The Multidimensional Crisis in Haiti

UWI Vice-Chancellor’s Forum focuses on recent diplomatic developments regarding this crisis and the way forward.

On Monday, May 6, 2024, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) will host a Vice-Chancellor’s Forum themed, “The Multidimensional Crisis in Haiti: Recent Diplomatic Developments and the Way Forward”. 

The virtual event, accessible on UWItv‘s website, www.uwitv.global, starts at 9:30 a.m. (AST/Eastern Caribbean) | 8:30 a.m. (EST/Jamaica).

Presented by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor in collaboration with the Institute of International Relations’ Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean, it will feature perspectives from a distinguished panel of International Relations experts and scholars of Haitian studies:

• Renata Segura, Program Director, Latin America and Caribbean, International Crisis Group.
• Ambassador Frederick D. Barton, Lecturer, School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University (the first U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations).
• E. Stefano Gatto, Ambassadeur Extraordinaire et Plenipotentiaire / Chef de Délégation de l’Union Europénne auprès de la République d’Haiti.
• Jemima Pierre, Professor of Global Race – Institute of Race, Gender, Sexuality and Social Justice (GRSJ) at the University of British Columbia.
• Regine O. Jackson, Dean of the Humanities, Social Sciences, Media & Arts Division and Professor of Sociology, Morehouse College. (Discussant).

Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, will deliver opening remarks at the event, and Dr Nand C. Bardouille, Manager of The Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean, will serve as Chair of the proceedings and moderator of the panel discussion.

Shortly following its installation on April 25, 2024, Haiti’s transitional council selected the country’s prime minister, Fritz Bélizaire. Prime Minister Bélizaire takes over from Michel Patrick Boisvert, who served as interim prime minister in Haiti’s transitional government. “These developments are a salient enough occurrence for a country on the edge of a political precipice and in the vice-grip of a multidimensional crisis,” said Dr Bardouille.

Dr Bardouille continued, “For one thing, the appointment of Mr. Bélizaire as the country’s prime minister—against the backdrop of the advent of the transitional council—provides a much-needed sign of better times to come.” He further noted: “For another, it is a nod to the Caribbean Community—among others—which pulled out all the stops to come to Haiti’s aid in this precarious moment. Haitians residing in-country have endured years of political instability and hellish lived conditions, a combination of factors which weigh heavily on their everyday milieu.”

Dr Bardouille concluded: “In a context where the transition to democracy in Haiti has been fragile, recent political developments in Port-au-Prince show rare progress in the realm of Haitian political change. As those in authority put things in place for a transition to electoral democracy in the face of manifold challenges, this is an opportune time for a wider debate in the Community on the multidimensional crisis in Haiti—in retrospective and prospective terms. This Vice-Chancellor’s Forum is one such opportunity to do just that.”

The views and opinions expressed in this forum are not necessarily those of UWItv Global, The University of the West Indies, or its affiliates.