Ottawa says Canadians should avoid all travel to Haiti.
In a notice on the official Canadian government travel website, officials say Canadians should “avoid all travel to Haiti due to the threat posed by kidnappings, gang violence and the potential for civil unrest throughout the country.”
The security situation remains volatile in Haiti, they said.
“You should consider leaving the country by commercial means if you can do so safely.”
Avoiding all travel is the highest warning level in the Canadian government system.
The CBC reports that gangs have attacked and seized most of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince in recent weeks. They've laid siege to the airport, government buildings and prisons, enabling thousands of inmates to escape.
In a statement posted to its website, Global Affairs Canada said the embassy in Haiti "is closed temporarily to the public," but "consular services will be provided remotely,” according to the CBC.
“With Haiti’s capital spiralling deeper into gang violence, members of several diplomatic missions, including staff from the United States and the German ambassador, began leaving Port-au-Prince on Sunday, news.com Australia reports.
“Beleaguered residents were scrambling for safety following the latest spasm of unrest, with a United Nations group warning of a “city under siege” after armed attackers targeted the presidential palace and police headquarters.”
The Globe and Mail says Haiti’s unelected prime minister, Ariel Henry, will step down once a transition council and temporary replacement have been appointed. Henry has led the Caribbean country since the 2021 assassination of its last president.
The Globe also quotes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as saying that a group of countries, including Canada, France and the U.S., “was close to agreeing on measures to stem escalating violence and restore stability in Haiti, after talks on the deployment of a multinational force and a transition council to oversee the country ahead of elections.”
Trudeau said he had spoken with Henry and pledged to help the people of Haiti.
Cruises
Cruise lines appear to still be stopping at Labadee, a privately owned peninsula in Haiti that, according to the Royal Caribbean website, features “ pristine sands, coral reefs and jungle-covered hilltops nestling lagoon-like bays.”
RCI said it’s monitoring the situation in Haiti.
“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. Our global security teams are closely monitoring the situation in the area.
“At all times, we remind guests to remain aware of their surroundings while ashore and follow all State Department guidelines. Should any changes be required, guests will be notified directly," the cruise line said.
The Royal Caribbean blog site, which is not part of RCI, states that Labadee is “a private port only accessible to Royal Caribbean. In fact, the area of Labadee is secured and monitored to ensure the safety of cruise passengers and crew members.”
Dominican Republic
On 05MAR, the Dominican Republic closed its borders with Haiti.
According to Le Monde, “The Haitian-Dominican border is experiencing one of the most serious crises in recent decades.”
The nation’s northeast border is seeing an influx of Haitians attempting to escape the violence. “If caught [trying to cross the border], they are immediately beaten with sticks or pushed back with stun guns,” writes Le Monde.
Popular resort areas are not deemed under threat.
Caribbean leaders called for an emergency meeting in Jamaica with the US, Canada and France to seek a way out of the spiralling gang violence, according to AP.
