On Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the initiative of the Haitian Government, the Organization of American States (OAS) will hold a symposium on the security situation in Haiti at the Organization's headquarters in Washington, D.C., with the theme "Finding Urgent Solutions to the Security Crisis in Haiti."

During his remarks, Presidential Advisor Smith Augustin welcomed the organization of the symposium and called on OAS members to change the narrative on Haiti, a necessary step toward resolving the profound crisis facing his country, emphasizing, "[...] we also want to contribute to deconstructing the prejudices that seek to portray Haiti as a problem for the region. No country is a problem for another country or region," stressing the importance of better understanding the Haitian crisis in order to better respond to it, before reminding international partners that Haiti had crossed the line of the unacceptable and painting a grim and alarming picture of the situation.

Smith Augustin highlighted concrete measures taken by the Presidential Transitional Council: adoption of a security roadmap; budget increase; strengthening of security institutions; training of personnel and modernization of equipment.

The Presidential Advisor emphasized, however, that the solution cannot be solely repressive and called for :

• A radical, comprehensive security policy, centered on social justice, equality, and dignity;

• A break with the traditional elites that have marginalized the people;

• Recognition of the transnational dimension of the crisis, particularly with regard to arms trafficking and organized crime.

Finally, he called for increased inter-American solidarity, believing that Haiti's stability is a regional issue, concluding with a call for concrete and lasting commitments to Haiti and for continued discussions at the next OAS General Assembly.

Address by Presidential Advisor Smith Augustin :

SL/ HaïtiLibre