizes this as the right direction forward.
However, the multinational force, authorized by the Security Council to provide support to the Haitian National Police, has faced delays primarily due to financial constraints.
UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric noted that there has been no update on the number of countries willing to participate in the force, which includes Kenya, Burkina Faso, and several Caribbean nations. Moreover, funding for the force has yet to surpass 10.6% of the required budget.
Insecurity remains pervasive in the metropolitan area of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, following a surge in violence by armed gangs controlling significant portions of the city since late February.