While this democratic crisis unfolds, the Haitian people also find themselves in a humanitarian crisis. Schools have closed not just due to COVID-19, but to safeguard students and teachers from rampant violent crimes and kidnappings. In addition, 40 percent of the population is food insecure.
Poor governance, systemic corruption, and mounting injustices have left Haitians with little to show since the massive 2010 post-earthquake response.
From positive forecasts to shrinking economies, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a drastic effect on the Caribbean. How will the region recover?
This will be a long summer for Haiti. Three baskets of overlapping crisis points, if merged, will lead to the proverbial “perfect storm.”
With the electoral crisis nearing its end, things appeared to be heading in the right direction for Guyana. But recent statements from the APNU+AFC coalition put the entire process at risk.
On July 11th, presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden shared his foreign policy plans, geared toward restoring the American democratic vision and its future in the 21st century. Latin America was mentioned, but barely.
The U.S. must recognize the role of China and Venezuela in the Caribbean and develop policies that compete with these rivals rather than simply telling the Caribbean to get in line with U.S. objectives.
Popular protests are rocking Haiti’s government, and have included allegations of an assassination attempt against the president. Some see Venezuela’s fingerprints on parts of the unrest.
Recent U.S. involvement in the Caribbean Basin has been defined by Whac-A-Mole-like reactionary policy. It’s time for a new coherent strategy for security and development in the Caribbean.
The reports examine five specific areas—transnational security challenges, institutional capacity, economic growth, demographics, and technology—and how they will shape politics, economic and U.S. relations in the Caribbean by 2030.
