UNSC MINUSTAH Renewal – Canadian Statement

11 October 2016

Mr. President,

Let me start, on behalf of all Canadians, by expressing our solidarity and friendship with the Haitian people after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Matthew. We are saddened by the heavy loss of life due to Hurricane Matthew. In these tragic circumstances, our immediate thoughts are naturally with the victims and their families and loved ones.

We are committed to helping the stricken people of Haiti and we will support them during these trying times. Canada has rapidly deployed the Canadian Disaster Assessment Team (CDAT) to Haiti. CDAT worked closely with Haitian authorities and international humanitarian organizations to assess the most pressing needs. More than $4 million five hundred thousand has been allocated in response to urgent needs in Haiti. Canada’s humanitarian assistance is being delivered through humanitarian agencies of the UN and international organizations that are currently on the ground and addressing priority emergency needs of vulnerable populations affected such as food assistance, water and sanitation, shelter, and basic health in the coming days and weeks.

This natural disaster poses an additional challenge for the organization of elections originally scheduled for October 9. Helping victims must remain our top priority.

Canada notes the decision of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) to take stock of the situation after the hurricane and communicate its assessment on Wednesday, October 12. Canada urges the Haitian authorities, including the CEP, to continue to pursue, promptly and decisively, the electoral process and provide an election date as soon as possible in order to inaugurate an elected president on February 7, 2017. We also encourage all political actors, civil society and each citizen to actively contribute to a successful electoral process.

The restoration of constitutional order through impartial, credible and transparent elections is an essential step toward greater stability and prosperity in Haiti. The emergence of strong democratic institutions guided by the principles of representativeness and good governance is required as a prerequisite for the country’s reconstruction on solid and sustainable bases.

Mr. President,

I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate Canada’s support for MINUSTAH and the renewal of its mandate on the basis of proposals made by the Secretary-General and the Group of Friends of Haiti. We are also grateful to MINUSTAH and its components for its work in the country and with the population in the wake of this devastating hurricane. On the eve of this election cycle that is crucial for the future of the country, MINUSTAH continues to play an essential role, notably in supporting the national police and maintaining a stable, secure environment.

Although it is clear that progress has been made in building the operational capacity of the Haitian National Police, we must be pragmatic. As highlighted by the Secretary-General in his most recent report to the Security Council, the security situation remains fragile and the Haitian National Police must continue to rely on the support of the international community to continue its professionalization and, ultimately, to fully and independently assume its security prerogatives.

Consequently, Canada remains convinced that any decision regarding the mandate, composition and fate of MINUSTAH must be in keeping with the situation on the ground and the Haitian National Police’s ability to fully discharge its duties as a public service. MINUSTAH must also continue to have the resources and means necessary to carry out its mission. While MINUSTAH is not a permanent solution for security in Haiti, we should avoid reduction scenarios that could jeopardize the results achieved to date.

It is in this context that Canada continues to provide a considerable contribution of Canadian police deployed as part of MINUSTAH to support the professionalization of Haiti’s National Police and to ensure that they can fully assume responsibility for the safety and security of the Haitian people. Canada has committed to bolstering these deployments to approximately 100 police officers within the context of the upcoming elections.

Mr. President,

Beyond security considerations, Haiti still faces a multitude of challenges. The socio‑economic situation remains precarious against a backdrop of chronic political instability and persistent humanitarian challenges, compounded by the recent disaster to hit Haiti. There has been an increase in reported cases of cholera over the past year, and we applaud the Secretary-General’s intent to deploy renewed efforts to fight this problem. As well, many victims of the 2010 earthquake are still waiting for a resettlement solution. The repatriation of large numbers of Haitian and people of Haitian descent from the Dominican Republic also continues to place demands on the state’s resources. At the same time, Canada continues to be concerned about the slow progress in strengthening the rule of law, persistent weaknesses in the judicial and correctional systems, and the status of women.

More than ever, these challenges require coordinated and sustained action on the part of international partners, but also increased effectiveness on the part of the Haitian authorities, more particularly in terms of identifying needs, setting priorities and coordinating responses. Canada will continue for its part to work closely with national actors and the international community to focus on an integrated response combining socio-economic considerations, a security dimension and development issues, while continuing to pay special attention to the most vulnerable, including women and children.

Thank you for your attention.