United Nations S/2021/660

Security Council Distr.: General 3 August 2021

Original: English

Letter dated 12 July 2021 from the Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

I have the honour to write to you once again in my capacity as Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) caucus of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations for the months of July and August 2021. In the process, I refer to my letter of request dated 7 July to attend and speak at the 8815th (closed) meeting of the Security Council on Haiti, held on 8 July 2021. On behalf of the CARICOM caucus, I therefore express profound disappointment in the decision of the Presidency of the Security Council to exclude CARICOM from this meeting. For your guidance, Haiti is a treasured member of CARICOM and we are seized of the recent developments in our sister country at the highest level. Our voice is thus critical as a closely affected grouping and as such requests of this nature ought not to be denied. Regional and subregional groupings play an indispensable role in creating peace in their respective regions, as can be gleaned in Chapter 8 of the Charter of the United Nations. Furthermore, rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council permits the participation of States Members of the United Nations whose interests are specifically affected. CARICOM also takes this opportunity to highlight its willingness to play a lead role in facilitating a process of national dialogue and negotiation to help the Haitian people and their institutions to craft an indigenous long-term solution to this crisis and ongoing challenges. I have enclosed the statement issued by the CARICOM Heads of Government on 7 July 2021 (see annex), along with the statement that would have been delivered at the closed meeting of the Security Council (see enclosure) had our request for participation been granted. I therefore request that the present letter and its annex be circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Ian M. Liburd Chair of the CARICOM caucus of Permanent Representatives for July and August Permanent Representative

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Annex to the letter dated 12 July 2021 from the Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

Statement by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community on the assassination of the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse

The Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met in a Special Emergency Session on Wednesday, 7 July, in the wake of the assassination of the President of Haiti. The Heads of Government are shocked and saddened by the assassination of a member of the CARICOM family, His Excellency Jovenel Moïse, during the early hours of 7 July 2021. They are concerned by the condition of his wife, the First Lady, Her Excellency Martine Moïse, who was gravely wounded in the attack, and wish her a full and speedy recovery Heads of Government strongly condemn this abhorrent and reprehensible act that comes at a time of deep turmoil and institutional weakness in the country. They called for the perpetrators to be apprehended and brought to justice, and for law and order to prevail. In accordance with its values, as expressed in its Charter of Civil Society, the Caribbean Community does not settle its differences by violence which undermines democracy and the rule of law, but peacefully through dialogue and recourse to democratic institutions. In light of Haiti’s Membership of CARICOM and the family ties that bind the people of Haiti and CARICOM together, CARICOM expresses its willingness to play a lead role in facilitating a process of national dialogue and negotiation to help the Haitian people and their institutions to craft an indigenous solution to the crisis. They call on the people of Haiti to remain calm, and to overcome their differences and unite at this moment of national peril. Heads of Government extend condolences to the family of President Moïse, and the Government and People of Haiti. As a mark of respect, the Member States of the Community and the CARICOM Secretariat will fly their national flags and the CARICOM Standard at half-mast for three days beginning immediately, as well as on the day of the funeral.

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Enclosure

Statement on behalf of the Caribbean Community at the 8815th (closed) meeting of the Security Council on the question concerning Haiti, held on 8 July 2021

Delivered by the Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations and Chair of the Caribbean Community caucus of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations for July and August 2021, Ian Liburd

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the fourteen (14) Member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). At the outset, we wish to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this 8815th (Private) Meeting of the Security Council on the question concerning Haiti. We are deeply shocked and saddened by this heinous act that took place on 7 July 2021 on Haitian soil against its President Jovenel Moïse and his family. The assassination of President Moïse must be condemned and the perpetrators brought to justice. The Heads of Government of CARICOM met in a Special Emergency Session on Wednesday 7 July in the aftermath of the assassination and strongly condemned this abhorrent and reprehensible act especially at this time. The Republic of Haiti has long struggled with tragedy and turmoil, and it seems unfair that this assassination has come at a time when leadership would have mattered the most in the interest of bringing stability to the country. The rule of law must always prevail and must never be compromised; that is why we are here today to stand in solidarity in this august body to address the situation in Haiti. We call on the Council and the wider United Nations system to do all in its power to aid in this situation at this time. We stand with our sister country Haiti during this difficult time and extend condolences to the family of the late President Moïse, and the Government and people of Haiti, as they recover from this cowardly act. We hope for unity and calm even at this time of national peril, and we will continue to stand with our brothers and sisters, as they remain in our thoughts and prayers.

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