Following the example of the United States government, which has deployed Marines to guarantee the security of its embassy and its diplomatic and consular personnel, the Canadian government has taken the same decision, according to information obtained by the editorial staff of Caribbean Television Network.
On Thursday March 21, 2024, Canadian soldiers were photographed on the roof of the building housing the Canadian Embassy on the Delmas highway, between numbers 73 and 75.
According to our information, these soldiers are present in Port-au-Prince to ensure the security and protection of the Canadian Embassy, as well as to help Canadian nationals leave the country after having been confronted with the gang violence exacerbated since Thursday February 29, 2024.
No information has been released by the Canadian government regarding the specific mission of these soldiers on Haitian territory.
On March 7, 2024, an anti-government protester threw a flaming tire into the grounds of the Canadian embassy in Delmas.
Meanwhile, in a communiqué dated March 14, 2024, Canada reaffirmed its commitment to Haiti and the Haitian people.
“Our immediate priority remains the safety and security of Canadians as we continue to closely monitor the security situation in Haiti.”
The Government of Canada “continually assesses the security of its personnel and assets abroad through a rigorous risk assessment analysis. Due to the volatility of the security situation, the lack of reliable supplies and the need to sustain an effective presence in a volatile situation, Canada is temporarily calling on essential personnel from its embassy in Haiti. Relocated personnel will continue to perform their duties from a third country. In similar situations, temporary withdrawals from missions are not uncommon,” the statement said.
Canada’s ambassador to Haiti will remain in the country and continue to work with Haitian stakeholders and international partners to implement the political agreement. Canada will continue to support Haitian-led solutions to the political, security and humanitarian crises, the Canadian government said. However, “the Embassy of Canada in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, remains temporarily closed to the public, but continues to provide consular services to Canadians in need of assistance in Haiti”, reads the press release from Canada’s diplomatic representation in Haiti.
Since Thursday February 29, the situation in Port-au-Prince has deteriorated. Armed bandits have attacked police infrastructures and the international airport, virtually closing the country to the rest of the world.
On March 11, 2024, under pressure from Washington, Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his resignation pending the establishment of a Presidential Council to lead a new transition, in accordance with the wishes of the United States and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which are acting as mediators between the Haitian players.
Port-au-Prince is on high alert, with shootings, assassinations, attacks on police stations and other human rights violations punctuating the daily life of a population left to its own devices.