B.D.F. Haiti Mission Still In Limbo
It’s been over a year since Haitian Prime Minister, Ariel Henry called for international deployment of armed forces to Haiti amidst the country’s civil unrest and violent gang crisis. The plea for global assistance went unanswered for several months, that is, until Kenya agreed to send humanitarian aid with a team of multinational armed force to help fight against gangs. Several countries agreed to join the mission, such as The Bahamas, Jamaica and Antigua & Barbuda, and Belize. Fifty Belize Defense Force Soldiers are receiving training from Canadian officials in preparation for this trip, however, the status of the mission hangs in the balance after the Kenyan High Court blocked the government from deploying its officers. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Ever since the assassination of former Haitian President, Jovenel Moïse, in July 2021, Haiti has been in a state of political unrest and economic turmoil. After months of pleading for international assistance, Kenya, along with several Caribbean nations, pledged to deploy soldiers equipped to assist the country. A team of coast guards and BDF personnel was initially scheduled to be deployed from Belize.
Elton Bennett
Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard (File: November 13th, 2023)
“We have committed a team from the Belize Coast Guard to join the contingent going over to Haiti. Along with the B.D.F, we’ll be forming a team under the CARICOM brigade. So we have committed twenty members of the Belize Coast Guard, for the initial deployment, whenever that time comes.”
However, plans came to a halt late last week after the High Court of Kenya blocked the government from leading the mission, stating that the endeavor would be illegal as the National Security Council lacks the legal authority to send police outside Kenya. The mission had already been approved by the United Nations to proceed and had procured a one hundred million dollar funding agreement from the United States. We spoke with Oscar Mira, Minister of State last week for an update.
Oscar Mira
Oscar Mira, Minister of State, Ministry of National Defense (File: January 25th, 2024)
“We are doing training. We have not sent anyone out of the country for training. The training is happening in Belize. We have Canadian Forces here in the country who is giving us that training. At the beginning we have a list of fifty personnel. We will train more so that we have a poll of BDF officers who can be deployed to Haiti. But that training is happening here in Haiti. There has not been a decision as yet as to deployment to Haiti. CARICOM is still looking and still deciding when will be the best. We want to ensure that our soldiers are well prepared, that the soldiers that are deployed are well trained and have everything they need before they are deployed. A decision has not been OUT 1:01 made as yet.”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
The Belize Defense Force has notified us that further updates are to come soon.
