Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 September 2025, 21:13 by Writer
President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York that stability in Haiti will depend on stemming the flow of guns and ammunition to that violence-ravaged Caribbean nation.
“Restoring security is the foremost priority, requiring strict enforcement of the arms embargo and robust support for a UN-authorized mission,” he said in his 22-minute long address to world leaders.
Earlier on Wednesday, United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Dr Ali for backing of a U.S.-Panama resolution for a gang suppression force (GSF) on the island. “The Secretary also commended Guyana’s support of a UN support office for Haiti and for backing the establishment of the new Gang Suppression Force,” the State Department said in a readout about a meeting between the two.
While the Guyanese leader did not explicitly state in his address that he was supporting the establishment of the GSF, he stressed the need for adequate funding and the involvement of Haitians in crafting their home-grown solutions. “I emphasize that without urgent humanitarian funding and a Haitian-led and owned political process, stability will remain elusive,” he said.
“Equally, the international community must act decisively in Haiti, where gang violence, displacement, and shortages of food and medicine have pushed the nation into deepening despair.
The President of Guyana also said the root causes of Haiti’s continuing troubles, including its historical debt burdens which stymies its development prospects and upliftment of its peoples must be addressed.
The President of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinader on Wednesday told the UN General Assembly that his country, which shares the island of Hispaniola, strongly supports the establishment of a GSF under the United Nations Command because the UN Security Council-approved Multilateral Security Support (MSS) mission did not reach the scale, personnel strength and adequate financing.
“This proposal would establish a more robust presence with greater coordination, oversight and accountability standards in both human rights and operational performance.
We issue an urgent appeal to the members of the Security Council, especially the five permanent members, to adopt this resolution without delay,” Mr Abinader said.
The GSF, as envisaged in a proposal by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres would be capable of imposing order and restoring peace with a reinforced command structure, clear and measurable goals and the logistical and operational backing of an office under UN Command.
The Draft Resolution authorizes the transition of the MSS to the GSF with a ceiling of 5,500 personnel with a robust mandate, and the establishment of a UN support office in Haiti to provide support to the GSF. The funding of the GSF personnel will be from voluntary sources while that of the support office will be from UN member state assessments.
The draft also takes note of the recent Organization of American States (OAS) Roadmap for Stability and Peace in Haiti in support of Haitian-led efforts, and the possibility of the organisation providing a logistical support package for the GSF.
The 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) earlier this month welcomed the U.S.-Panama sponsored draft resolution before the UN Security Council. “This initiative comes at a critical moment in the continuing degeneration of the insecurity and humanitarian situation in Haiti with its increasing cortège of killings, kidnappings, gender-based violence, loss of territory and the displacement of huge numbers of persons at the hands of the armed gangs,” CARICOM said.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Rubio also reportedly reaffirmed support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and further underscored U.S. commitment to deepening collaboration with the Guyana Defense Force to strengthen counternarcotics capabilities and enhance bilateral cooperation to address shared security challenges. “They reaffirmed the strong partnership between both of our nations, highlighting ongoing cooperation to strengthen security, expand economic opportunity, and bolster regional stability, according to the statement.
Mr Rubio also congratulated President Ali on his reelection and emphasized the importance of continued joint security and economic collaboration.
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