Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Who’s Eating All That Meat?

    Who’s Eating All That Meat?

    A procurement scandal is unfolding in Belize after leaked tender documents revealed dramatic pricing discrepancies in food contracts awarded to private suppliers for the Belize Defense Force (BDF) during the 2023-2024 fiscal year, prompting a formal investigation into potential waste of taxpayer funds. The documents, which detail hundreds of thousands of dollars in public spending on meat, seafood and staple goods for BDF kitchens, show that multiple suppliers charged prices far above the national average tracked by the country’s official statistical agency, leaving public officials and observers questioning the transparency and value of the government’s defense spending.

    Cabinet Minister Kareem Musa confirmed that the inconsistent pricing uncovered in the leaked records is the core focus of the ongoing inquiry, noting that government procurement should prioritize the lowest available cost for comparable goods while publishing all contracts for full public transparency. “So if the Miras are offering the same vegetables at a lower cost than say, Save U and or Brodies, then we should go the Miras, but at the end of the day it should be published for transparency purposes,” Musa told reporters.

    The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), which publishes monthly national consumer price benchmarks via its consumer price index survey, provides an independent standard to compare government purchase prices against average market rates. Jacqueline Sabal, manager of SIB’s Economic Statistics Department, explained in June that the agency collects price data from retailers across the country every month to build an accurate picture of prevailing consumer costs.

    When SIB’s 2023-2024 price data is compared to the actual rates paid by the Ministry of Defense, the gap between market averages and government spending is impossible to overlook. For chicken breast, the highest national average price recorded between 2023 and 2024 was $4.73 per pound in April 2024. But leaked records show the Ministry of Defense paid J&J Imports $7.76 per pound for the same product – a $3 markup per pound over the peak national average.

    At that inflated rate, the ministry spent $7,760 per month, or more than $93,120 annually, on chicken breast from J&J Imports alone. If the ministry had purchased chicken breast at a rate close to the national average of roughly $5 per pound, it would have saved an estimated $33,000 per year on just this single item. A second supplier, Kukulcan, charged $5.50 per pound for chicken breast – closer to the national average but still above market rates, costing the ministry $4,801.50 per month. Combined, annual spending on chicken breast from the two suppliers exceeded $150,000.

    Fish fillet represented another major line item with extreme markups. Kukulcan charged the Ministry of Defense $23 per pound for fish fillet, adding up to $23,000 per month or $276,000 per year. J&J Imports charged a slightly lower $20.71 per pound, costing the government just over $30,000 monthly for this product alone.

    Premium seafood items pushed total public spending even higher. Annual spending on lobster from J&J Imports reached $24,402, while combined annual shrimp purchases from the two major suppliers totaled $177,420. Baby back ribs cost the ministry an additional $19,260 over the fiscal year, priced between $14 and $15 per pound. Ground steak, supplied by J&J Imports, Kukulcan and one smaller vendor, added $157,500 to annual defense food costs.

    When adding up spending on just seven core items – chicken breast, whole chicken, fish fillet, lobster, shrimp, baby back ribs and ground steak – the Ministry of Defense’s annual food expenditure for BDF comes out to nearly $600,000. This total does not include additional spending on beef steak and ground chicken purchased during the same period, meaning the actual total annual food budget for the defense force is substantially higher than the half-million-dollar figure compiled from the leaked documents.

    The markup-riddled procurement contracts have reignited debates over public spending accountability in Belize, with critics calling for sweeping procurement reform to enforce transparent, competitive pricing that protects taxpayer dollars. As the investigation continues, the central question remains unanswered: did Belize’s Ministry of Defense secure fair value for public funds, or did it systematically overpay connected suppliers to keep BDF kitchens stocked?

  • Faride Raful: Government will respect court ruling on alcohol sales restrictions

    Faride Raful: Government will respect court ruling on alcohol sales restrictions

    On Wednesday, Dominican Republic’s Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful confirmed that the national government will honor a recent ruling from the Constitutional Court that struck down a decades-old executive decree regulating alcohol sales hours, announcing plans to partner with the National Congress to craft a replacement piece of legislation.

