February 11, 2025
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) continues to play a significant role in supporting Haiti, including advocating with the international community for increased funding for security and humanitarian relief in Haiti, Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Foreign and Community Relations within the CARICOM Secretariat, Ms Elizabeth Solomon has said.
In an interview ahead of the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM to be held from 19-21 February in Bridgetown, Barbados, ASG Solomon underscored the importance of the meeting to discuss, among other important issues, CARICOM’s continued support to Haiti.
While noting that the situation in the French-speaking Member State remains challenging, she said that there has been progress since the establishment of the Transitional Government.
“Positive things have happened since the Transitional Government was put in place. Yes, there continues to be many challenges, there is no denying that… but there is forward movement, and CARICOM is going to discuss how best to continue to support,” ASG Solomon stated.
The establishment of a Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) has been a key milestone in CARICOM’s assistance in forging Haitian-led solutions to the complex crises in Haiti. On 11 March 2024 in Jamaica, the Community had convened a High-Level Meeting on Haiti which resulted in a collective commitment from stakeholders for a peaceful transition of power, continuity of governance, an action plan for near-term security, and a path to free and fair elections.
The Outcome Declaration articulated the outlines of a nine-member Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) agreed by Haitian stakeholders, which would include seven voting members and two non-voting members, representing political parties, the business sector, civil society, and the inter-faith sector.
On 12 April 2024, the TPC was established by decree and sworn in on 25 April 2024 to serve until an elected president is inaugurated on 7 February 2026.
In January 2025, Haiti’s Transitional Council President, H.E. Leslie Voltaire, announced on French television network, TV5 Monde, that general elections will take place on 15 November 2025, to facilitate the transition by 7 February 2026 to an elected government in accordance with the constitution.
ASG Solomon noted that despite ongoing challenges, election preparations have commenced.
“CARICOM continues to support the people of Haiti, particularly through the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) and all that the Good Offices of the Secretariat can offer. The EPG continues to meet and speak with all the stakeholders, who continue to ask for the EPG to remain involved,” ASG Solomon stated.