Haiti

Mr. President of the General Assembly, Mr. Secretary-General, Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Excellencies, Ministers, Excellencies, Ambassadors, Distinguished Delegates, Dear friends, Dear compatriots,

1.- Allow me first of all to extend to the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Mr. Dennis Francis, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago, my warmest congratulations on his election to the Presidency of the 78th regular session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Haitian delegation pledges its full cooperation in the accomplishment of his noble tasks. I am convinced that, thanks to his great wisdom and long experience, our deliberations will be crowned with success.

2.- I would also like to take this opportunity to salute the remarkable work carried out by the Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, at the head of our Organization. In this regard, I am very grateful to him for his visit to Haiti last July, which was a moment of comfort and solidarity for the Haitian people.

Mr. President,

3.- I welcome the theme you have proposed to guide our deliberations during this session: "Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its sustainable development goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all."

4.- It is therefore incumbent upon us to examine and propose solutions to the main global challenges likely to advance peace, security and sustainable development. For there can be no sustainable development without peace and security. We need a great deal of synergy and must demonstrate solidarity and generosity in facing these major challenges.

5.- The world, on the eve of the 2030 deadline, is faring poorly. The outbreak of numerous conflicts with disastrous consequences for civilian populations, the multiplication of numerous security, health, and food crises, are there to remind us that we are slowly, but surely, drifting away from the great ideals of the Charter of the United Nations.

6.- We have proof of this, among other things, in the food insecurity generated by conflicts and violence. The 2023 Global Report on Food Crises indicates that 258 million people were in a situation of acute food insecurity and were in need of emergency food assistance in 2022.

7.- In this regard, I welcome the high-level public debate "on famine and global food insecurity caused by conflicts," organized last August by the Security Council, in which my country took part, in order to sound the alarm.

8.- The global economy, since the Covid crisis, finds itself in a situation of stagnation according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and growth prospects are not encouraging. Inflation is hitting numerous economies. The specter of a return to protectionism is a great concern to us.

9.- This situation is not without consequences for the least developed countries, notably Haiti, which must constantly contend with price volatility and a serious multidimensional crisis, marked by the deterioration of the country's security situation.

10.- It is also worth mentioning, in this troubling landscape, the issue of climate change, which represents a permanent danger for small island states. The capacity of many CARICOM countries, including Haiti, is constantly put to a severe test. With the passage of each hurricane, the region's economies suffer enormous losses that call into question the significant progress made on the socio-economic and political fronts, through the destruction of economic, educational, health, and energy infrastructure, to name but a few.

Mr. President,

11.- The organization of numerous high-level meetings during the week of the general debate touching on many fundamental themes, such as: sustainable development, financing for development, climate ambition; prevention, preparedness and response to pandemics, comes at just the right time and augurs promising prospects.

12. Indeed, the United Nations, as guardian of universal values, is thereby the appropriate framework for multilateral diplomacy to debate all these issues while respecting the sovereignty and self-determination of States, in accordance with its founding Charter.

13.- Our Organization, faced with these global challenges, needs more than ever to be closer to the people and better equipped, in order to address the major global issues. In this regard, we welcome the reforms undertaken by the Secretary-General to restore a climate of ease, trust and serenity, on the one hand, and those under discussion concerning the revitalization of the General Assembly and the reform of the Security Council, on the other.

Mr. President,

14.- I wish to alert the international community to a worrying situation that has developed in recent weeks along the Haitian-Dominican border, creating a dangerous and unnecessary conflict between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which share sovereignty over the island.

15.- The "Massacre River" is a binational waterway that runs simultaneously through both countries, whose use is governed by the 1929 Treaty and the Agreement of May 21, 2021, signed in good faith between the authorities of both States. The neighboring Republic has already built numerous irrigation canals on the river, from its own territory. Haiti, for its part, has begun digging its first irrigation canal to water arid lands intended for agricultural production. The Dominican government has contested, in an unfriendly and aggressive manner, Haiti's right to make use of the river on its own territory. This has revived tensions between the two countries, whose relations are generally contentious. The Dominican government has behaved in an unfriendly manner, taking emotional, discriminatory measures, even adopting a bellicose attitude, going so far as to close land, sea and air borders with Haiti and to deploy its army along the border, in disregard of Articles 1 and 3 of the 1929 Treaty.

