In 2022, it was one of the deadliest years for Jamaica. The government imposed a state of emergency in the 14 parishes of the nation due to its inability to control gang violence. Then, the SSL scandal rocked the boat for the government, and the government is just making excuses.
Now, hear this. Looking at its magnificent performance, the same Jamaican authorities under the mighty leadership of Prime Minister Andrew Holness have decided to send its forces to save Haiti. On whose behest? You might ask. That lordship of Jamaica is Canada. However, success appears to be next to impossible.
According to media reports, Andrew Holness has announced that his government is willing to send soldiers and police officers to Haiti as part of a proposed multinational security assistance deployment.
The announcement comes a week after the United Nations special envoy for Haiti, Helen La Lime, said she hoped the UN Security Council would deal “positively” with the pending request from Haiti’s government for international armed forces.
PM Holness has stressed in the House of Representatives that he wants to help Haiti and “support a return to a reasonable level of stability and peace, which would be necessary for any inclusive, democratic process to take root”. The announcement appears to be the first time a Western hemisphere nation has given such starking statements on the issue of Haiti.
The role of Canada
Interestingly, the developments have taken place at a time when Canada is trying to entice the Caribbean nations for its personal gains. We say so as over the last few weeks, Canada’s activity in the Caribbean has increased suddenly.
In December 2022, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau spoke with the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley. On 12th January 2023, Canada’s Minister of International Development and the Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, Harjit Sajjan arrived in the Caribbean islands of Barbados and Jamaica, which undoubtedly are one of the biggest stakeholders in the Caribbean.
Several loans and investments were also made by Canada for the Caribbean islands via CDB.
Read More: France’s Caribbean Agenda: Exploring the Reasons for its Silence on Haiti
The ineptness
Who does not know that violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are getting more and more common in Jamaica.
In some places, sexual assaults occur frequently, even at all-inclusive resorts. Jamaicans have often rebuked that the local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.”
Jamaican officials said that 1,360 murders have taken place on the island between January 1st and November 13th of this year. This represents an increase of 6.8% from the same period in 2021. Gang violence is said to be the reason for 71% of those murders. Policemen are leaving police force left, right and center and gang crimes are so frequent that emergency is put in place in many parishes.
Read More: Canada is all set to re-enter Haiti with ‘legitimacy’
Canada lured Jamaica and the spineless authority of Jamaica without thinking twice decided to step in as a Messiah to solve the Haitian crisis. How exactly will Holness do it despite the fact that his own men are not fit for the job. No one knows. Maybe the God knows.
