Topic:
Country: United arab Emirates
Delegate Name: Connor Argenzio
Committee: Security Council
Topic: Situation in Haiti
Country: United Arab Emirates
Delegate: Connor Argenzio
School: Forest Hills Northern
The hapless Caribbean nation of Haiti has been plagued by burdens for nearly its entire history. From the first days of independence following the removal of French chains, the Haitians were burdened with inordinately high debt from France. Haiti only managed to repay its debt to France more than a century later. However, the effects of this debt did not disappear so easily. The country’s economy has remained in shambles as it struggles to pay off its additional debt while being plagued by foreign imperial interventions. In addition to foreign and economic troubles, the island of Hispaniola is lamentably prone to tropical storms, which continue to plague Haiti amidst its consistent spate of political and social unrest. The situation began approaching its nadir when President Jean Bertran Aristide was overthrown in a coup d’etat. This disruption forced this honorable Security Council to implement the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The program was later expanded following a devastating earthquake. However, demonstrating the terrible consequences of foreign intervention, the MINUSTAH peacekeepers brought with them a cholera outbreak, adding another disaster to the island. The effort was later replaced with a smaller operation (MINUJUSTH). Following the departure of peacekeeping forces, Haiti was again plagued by the likes of hyperinflation, poverty, and rising fuel rates, in addition to political upheaval following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Haiti has yet to hold an election, and the current president, Ariel Henry, serves without a mandate, all while the capital is consumed by gang violence. As Haiti exists on the brink of state collapse, it is lamentable that the situation remains hostile to foreign intervention. The Security Council extended BINUH’s mandate for one year as talks of a multinational force being raised towards the goal of aiding police are developed. Ultimately, the situation is delicate and must be handled with the utmost caution.
The UAE is a close supporter of the Haitian people and gives its deepest sympathy to a country that is impressive yet troubled. As a Gulf state, the UAE has not had a very involved role in the conflict, preferring to instead focus on regional matters and leave this situation to more relevant parties. However, it is clear to the UAE that the situation must be remedied immediately. However, the panacea remains elusive. Ultimately, the situation goes beyond politics and economics, right down to the human level, where aid has failed to reach the people who need it. Near half a million Haitian youths are in danger of losing access to education, putting them at an increased risk of gang recruitment and crime. The situation in Haiti will not cease unless order is restored to the island.
While such a suggestion is simply put on paper, its implementation is convoluted and delicate. The UAE recognizes that any semblance of peace is contingent upon a more structural solution to the problem. The bedlam will persist so long as the integral security, law enforcement, and judicial institutions are incapable of effectively responding to the situation. Political legitimacy must be returned to the government, and the illegal trade must be dealt with before any peace is possible. Peacemeal solutions will ultimately prove fruitless, and the solution will ultimately come from within Haiti rather than from an external military force. Instead of sending foreign troops to Haiti, the UAE proposes instead training and supplying the Haitian police and military so that they can effectively remedy the crisis independently of international support. The UAE is interested in leading any such effort along with the cooperation of other international actors. A solution to the crisis will always come from within. The Haitians must be able to stand on their own.
