Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned following a crisis meeting between the 15-member Caribbean Community regional bloc known as CARICOM.
Henry handed in his resignation on Monday, March 11, according to a statement from Mohammed Irfaan Ali, the president of Guyana and chairman of CARICOM.
"We acknowledge his resignation upon the establishment of a transitional presidential council and naming of an interim prime minister," Irfaan stated.
The CARICIOM bloc met with leaders from other nations including the United States and Canada on Monday as the situation in the Carribean country worsened.
According to reports, the meeting resolved to appoint a seven-member presidential panel that would pick a new interim prime minister to hold the fort.
The meeting revealed that the plan was to select two observers alongside the Prime Minister who would help in governance as well as the transition to elections.
“I think we can all agree that Haiti is on the brink of disaster. We must take quick and decisive action here in this room to bring the situation under control and to return the country to the Haitian people," Irfaan told the press.
“The difficult decisions we make here today will have to be in the interest of the Haitian people."
The interim Prime Minister, who is yet to be picked, will also be expected to prepare for the arrival of a multinational security support mission headed by Kenyan police officers.
Henry resigned after his recent trip to Kenya last week and found himself unable to return to Haiti. Consequently, he has been compelled to seek shelter in Puerto Rico.
The gangs had attacked the nation's main airport and prevented Henry from touching down in the country and stormed the country's maximum prison to release 4,000 inmates. The gang demanded the PM's resignation to cease violence.
State of Deployment
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has confirmed that plans to deploy 1,000 police officers to Haiti are currently in the pre-deployment stage following an agreement reached between the governments of Kenya and Haiti.
The CS elaborated that various programs had been set in motion, including the finalization of the status of forces agreement and the formulation of laws regarding detention and arrest.
US Secretary Anthony Blinken, who attended the meeting in Jamaica, reiterated the necessity of the Kenyan force to assist in restoring peace in the troubled country.
