Remarks at a UN Security Council Meeting on the Situation in Haiti

Ambassador Jennifer Locetta
Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs
New York, New York

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to our briefers.

The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the savage attacks by terrorist gangs against the Kenscoff community.

We mourn the innocent lives lost and extend our deepest condolences to the victims and their families.

This attack, which follows months of ongoing deadly violence, is another reminder of the dire state of Haiti’s security crisis. For months, terrorist gangs have murdered civilians, terrorized communities, burned homes, and destroyed families.

Now, they’re finally saying the quiet part out loud.

By their own public statements, gang coalitions seek to prevent Haitian voters from exercising their rights to elect their representative government in a future election.

Terrorists cannot take democracy hostage for their own selfish and violent ends. They cannot terrorize from the ends of rifles and from the comforts of toll-stations—as they rob Haiti of their future.

We must protect civilians against these unconscionable acts.

We stand firmly with the Haitian authorities who seek to hold the perpetrators accountable, put an end to gang impunity, restore state authority, and to allow the Haitian people to choose their government leaders for themselves.

The United States is resolved and as committed as ever to supporting Haitian-led security efforts to end gang terror.

This attack is precisely why the UN-authorized Gang Suppression Force’s (GSF) mission and mandate matters. The GSF was not created to issue statements from within a compound wall or spend our money while Haiti suffers. With the help of this Council and so many other donor countries, this is a new kind of mission—one with a mandate to actually stop gangsters and end the bloodshed.

They must sweep the streets, neutralize the threat, and deliver Haiti back to her people.

UN Member States can support this important work towards regional stabilization by enabling troop- and police-contributing countries of the GSF to deploy as quickly as possible and by contributing to the UN Trust Fund for the GSF.

Member States that care about Haiti have a real opportunity to prove it. The GSF needs equipment, resources, and political will to do and finish this job.

We call on Security Council members to renew the GSF mandate next month, and we look forward to working with our co-penholder, Panama, on the renewal.

We cannot achieve stability through security forces alone. We must break this cycle of violence by pairing credible offramps with real opportunities fostered by accountable governance.

We call on the international community to help Haiti win the peace for the long haul. By injecting sorely needed investments through capital, infrastructure, and job creation, we can offer opportunities for the next generation of Haitian leaders and provide alternatives to the deadly path of gang violence.

The United States stands with Haiti and will continue to work with Haitians and international partners to end this crisis and restore Haiti’s stability.

Thank you.

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