Caribbean leaders have called for an emergency meeting in Jamaica with the United States, Canada, and France on Monday to seek a way out of spiralling gang violence in Haiti.
Members of the CARICOM regional trade bloc have been trying for months to get political actors in Haiti to agree to form an umbrella transitional unity government.
Representatives from Brazil and the U.N. have also been invited to Monday’s emergency meeting.
In a statement by the Guyanese president Irfaan Ali, acting as chairman of the Caribbean Community, said that “the situation on the ground remains dire and is of serious concern to us”.
It is unclear whether Haiti’s PM Ariel Henry will be in Jamaica.
Henry had travelled to Kenya to push for the U.N.-backed deployment of a police force from the East African country to fight gangs in Haiti.
Henry, who is facing calls to resign or form a transitional council, remains unable to return home.
He arrived in Puerto Rico on Tuesday after failing to land in the Dominican Republic, which borders Haiti.
Widespread gang violence has plagued Haiti for nearly three years, particularly after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021 deepened political instability in the Caribbean nation.