Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille met with U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson on Saturday at the Notre Dame d’Haiti Catholic Church in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood, marking his first official visit to the United States as Prime Minister.
Conille, a United Nations development specialist and Haiti’s former 2011-2012 prime minister, left Port-au-Prince on Friday. He entrusted Carlos Hercule, Haiti’s justice minister, to serve as the acting prime minister during his absence amid chronic instability.
Following a meeting that included guests but was closed to the public, Conille and Wilson held a news conference.
“We know for sure that the only way we get out of this successfully within the next 20 months is if our brothers and sisters in the diaspora are actively engaged in the process, and we are looking forward as a transitional government to establishing the systems and the processes and platforms to make sure we can make the most of these incredible assets,” Conille said during the news conference.
Wilson noted they discussed the Temporary Protected Status granted to some Haitian migrants in the U.S. She also mentioned her list of demands for President Joe Biden’s administration, which included strategies to address the gangs causing turmoil in Haiti.
“We talked about prevention; we were surprised to find out that 50% to 70% of the gang members are little boys,” Wilson said. “These are not grown men as we see.”
Wilson emphasized her efforts to keep Haiti on “the radar” of the White House and advocated for increased funding to support Haiti’s transition.
“We are forever fighting for Haiti,” Wilson said, adding that she plans to travel to Haiti between August and September and invited Haitian-American leaders and U.S. lawmakers to join her.
Other meetings planned in Washington and NYC
Conille’s delegation in the U.S. includes Dominique Dupuy, Haiti’s foreign minister, and Kelteen Florestal, Haiti’s finance minister. Their itinerary features meetings in Washington, D.C., and New York City.
The visit by Conille and other officials, leading the transitional government in the CARICOM member state, comes just days after Kenyan police arrived in Haiti on a mission to help stabilize the nation, which has been disrupted by powerful gangs.
The visit also coincides with Washington’s promise of substantial funding for the UN-backed mission, though it has ruled out sending American troops.
On Monday, Conille is scheduled to meet with Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer.
Conille and his team will also hold “important working meetings” with the heads of international financial institutions, according to his office.