    In a public statement shared across major social media platforms, Raful emphasized that the executive branch maintains unwavering respect for the judicial branch’s independent decision. She outlined that the government will work closely with sitting legislators while soliciting input from broader Dominican society to develop a regulatory framework that is both up-to-date and effective at achieving its core goals. Reaffirming the government’s core priorities, Raful noted that protecting public safety and fostering peaceful community coexistence will remain at the center of the new regulatory efforts.

    The Constitutional Court’s ruling centers on a 2006 executive decree that set binding restrictions on when alcohol could be sold across the country. According to the court’s judgment, permanent regulatory restrictions of this nature must be enacted through formal legislation passed by the legislative branch, rather than via executive decree, making the 2001 rule unconstitutional on structural separation of powers grounds.

    The court did not immediately invalidate the existing restrictions, however. Instead, it ruled that the current rules will remain in force for a 2-year transition period, giving the National Congress adequate time to deliberate and pass new permanent legislation to replace the struck-down decree. The ruling was issued in response to a constitutional challenge brought by Dominican attorney Víctor Eddy Mateo Vásquez, who questioned the legal foundation of the executive’s regulatory measure.

    Under the terms of the existing 2006 decree still in effect, alcohol sales are prohibited after midnight on Sunday through Thursday, and after 2:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Businesses that violate these restrictions face stiff penalties, ranging from temporary suspension of operations to permanent closure of the offending establishment.

  • Constitutional Court strikes down decree restricting alcohol sales hours

    Constitutional Court strikes down decree restricting alcohol sales hours

    In a landmark ruling with major implications for separation of powers in the Dominican Republic, the nation’s highest constitutional court has invalidated a long-standing executive order that set permanent limits on alcohol sales hours across entertainment and hospitality businesses. The challenged measure, Decree 308-06, was issued back in 2006 by then-president Leonel Fernández, and placed permanent operating hour restrictions on venues ranging from neighborhood colmados and bars to nightclubs and casinos. The court’s ruling concluded that permanent regulations impacting economic activity and citizen rights must be enacted by legislative bodies, not imposed via unilateral executive decree, aligning with the country’s 2010 updated constitution.

    The legal challenge that led to this decision was brought forward by Víctor Eddy Mateo Vásquez, who argued that the indefinite restriction violated core Dominican constitutional principles. Vásquez contended that because the National Congress – the nation’s legislative body – never approved the permanent limit, the executive branch overstepped its authority by enacting it through administrative order.

    While the court explicitly recognized that the original decree was crafted with the legitimate public interest goal of safeguarding public order and community safety, it ultimately found the measure out of step with current constitutional requirements. Justices emphasized that the 2010 Constitution explicitly requires any permanent restriction that alters economic activity or touches on fundamental rights to be passed through formal congressional legislation, not executive action. The court further noted that the executive branch’s authority to issue decrees does not extend to enacting broad, indefinite regulatory restrictions. Even with its legitimate public safety purpose, the court ruled the decree failed the constitutional test of proportionality: the order had remained in force for nearly two decades with no clear expiration date and no ongoing justification for its permanent status.

    Importantly, the ruling does not eliminate all executive authority to regulate alcohol sales hours. The court clarified that the executive branch retains the power to implement temporary restrictions on alcohol sales via decree during specific, time-bound events or circumstances. These include seasonal high-traffic periods such as Holy Week and Christmas, national holidays, and ongoing public security operations that require targeted short-term regulation. Only permanent, long-standing regulatory frameworks must be approved by the National Congress.

    The legal proceedings exposed a split among government bodies on the issue: the Executive Branch’s Legal Counsel publicly supported overturning the decree, and called on congressional lawmakers to draft and pass a comprehensive, formal piece of legislation to regulate alcohol sales and consumption across the country. In contrast, the Dominican Attorney General’s Office defended the decree, arguing that it was constitutional and should remain in effect.

  • Senate advances bill to create Dominican Republic health tourism council

    Senate advances bill to create Dominican Republic health tourism council

    On July 24, the Dominican Republic Senate held an extraordinary legislative session to advance a key piece of economic development legislation, giving initial approval to a bill that would establish the National Council for the Development of Health Tourism, known by its Spanish acronym Condetusa. The proposed advisory body is designed to bring structured governance to the Caribbean nation’s fast-expanding health tourism sector, balancing targeted promotion with clear regulatory guardrails.

