US Pledges Additional $100 Million to Support Multinational Force to Haiti

The United States (US) Government is providing an additional $100 million to assist a United Nations (UN) multinational force mission to Haiti to restore stability to the country.

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, made the announcement following a meeting with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Monday (March 11).

He said that with the additional sum, the total US support for the mission will now move to $300 million.

Another $33 million will also be provided by the US in humanitarian aid.

The Secretary of State said the US is in full support of a Haitian-led effort to get the country back to a path of stability and growth, with neighbouring countries providing critical assistance.

He added that the joint proposal by CARICOM and Haitian stakeholders to expedite a political transition in Haiti has the backing of the US.

Secretary Blinken said the US also supports the plan to create a “broad-based, inclusive, independent presidential college” that would take concrete steps to meet the immediate needs of the Haitian people, enable swift deployment of a multinational security support mission, and through that deployment, create the conditions that are necessary to hold free and fair elections and allow for humanitarian relief for the people.

Much of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince has been taken over by gangs, with CARICOM playing a lead role in restoring functioning institutions in the country.

The meeting included CARICOM Heads of Government as well as international partner countries.