16.- The Haitian Government condemns such actions, which it considers an unfriendly act and which, moreover, endanger the lives of its nationals in the neighboring Republic. They constitute serious violations of human rights, incompatible with the UN Charter, with the provisions of international humanitarian law, and with the Convention on the protection of migrants' rights, to which the Dominican Republic is a State party.

17.- The Haitian government demands respect for the integrity of its territory and denounces this excessive behavior. Haiti, in accordance with Article 34 of the Charter of the United Nations, favors dialogue and negotiation in the conflict over the "Massacre River." The government calls for the protection of its nationals in the neighboring republic and for respect for the international conventions governing the matter.

18.- The Haitian government positions itself against confrontation, but in favor of peace and coexistence between two peoples sharing the same island. It chooses the path of dialogue and negotiation to peacefully resolve the dispute, in order to arrive at an equitable sharing of binational water resources, in accordance with the international legal instruments already signed. This is why the Haitian government, bearing in mind Article 35 of the Charter, alerts the international community to the danger that this situation represents. Indeed, we remember the painful experience lived in October 1937 in the same area, which cost the lives of nearly 35,000 Haitian civilians who were massacred.

Mr. President,

19.- The links between maldevelopment, extreme poverty and violence no longer need to be demonstrated. In this regard, we are best placed to understand the disastrous consequences that the absence of peace and security in a country can have.

20.- This session offers me the opportunity, in my capacity as Head of the Government of Haiti, to set out the situation of the country, plunged into a deep crisis for years, confronted with major challenges, to which my government is striving to find concrete and lasting responses.

Mr. President,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

21.- Understanding Haiti's situation requires looking at the chronicle of a structural crisis, generated over more than 25 years of poor public policy choices, hampering every effort at change, impacting our institutions, preventing any economic development and social progress. This cycle of stumbling has put the nation's very existence to the test and has led to the organizational collapse of the State. Our elites have failed to put in place the conditions necessary to unfortunately fulfill the sovereign missions that are theirs: ensuring the integrity of the territory and the security of the population, building schools, hospitals, housing, roads and other infrastructure capable of generating sustainable development. This has plunged the country to the bottom.

22.- As a result, all structures of national life are affected by this structural and multidimensional crisis, which has today reached a critical phase with the excessive deterioration of the security situation, where the population suffers daily violent attacks by armed gangs in the capital as well as in provincial towns. The criminals who control almost the entirety of the capital, the suburbs of Port-au-Prince and certain provincial towns, sow terror. They kill, set fires, loot, steal, and rape with rare cruelty. They drive inhabitants from their homes, block roads, and force schools and hospitals to close their doors.

23.- The deterioration of the security situation in recent weeks has generated a new humanitarian crisis, with displaced persons spontaneously occupying several sites to escape gang violence. More than 25 schools in the capital have been taken over by internally displaced persons, estimated at more than 165,000 people, driven from the neighborhoods of Carrefour-Feuilles and Savane-Pistache. They face serious difficulties and live in subhuman conditions. The health threat is also present, with cases of cholera reported in certain sites housing displaced persons. This increases the risk of transmission and poses a real public health problem for the population.

24.- One hundred and sixty-two (162) armed groups with more than 3,000 fighters are recorded on national territory, mainly in the capital, with just as many weapons, to which must be added numerous latent but equally dangerous bases. Abuses and systematic violations of human rights compromise the peace, stability and security of the country and the region, forcing other compatriots into migration and voluntary exile. Kidnappings, looting, arson, the recent massacres at Canaan and Carrefour-Feuilles, sexual and gender-based violence, organ trafficking, human trafficking, homicides, extrajudicial executions, the recruitment of child soldiers, and the blocking of main roads constitute a non-exhaustive list of crimes.

25.- The serious consequences that result include the poor performance of the economy, which has recorded (5) years of contraction (2018-2023), with a negative growth rate and uncontrollable inflation of more than 50%. Furthermore, the humanitarian crisis is worsening. According to estimates, 4.9 million people are in food insecurity — a record level for the country. This is roughly half the population living below the poverty line, on less than 2 US dollars a day. This is causing the Haitian population to lose all hope of a better tomorrow.