    The bill was put forward by Senator Daniel Rivera of the Santiago province, a lawmaker who brings deep sectoral expertise to the proposal from his prior tenure as the country’s health minister. At its core, the legislation aims to formally position health tourism as a national development priority, while laying out a formal institutional structure to lift industry standards. Specifically, the framework would codify new requirements for quality assurance, patient safety protocols, and official certification for providers treating international patients seeking medical care in the country.

    Notably, this marked Rivera’s second push to pass similar health tourism reform in less than a year. Back in April 2025, the Senate already approved a nearly identical piece of legislation on first reading, but no public documentation exists to explain whether that earlier bill failed to advance to a required second reading, was pulled by sponsors, or has been consolidated into this new proposal. The current iteration also marks a targeted shift in scope from the 2025 draft: while the original bill sought to create a broad, overarching legal framework for regulating the entire national health tourism industry, the new proposal centers its efforts exclusively on standing up Condetusa, which will take on responsibilities for cross-stakeholder coordination and policy advocacy for the sector.

    With first reading complete, the bill now moves into the next stage of the Dominican legislative process, where it will face additional debate and possible amendments before it can be signed into law. If enacted, industry analysts expect the new council to help streamline growth in the health tourism sector, which has become an increasingly important contributor to the Dominican Republic’s service economy in recent years.

  • Govt signs $17m contract to repair four RBDF patrol ships

    Govt signs $17m contract to repair four RBDF patrol ships

    The Bahamian government has formalized $17 million in binding contracts to carry out comprehensive repairs and technological retrofits for four key vessels belonging to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, a major initiative that National Security Minister Myles LaRoda says will dramatically reinforce the nation’s maritime security capabilities and bring critical patrol ships back into active operational service. Speaking on the sidelines of a public event, Minister LaRoda emphasized that the extensive overhaul work is a critical investment for the country, which is tasked with safeguarding more than 100,000 square miles of territorial waters from a rising array of transnational maritime threats, including unregulated poaching, unauthorized irregular migration, and other illicit activities that put national sovereignty and public safety at risk. The $17 million price tag covers refurbishment work across all four vessels, with an updated timeline that points to the HMBS Rolly Gray returning to Bahamian waters before the close of 2024. The remaining three vessels are set to undergo far more extensive structural and technological upgrades, with project durations varying based on the size and scope of work required. Outlining the timeline for the larger overhauls, LaRoda noted that HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna, the largest vessel in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force fleet, is expected to require approximately 75 weeks of repair work, while work on HMBS Cascarilla is projected to wrap up after 55 weeks. The overhaul project goes beyond basic structural repairs to fully update outdated onboard systems, according to LaRoda: obsolete electrical infrastructure will be fully replaced, and outdated navigation technology will be upgraded to modern standards, leaving the refurbished vessels effectively equivalent to new ships once work is complete. The contract scope includes three vessels currently stationed in the Netherlands – HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna, HMBS Rolly Gray, and HMBS Cascarilla – while the fourth vessel, HMBS Lawrence Major, will undergo its scheduled repairs at the Cotecmar Shipyard based in Colombia. The official signing ceremony took place on July 22 in the Netherlands, where Bridget Hepburn, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of National Security, formalized the agreements alongside Bastin Kubbe, the Caribbean Regional Manager for Damen Services, the contractor leading the project. Addressing attendees at the signing event, Minister LaRoda underscored that the vessel overhaul program is a clear demonstration of the current administration’s unwavering commitment to three core national priorities: strengthening the country’s border protection infrastructure, elevating overall national security, and restoring full operational readiness to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s entire fleet of maritime vessels.

  • Cuba’s National Rebellion Day observed in Dominica with calls for continued solidarity

    Cuba’s National Rebellion Day observed in Dominica with calls for continued solidarity

    On a significant diplomatic occasion at its headquarters in Dominica, the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba hosted a formal ceremony to celebrate the country’s National Rebellion Day, drawing attendees from two key bilateral organizations: the Dominica Guild of Cuban Graduates and the Dominica-Cuba Friendship Association.

    Beyond its commemorative purpose, the gathering served as a platform to celebrate the decades-long collaborative bond between Havana and Roseau, while shining a spotlight on the critical contributions the two participating organizations have made over the years to nurturing people-to-people ties and advancing official cooperation between the two Caribbean nations.

