Haiti has requested for more Kenyan police officers to be deployed to the Caribbean nation. Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome confirmed that the request was made by Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille. The first contingent of 400 Kenya police officers arrived in Haiti on June 25 as part of a United Nations-backed mission aimed at restoring stability in the Caribbean nation [ffa93b5a].
During his visit to Miami, Prime Minister Conille met with U.S. Representative Frederica Wilson and local Haitian-American leaders. The meeting, which was originally scheduled for 45 minutes, lasted well over two hours. The group discussed various topics, including safe and secure elections, constitution formation, humanitarian aid, healthcare, and preventing gang recruitment at an early age. They plan to present a list of demands to the Biden-Harris administration to seek support for Haiti. Conille did not take questions from the media [0e559437].
In a significant development, Haitian gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, announced that his gang will lay down their arms, paving the way for dialogue to restore peace in the country. Barbecue called on Prime Minister Conille to seize the opportunity and bring an end to the years-long war that has ravaged Haiti. Prime Minister Conille welcomed the move, emphasizing the need for justice for the victims of the gangs [ffa93b5a].
In Washington, D.C., Prime Minister Conille has allies such as U.S. Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Jan Schakowsky, and Yvette Clarke, who introduced a resolution for the $50 billion Louverture Investment Plan. Additionally, North Miami Vice Mayor Mary Estime-Irvin is working on turning the plan into a bill to provide stability and infrastructure funding for Haiti [0e559437].
Prime Minister Garry Conille gave a press conference at the Diplomatic Salon of Toussaint Louverture International Airport, presenting the results of his tour to Washington and New York from June 28 to July 5, 2024. He had important working meetings with officials from the World Bank, the IDB, the American Secretary of State, the United Nations Security Council, and the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The objective was to expose Haiti's vision and priorities to its partners. The meetings focused on the review of donor portfolios, the effectiveness of external aid, the urgency of national priorities, and the international support. Conille also visited the Haitian Embassy in Washington and met with the Haitian community in New York. He announced the priorities of his government, including the restoration of security and authority of the state, the relocation of displaced people, the free movement of people and goods, and the strengthening of justice and reparation for victims of insecurity [403869d4].