May 5, 2025
In Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Wednesday, April 10, more than a dozen leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean gathered for the 9th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Representing Haiti, Presidential Advisor Leslie Voltaire issued an urgent appeal for regional solidarity in response to the country’s ongoing crisis, stressing the need for concrete and coordinated action.
“Our nation needs a surge of solidarity—concrete actions to combat insecurity, and real support to help restore hope,” said Voltaire, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste.
While he acknowledged the genuine solidarity expressed by CELAC member states, Voltaire urged leaders to move beyond rhetoric—particularly to prevent CELAC territory from becoming a transit route for arms and ammunition fueling gang violence in Haiti.
Voltaire also called for increased technical support for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, emphasizing that
“violence does not reflect our culture nor the values upon which our nation was built.”
He condemned the rise of transnational criminal networks that are exploiting regional vulnerabilities to destabilize Haiti.
The Haitian advisor warned of climate-related threats that disproportionately affect small island nations like Haiti. He urged the international community to recognize the losses incurred and to provide appropriate financing and technology transfers to support climate resilience.
Voltaire also reminded delegates that 2025 will mark the bicentennial of the independence debt imposed on Haiti by France.
“Our people have never forgotten. We are calling for restitution and reparation,” he stated solemnly, urging CELAC members to join Haiti in its pursuit of historical justice.
The summit, chaired by Honduran President Xiomara Castro, also featured the official handover of CELAC’s rotating presidency to Colombia, now under the leadership of President Gustavo Petro. This transition comes at a pivotal moment for CELAC as it seeks to strengthen political and economic unity among its 33 member states.
In addition to formal addresses, the summit concluded with the adoption of the Tegucigalpa Declaration, a roadmap designed to deepen regional integration. The event followed an intense period of preparatory consultations, including five virtual presidential meetings and twelve ministerial sessions, which tackled key issues such as food security, energy, telecommunications, and financial cooperation.
Founded in 2011, CELAC presents itself as an alternative to the Organization of American States (OAS), promoting dialogue, consensus-building, and integration across political, economic, social, and cultural lines. Against this backdrop, Haiti’s intervention held particular weight and urgency.