    In his keynote address to attendees, Cuban Ambassador to Dominica Miguel Fraga opened a discussion on the pressing contemporary challenges that Cuba navigates, according to an official press statement released by the embassy following the event. Fraga centered much of his remarks on the far-reaching harm caused by the longstanding, recently intensified economic, commercial and financial blockade enforced by the United States. He placed specific focus on the crippling impacts of the oil embargo component of the restrictions, detailing the widespread daily hardships the policy has imposed on ordinary Cuban citizens.

    Fraga also directed sharp criticism at what he framed as the growing aggression and hostile policy threats against Cuba advanced by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, underscoring how these actions have exacerbated existing pressures on the island nation. Despite these challenges, the ambassador emphasized that Cuba retains widespread backing across the global community. He pointed to the most recent annual United Nations vote on the blockade as clear evidence of this support, noting that an overwhelming majority of UN member states once again voted in favor of a resolution calling for an immediate end to the U.S. embargo. Fraga noted that this lopsided outcome underscores the growing international isolation of Washington’s policy toward Cuba on the global stage.

    As part of the day’s commemorative activities, the ceremony included a special honor for Dr. Damien Dublin, who was recognized by the Dominica Guild of Cuban Graduates for his unwavering, longstanding commitment to deepening bilateral friendship and cooperation between Cuba and Dominica, as well as his consistent public support for the Cuban Revolution.

    Following the address and award presentation, representatives from all participating organizations issued a collective reaffirmation of their solidarity with Cuba. They pledged to continue standing with the Cuban people in defense of the country’s sovereign right to self-determination, in the face of ongoing U.S. sanctions and other unilateral coercive measures.

    The event drew to a close with attendees reflecting on the deep, durable roots of the Cuban-Dominica relationship, which has been built across decades of shared cooperation, mutual respect for national sovereignty and reciprocal support. All attendees united in a public commitment to continuing work to expand and strengthen the bilateral partnership in the years ahead.

  • OECS appoints Aisha Maina as strategic advisor to strengthen Africa-Caribbean cooperation

    OECS appoints Aisha Maina as strategic advisor to strengthen Africa-Caribbean cooperation

    The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission has made a key strategic appointment to deepen cross-regional ties, announcing that Aisha Maina, current Chief Executive Officer of Pan-African advisory firm Aquarian Consult Limited, will take up the newly created role of Strategic Advisor for Africa-Caribbean Cooperation. Official OECS press materials confirm the appointment officially went into effect on July 1, 2026, and is designed to accelerate the bloc’s ongoing work to build stronger, mutually beneficial partnerships between Eastern Caribbean nations and African countries across trade, investment, and a range of shared priority sectors.

    Maina brings a diverse and extensive professional background to the new position, with deep expertise spanning governance frameworks, international trade, energy development, agribusiness, the creative economy, and socially impactful investment, per OECS assessments. Over her tenure leading Aquarian Consult Limited, she has overseen the delivery of dozens of high-impact regional and international development initiatives, while building deep, collaborative relationships with public sector institutions and private sector leaders across every major region of Africa. These cross-sector connections and proven leadership track record position her uniquely to drive forward cooperation between the two regions, OECS officials note.

    In welcoming Maina to the OECS team, OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules emphasized the strategic importance of the appointment. “We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Aisha Maina to the OECS Commission,” Jules said. “Her proven track record of delivery, transformational leadership at Aquarian Consult, and expansive, forward-thinking vision for equitable South-South collaboration make her the ideal person to lead our strategic engagement with African nations. This appointment is a clear reflection of our unwavering commitment to building a more resilient, globally connected, and economically prosperous community for all OECS member states.”

    In her new advisory capacity, Maina will report directly to the Office of the Director General, collaborating closely with OECS leadership to co-design policies and strategic frameworks that unlock new economic opportunities for businesses and communities on both sides of the Atlantic, while strengthening institutional collaboration between the two regions.

    Reacting to her appointment, Maina highlighted the deep historical, cultural, and social ties that have long bound African and Caribbean peoples together, and expressed measured optimism about the untapped potential of the expanded partnership. “It is a deep privilege to serve the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States in this capacity,” Maina said. “The historical, cultural, and economic synergy between Africa and the Caribbean represents an immense, largely untapped frontier of opportunity for shared growth. I look forward to working closely with Director General Dr. Didacus Jules and the entire OECS Commission team to translate our shared vision into transformative trade partnerships, inclusive sustainable growth, and lasting people-to-people connections for both our regions, strengthening what we see as a critical Transatlantic Bridge between the Global South.”

