Blinken to meet with Caribbean leaders in Jamaica amid escalating violent crisis in Haiti

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: PBS News Hour/AP

Mar 11, 2024 9:58 AM EDT


KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet Monday with Caribbean leaders in Jamaica as part of an urgent push to solve Haiti’s spiraling crisis, while pressure grows on Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign or agree to a transitional council.

Henry, locked out of his own country after surging violence at home, is expected to attend the closed-door meeting. It was organized by members of a regional trade bloc known as Caricom who for months have pressed for a transitional government in Haiti as protests demanded Henry’s resignation.

“The international community must work together with Haitians towards a peaceful political transition,” U.S. Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Nichols will attend the meeting.

But concerns remain that a long-awaited solution might not be found. “Whilst we are making considerable progress, the stakeholders are not yet where they need to be,” Caricom said in a statement Friday announcing the urgent meeting in Jamaica.

Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/blinken-to-meet-with-caribbean-leaders-in-jamaica-amid-escalating-violent-crisis-in-haiti

[Eugene]

1. Haiti's unelected prime minister reportedly resigns

Haiti's unelected prime minister reportedly resigns (BBC)

Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned, the chair of the Caribbean group of countries has said, following weeks of mounting pressure and increasing violence in the country.

It comes after regional leaders met in Jamaica on Monday to discuss a political transition in Haiti.

Mr Henry is currently stranded in Puerto Rico after being prevented by armed gangs from returning home.

He had led the country since the former president's assassination in July 2021.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68541349