Minister of Foreign Affairs Kerrie Symmonds has warned that the worsening instability in Haiti is not only a humanitarian disaster but a clear and present danger to national security across CARICOM.
In an interview addressing Barbados’ position on the crisis, Symmonds acknowledged the efforts of the regional bloc and international partners but expressed deep concern that critical global powers were not giving it the priority it required.
“The reality in Haiti is that there is evidence of trafficking in guns, trafficking in ammunition, trafficking in drugs, trafficking of persons, and even bodily organs, and there are countries in CARICOM who are perhaps less than 100 miles away from Haiti,” Symmonds said.
He pointed to the growing displacement of Haitians due to gang violence – more than a million in the past year – and the potential for spillover into neighbouring territories.
“It is impossible not to expect that there is a likelihood of knock-on effects and consequences in terms of national security for countries which are in the geographic immediate proximity to Haiti.”
The minister stressed that these developments have significant implications for border security, particularly in the context of rising gun-related crime and the transnational nature of trafficking networks.
“Gun crime is not an issue which is just simply located in Jamaica or any other part of the Caribbean. It is something that we are seeing replicating itself now across the entire Caribbean. We simply cannot afford to allow it to grow in terms of its scope and scale without it being wrestled to the ground,” he stated.
While Barbados had previously expressed a willingness to support multilateral efforts to stabilise Haiti, Symmonds said the regional and international response remained critically under-resourced and fragmented.
“There was a plan in place in which Barbados had expressed willingness to assist,” he said. “But the conflict in Haiti has worsened, and it’s clear that the long-simmering crisis over its ability to govern itself needed broad-based support. Some of that support, we felt, should have come from the United States of America.”
However, Symmonds felt that recent high-level discussions with American officials revealed the stark reality: “There is absolutely no appetite in the United States for them to put boots on the ground”.
Instead, operational leadership has fallen to Kenya, which heads the multinational security force deployed to assist Haiti. But this force, Symmonds admitted, is “chronically understaffed and under-supported”. He pointed out that for the mission to be effective, logistical infrastructure like Forward Operating Bases must be in place to secure reclaimed territory from gangs – a need that is currently unmet due to resource shortages.
At the United Nations level, Secretary-General António Guterres has submitted a proposal outlining how the international community, could stabilise and fund the Kenya-led force. But Symmonds noted that progress was being hampered by geopolitical inertia.
“That proposal has to meet with the support of the Security Council and as you probably are aware, on the Security Council, we have some countries that are not treating the situation in Haiti as a matter of first priority.”
Symmonds added that recent US legislation – which includes cuts to UN funding – has further complicated the ability of international agencies to mount a robust response.
“What President Trump has called the ‘big beautiful bill’, which passed the House, reflects deep cuts in funding for the United Nations,” he said.
“So, the resources that were previously anticipated to be there, at least coming from the United States, are now dissipating.”
Symmonds called on world leaders – especially those in CARICOM and the global North – to demonstrate clear resolve. “Heads of state and government, not only in CARICOM but quite frankly globally, need to decide what message they are sending to the world. There is a national security and a regional security implication for this increasing instability in Haiti. There is no question about that,” he stated.
Long overdue.