    OECS leadership has framed the appointment as a deliberate, incremental step forward in the bloc’s broader commitment to advancing equitable South-South cooperation, and building deeper economic and cultural people-to-people ties between African nations and the 11 Eastern Caribbean member states that make up the OECS bloc.

  • Adjournment frustrates long-delayed misconduct case

    Adjournment frustrates long-delayed misconduct case

    A long-running criminal case against two former Inland Revenue Department employees accused of coordinated fraud and serious public office misconduct has been pushed back for another hearing, renewing sharp criticism from top prosecution officials over repeated procedural holdups that have stretched the case out for more than a decade.

    Two accused, Joseph Nathaniel Sobers, a clerical officer based in Pie Corner, St Lucy, and Cheryl Leverne Thomas, an assistant accountant from Kingsland, Christ Church, face two overlapping criminal charges. Prosecutors allege that between August 2008 and June 2009, the pair conspired to deceive a private individual named Shane Hurley into paying them $45,000. The false scheme centered on claiming Hurley owed $375,000 in unpaid taxes to the Inland Revenue Department, and that a $45,000 payment to the two civil servants would fully clear the purported debt. The second charge accuses the pair, as public officials entrusted with tax administration, of intentional misconduct that violated the public’s trust by soliciting the unauthorized $45,000 payment for a non-existent outstanding tax obligation.

    When the case was called before the Supreme Court’s Court No. 4 on Monday, the legal team for both defendants was absent. Lead defense counsel for each accused—Senior Counsel Andrew Pilgrim representing Sobers, and Sade Harris representing Thomas—were tied up with other matters in separate courtrooms across the jurisdiction, leaving only junior attorneys to stand in for the defendants on the hearing date.

    Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale, a Senior Counsel who appeared in court personally for the hearing, voiced public frustration over the continued delay. Seale explained he had attended the hearing specifically to get clear direction on scheduling the trial from the lead defense attorneys who are overseeing the case. He noted that the matter had already been adjourned the previous week, when he first raised questions about moving the trial process forward.

    “I have nothing but respect for the junior counsel appearing today, but I came here to hear from the attorneys actually leading the defense so we could finalize a path forward,” Seale told the court. “We are in exactly the same position we were in last week. I could have sent a junior member of my team to hold this hearing while I handled other work back at the office.”

    Seale emphasized that the prosecution has been fully prepared to proceed with the trial for years, yet no progress has been made. “We are no closer to a resolution today than we were years ago. Then we end up hearing widespread complaints about the slow pace of justice—this kind of delay is incredibly frustrating,” he added.

    Presiding Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell responded by adjourning the case to a new hearing date of September 9, issuing a clear warning that a binding decision on the next steps for the trial would be issued at that time, no matter which defense attorneys are present in court. The justice’s comment signaled a push to end the cycle of adjournments that has held up the case.

    This is not the first time Seale has pushed back against delays in the case. Last week, he publicly stated that prosecution had never contributed to the hold-ups at any point in the legal process, and highlighted the unnecessary toll that extended delays take on all parties connected to the case, including the alleged victim, the accused, and the public justice system.

  • Fontaine alleges Electoral Office wrongly rejected student voter registrations

    Fontaine alleges Electoral Office wrongly rejected student voter registrations

    Ahead of the upcoming Roseau North by-election, the leader of Dominica’s main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has ignited fresh controversy over the country’s electoral process, accusing the national Electoral Office of intentionally disenfranchising young eligible voters. Dr. Thomson Fontaine, head of the UWP, made the claims in a public statement posted to his official Facebook page on July 27, alleging that at least two Dominican students completing their higher education overseas were improperly turned away when they attempted to complete their first-time voter registration.

    According to Fontaine’s account, the two eligible students traveled back to Dominica specifically to submit their registration applications, as required by protocol, but their submissions were rejected outright by Electoral Office staff. Fontaine pointed out that both students are widely assumed to support the UWP based on the political affiliations of their families, suggesting their rejection was no accidental administrative error.