Mr. President,

26.- Faced with this peril, I have mobilized all available resources to confront the gangs. Security remains my Government's top priority objective. This of course involves hunting down the bandits in their last strongholds to allow the inhabitants to move about freely and live in peace.

27.- The daily life of my compatriots is punctuated by the crackle of automatic weapons. The return of security is essential for the restoration of democratic institutions and the assumption of responsibility by legitimate authorities, who will have the enormous task of confronting the major challenges and addressing in depth the economic and social issues, in order to improve the material living conditions of the population.

28.- It is in this context that the Government's request in the letter of October 7, 2022, sent to the Secretary-General, requesting robust support to reinforce the efforts of the National Police and help mitigate the worsening of the humanitarian, security and economic crises, must be understood. This request was renewed in June 2023, given the absence of convincing results on the security and humanitarian fronts.

Mr. President,

29.- For all these reasons, it is urgent that the Security Council, the executive organ of the United Nations, possessing the necessary power and authority, authorize the deployment of a specialized multinational Mission, with police and military components, to support the National Police of Haiti, in order to combat the gangs and restore security.

Mr. President,

29.- The use of force, as a first step, remains indispensable to defeating the gangs, restoring order and creating an environment conducive to the proper functioning of the State. This is a necessary but not sufficient prerequisite. Sustainable socio-economic development must be taken into account in order to sustainably tackle extreme poverty, the source of all ills.

30. Social inequalities and the very poor distribution of national wealth have widened an enormous gap between the needy popular masses and the wealthy minority (5%) who control 90% of the country's wealth. Extreme poverty exacerbates youth unemployment, marginalizing those from poor neighborhoods who are easily drawn into delinquency and crime. This category constitutes fertile ground for recruitment by armed gangs.

31.- I issue an urgent appeal to the international cooperation community to accompany us, in the medium and long term, in addressing the security issue, but also that of sustainable development, in order to facilitate social reintegration and improve the material living conditions of the very large majority of the population.

32.- I also extend, once again, an olive branch to the political actors of my country, so that we may find together, in a patriotic spirit, the long-desired historic consensus, for a happy resolution of the crisis, for the good of Haiti. A broad consensus among all political actors is necessary, with a clear roadmap towards peaceful and responsible governance. I also wish for the meaningful participation of women and young people, civil society and all concerned stakeholders in contributing to the rebirth of our beloved Haiti.

Mr. President,

33.- To durably resolve these major challenges facing the country, we need a secure and stable climate, conducive to the implementation of the Strategic Development Plan for Haiti, horizon 2030 (PSDH), which is structured around four (4) major undertakings: territorial rebuilding, economic rebuilding, social rebuilding, and institutional rebuilding. Only a legitimate government resulting from free, honest, democratic and transparent elections could tackle these long-term tasks.

34.- It is to this final objective that I have committed myself: handing power back to elected officials capable of restoring the institutions of the State and addressing the major political and socio-economic challenges facing the country. To achieve this, my government is counting on the effective solidarity of the international community.

Mr. President,

35.- Before concluding, I take this opportunity to fraternally salute the brotherly and friendly countries for their commitment and their expression of solidarity towards Haiti, notably Kenya, which has positively embraced the idea of assuming the leadership of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, and which conducted an assessment mission in the country last August.

36.- I also thank CARICOM, GRULAC, CELAC, the European Union, the African Union, and all of Haiti's partners and friends, for all the unwavering commitment they have shown and continue to show in the search for a way out of the crisis.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

38.- Throughout history, Haiti represents an emblematic figure of freedom and solidarity. Haiti has always answered the call to help brotherly peoples in their legitimate struggle for freedom and self-determination, sometimes even within the UN itself. The Republic of Haiti has identified itself with the universal values for which it fought in the 18th and 19th centuries.

39.- Despite unspeakable suffering and its cry for help, hope continues to dwell within the Haitian people, who continue their quest for a better future in dignity. In the name of the women and girls raped every day, of the thousands of families driven from their homes, of the children and young people of Haiti, who are denied the right to education and schooling, in the name of an entire people victimized by the barbarity of the gangs, I urge the international community to act swiftly.

Thank you for your kind attention!