BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - FOLLOWING the shocking news of the assassination of Haiti’s President, Jovenel Moïse, and the hospitalisation of his wife, Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris has condemned the act and expressed the hope that the perpetrators would soon be brought to justice.
In a statement issued this morning (July 7), Dr. Harris said: “We condemn this heinous and cowardly act and hope that those responsible will soon be apprehended and brought to justice.”
He also expressed condolences to the more than 11 million people of the French-speaking CARICOM member state.
“On my own behalf and that of the Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis, I extend sincere condolences to the family and the people of Haiti, and hope that they may find solace and comfort even during this traumatic and challenging time.”
PM Harris further stated: “We pray for calm and that good reason will prevail. Let us continue to keep the people of our sister CARICOM member state in our thoughts and prayers. And as a show of solidarity reach out to the Haitian population who have come to call St. Kitts and Nevis their home.”
News broke this morning that President Moïse was assassinated late last evening by an unknown group and that his wife was injured and hospitalised.
Videos making rounds show heavily armed gunmen storming the Moïse's home in the dead of the night. The movements executed by the gunmen point to some level of military training.
Haiti has seen clashes and unrest over the last several years before and after the transition of the last government.
Moïse, who assumed office in 2017, was embroiled in a number of allegations, including that of corruption.
There had been mounting pressure for him to call elections as his tenure was expected to expire in February this year, but he had contended that it was to be in February 2022.
