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PM announces police deployment to assist stabilization efforts in Haiti
Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced that Canada will contribute 100 police officers as part of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The contribution of 100 police is an important element of Canada’s broader engagement in Haiti.
July 06, 2004
Ottawa, Ontario
NEWS RELEASE
Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced that Canada will contribute 100 police officers as part of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The contribution of 100 police is an important element of Canada’s broader engagement in Haiti.
“By participating in this mission, Canada is confirming its ongoing commitment to assist the Haitian government in ensuring security and stability in the country,” said Prime Minister Martin. “Our police will be responding to an immediate need in Haiti as the country strives to restore law and order following the recent political crisis. Re-establishment of the rule of law is essential for all other economic, social and political efforts to succeed.”
The Prime Minister emphasised that this contribution is appropriate given Canada’s well known and respected international policing expertise, and our past and on-going engagement in the region.
On April 30, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1542 authorizing the establishment of MINUSTAH. The Stabilization Mission, consisting of civilian and military components, assumed authority on June 1, 2004 from the UN mandated, US led Multinational Interim Force. MINUSTAH has the mandate to assist the Haitian government in ensuring a secure and stable environment, restoring law and order, and reforming the Haitian National Police. MINUSTAH has an initial mandate of six months, with the expectation that this will be renewed for further periods.
$16 million in funding for this police deployment comes from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through the Canadian Police Arrangement, made up of Foreign Affairs Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the RCMP.
Since the beginning of the recent crisis, Canada has been actively engaged in efforts to restore stability, as well as support humanitarian reconstruction and transition efforts in Haiti. Canada is currently contributing 500 Canadian Forces personnel and six helicopters that will remain in Haiti until the end of August 2004.
In addition to the funding for this deployment, since February 2004, Canada, through CIDA, has contributed a total of close to $15 million to the people of Haiti: $5 million in support of UN programming including humanitarian, transition, and reconstruction efforts; $5 million to strengthen the Special Mission of the OAS in Haiti; almost $2 million to Canadian, Haitian and international organizations working in Haiti to support reconstruction, rehabilitation and humanitarian aid activities, primarily in the areas of health, education, human rights and efforts to stop violence against women; $1.95 million in humanitarian assistance and food aid to World Food Program, the Pan American Health Organization, and the International Committee of the Red Cross; and $1 million to the International Organisation of La Francophonie to help restore and maintain Haiti's democratic institutions. A further $1 million has been provided in humanitarian assistance to flood victims in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Canada is one of Haiti's key bilateral development partners. In 2002 2003, Canadian Official Development Assistance to Haiti totalled $23.85 million.
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