Davis says more work needed to deal with gun trafficking in Caribbean and crisis in Haiti
As Caribbean leaders celebrated 50 years of the establishment of CARICOM, Prime Minister Philip Davis, and outgoing CARICOM chairman, said yesterday that there remains more work that must be done to strengthen security in the region and find a solution to the ongoing crisis in Haiti.
“…We must forge ahead to meet the commitments of our declaration,” Davis said during the opening ceremony of the 45th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Trinidad and Tobago yesterday.
“Our nations and our people cannot afford any less than resolute action.
“In recognition of the deep and devastating impact which the trafficking of illegal firearms from the United States has had on violent crime in our countries, we have declared a war on guns throughout the region. Not for the first time, we joined our voices to call upon our neighbor to the north to take action to stop the illegal export of firearms to our shores.
“Our entreaties to the United States have begun to bear fruit.
“In word and deed, they are playing a much more active role in the effort to reduce the trafficking in people, guns, and drugs.”
Davis said this was evident by US Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to The Bahamas in May, the first visit by a sitting US president or vice president in more than 50 years.
“The vice president’s commitments to specific security measures, and to commit funds to support a number of initiatives, were even more welcome,” he said.
Harris announced more than $100 million in assistance for the Caribbean region.
The assistance will aid in the fight against climate change and gun trafficking, the crisis in Haiti and enhancing diplomatic relations in the region.
Davis also raised the ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
Haiti has been plagued with political instability for many years. Those issues were made worse by the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
“The Bahamas remains committed to acting as a lead, with other CARICOM member states, to find a solution to the ongoing humanitarian and security crisis,” Davis said.
“The CARICOM-led meeting of Haitian stakeholders in Kingston in June, was cause for cautious optimism. Stakeholders welcomed the inclusive nature of the meeting, which were a microcosm of Haitian society.
“As a demonstration of the effectiveness of regional co-operation, the Eminent Persons Group convened by CARICOM was urged to continue to use CARICOM’s good offices to work with all stakeholders to find a definitive solution to the crisis.
“Along with the moral imperative to support our neighbors in finding a way out of the political morass which is causing so much suffering, it is a prime illustration of the point which I have made for some time now, that none of us can be safe until we are all safe.
“In Haiti, beyond the pressing issue of security, there is the long-term issue of restoring the country to that of a fully functioning, democratic state.”
Roosevelt Skerrit, the prime minister of Dominica, is the new chair of CARICOM.
Davis wished him well and thanked regional leaders for their support during his tenure.
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