    “This is clearly an attempt by the EO to manipulate the voters’ list,” Fontaine wrote in his post, directly claiming the decision was driven by partisan political motivation. To back up his allegation that the students wrongfully rejected, he cited a clear provision in Dominica’s existing electoral legislation that outlines special rules for overseas students registering to vote. Under Article 7(2)(b) of the national Electoral Act, any individual that is classified as a bona fide full-time student studying outside of Dominica is legally exempt from the standard residency requirement that applies to most first-time voters. The legislation explicitly states that these students are deemed to retain their residency in the polling district where their family home is located, meaning their time spent abroad cannot be used to disqualify their registration.

    Fontaine emphasized that this legal provision eliminates any ground for the Electoral Office to reject the students’ applications, and called on electoral authorities to end what he described as targeted disenfranchisement of young opposition-leaning voters. “Please stop attempting to disenfranchise our young voters,” he concluded his statement.

    As of July 28, the Electoral Office has not issued any public response to address Fontaine’s specific allegations. The controversy comes amid ongoing preparations for the high-stakes Roseau North by-election. In recent public communications, electoral officials have urged Dominican residents to get all information about registration and voting directly from the Electoral Office, warning against unconfirmed misinformation spreading across social media platforms. The Office has also repeatedly reaffirmed its public commitment to running the upcoming by-election in a secure, transparent, and fully accountable manner, free from partisan interference.

  • CARICOM Eminent Persons Group welcomes Haiti’s electoral calendar, calls for broad participation

    CARICOM Eminent Persons Group welcomes Haiti’s electoral calendar, calls for broad participation

    Haiti’s long journey toward reestablishing stable constitutional rule has reached a landmark turning point, after the country’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) released a detailed timeline for upcoming general elections — a move that has earned formal praise from a top Caribbean diplomatic task force.

    Created in May 2023 under the umbrella of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) functions as a high-level diplomatic body dedicated to addressing Haiti’s deepening political and security crisis. The group draws on decades of regional leadership experience, counting three former heads of government among its ranks: Dr. Kenny Anthony of Saint Lucia, Perry Christie of The Bahamas, and Bruce Golding of Jamaica. Its core mandate centers on facilitating inclusive cross-party political dialogue, forging consensus on urgent security priorities, and supporting Haitian-led efforts to rebuild functional democratic institutions and restore constitutional governance.

    Earlier this year, the EPG made the decision to delay a planned on-the-ground visit to Haiti, noting that the team would hold off on travel to continue monitoring rapidly shifting political developments in the country. That posture of cautious observation shifted with the CEP’s publication of the electoral calendar, which the EPG described as a critical breakthrough that brings much-needed clarity to a process that has remained uncertain for years for both Haitian political actors and the broader international community.

    Under the newly released timetable, the first round of voting is set to take place on December 13, 2026. Ballots will be cast to select a new president, fill all seats in the national legislature, and approve a package of proposed constitutional reforms. The calendar lays out clear timelines for all key pre-election preparatory steps, including the registration of political parties, individual candidates, electoral coalitions and platforms, as well as a national voter registration drive to update Haitian electoral rolls ahead of polling day.

    In its official statement, the EPG underlined that sustained coordination between the CEP and every sector of Haitian society will be indispensable to keeping the electoral process on track. The group issued a formal call to all political parties, civil society organizations, community leaders and other national stakeholders to engage actively in the process, uphold procedural rules, and work collectively to ensure all electoral requirements are fully met before voting begins.

    Successful inclusive preparation, the EPG argued, will clear the way for Haitian citizens to exercise their democratic right to choose their next government in a free, fair and credible process, laying the groundwork for the full restoration of constitutional order in a country that has operated without elected governance for years.

    The task force also joined the CEP in highlighting a critical unmet need: dramatic improvements to national security before election preparations advance much further. A secure, stable environment is non-negotiable for a credible electoral process, the group stressed, and it called on all nations contributing troops and police to the multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to accelerate deployment of their personnel to Haiti. Early deployment of the GSF, the EPG noted, would allow international security assistance to take root and expand well in advance of the December 2026 first round voting, creating the secure conditions needed for a smooth election.

    In closing, the EPG emphasized that parallel progress on two interconnected tracks will make or break Haiti’s democratic transition: steady advancement of electoral preparations, and concrete improvements to national security. Both are essential to delivering a credible election that sets Haiti on a sustainable path toward restored democratic rule.