Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

British Embassy: Port-au-Prince

Tuesday 30 April 2024 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • British embassy staff in Port-au-Prince are working from home due to security concerns.
  • The UK is working with international partners to support the multinational security support mission in Haiti.
  • The UK has committed 5 million to the deployment of the multinational security support mission in Haiti.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Fabian Hamilton Lab Leeds North East
Community Security Foreign Affairs
Context

There are safety concerns for UK staff at the British embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support the welfare of staff in the British embassy in Port-au-Prince. The security situation since has not allowed us to consider returning permanently.

Answer from David Rutley

The safety of our staff is paramount, and a decision was taken in November 2019 to move the last UK base staff member in Haiti to the neighbouring Dominican Republic. We have two country-based staff members in Haiti's capital who we are in constant contact with. They are working from home and there are no specific threats to them based on them working for the UK.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Fabian Hamilton Lab Leeds North East
Foreign Affairs
Context

The transitional council ceremony location had to be changed due to gunfire from nearby criminal gang outposts.

Question

When Haiti's transitional council was sworn in last week, the location of the ceremony had to be changed owing to gunfire erupting from nearby criminal gang outposts—a stark reminder that Haiti is a country far from political legitimacy. What steps are the Government taking to assist the transitional council in order to ensure that a new President is democratically elected in 2026 and that we do not see them targeted with violence in the meantime?

Answer from David Rutley

We are working closely with international partners, including the United States, Canada and CARICOM—the Caribbean Community—and of course we are also working incredibly hard to ensure that we provide every support we can for the multinational security support mission. The Foreign Secretary has already pledged funds for our support for that important mission.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps and timeline for ensuring democratic elections were not detailed.

How: Under Review, Working With Partners

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Stephen Metcalfe Con
Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK has committed £5 million towards the deployment of the MSS.

Question

I welcome the UK's £5 million commitment towards the deployment of the multinational security support mission in Haiti. Will my hon. Friend tell the House a little more about how that mission is being deployed, and can he expand on the discussions that he has had with our friends in the Dominican Republic about their security on the border with Haiti?

Answer from David Rutley

I thank my hon. Friend for his important question about the Dominican Republic. I was there at the end of March and met President Abinader. We talked about the situation and the importance of the MSS. Clearly, the Kenyans will need to decide how they move forward, but as has been said, the putting in place of the transitional presidential council was an important moment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Details on deployment and discussions with Dominican Republic were not fully addressed.

How: Under Review, Working With Partners

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Anna McMorrin Lab Cardiff North
Foreign Affairs
Context

Haiti's population is starving, violence is rife, dead bodies lie forgotten on the street.

Question

Half of Haiti's population is starving, violence is rife, dead bodies lie forgotten on the street. For too long this crisis has been ignored. As the Minister knows, that grave situation risks also destabilising the wider Caribbean region, including our overseas territories, with the Turks and Caicos islands less than 200 miles away. Can the Minister confirm the UK's donation to the UN fund—the Government missed that out of their statement—and lay out what other diplomatic support the Government are offering to address the crisis?

Answer from David Rutley

Most importantly, beyond the other things that I have mentioned, we are working closely with the UN Security Council, which is a vital forum here, and we continue to work with like-minded countries to help with the establishment of the MSS. The hon. Lady rightly highlights the importance of humanitarian support. We are one of the major donors to the UN central emergency response fund, and there has been an authorisation of disbursement of $12 million to support those affected.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific donation amount was not confirmed in addition to what was already mentioned.

How: Under Review, Working With Partners

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email