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UN vote delayed on sanctions to curb Haiti violence, crime

Published:Wednesday | October 19, 2022 | 9:49 PM
The United Nations Security Council meets on the situation in Ukraine, Thursday, September 22, 2022, at United Nations headquarters. The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote Wednesday afternoon, October 19, 2022, on a resolution that would demand an immediate end to violence and criminal activity in Haiti and impose sanctions on influential gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, nicknamed “Barbecue.” (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Supporters of a United Nations resolution that would demand an immediate end to violence and criminal activity in Haiti and impose sanctions on influential gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, nicknamed “Barbecue,” said Wednesday a vote has been delayed.

The Security Council vote had been called for the afternoon but key Security Council members confirmed the postponement for a few days.

France's UN Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere told reporters earlier: “I'm not sure the vote will be today -- it could take a little more.”

The sanctions measure is the first of two resolutions on Haiti sponsored by the United States and Mexico to be considered by the UN's most powerful body.

A second resolution, which is still being worked on, would authorise an international force to help improve security in the country in response to an Oct. 7 request from Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

Russia's Deputy UN  Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky told the council Monday that Moscow can't support “attempts to push through a sanctions resolution” and agreed to look into imposing restrictive measures only after considering their “efficiency,” targeted nature and humanitarian consequences.

The sanctions resolution names Cherizier, but would also impose sanctions on other Haitian individuals and groups whose actions threaten the peace, security or stability of the Western Hemisphere's poorest country, according to the final draft obtained by The Associated Press.

Daily life in Haiti began to spin out of control last month just hours after prime minister Henry said fuel subsidies would be eliminated, causing prices to double. Gangs blocked the entrance to the Varreux fuel terminal, leading to a severe shortage of fuel at a time when clean water is also scarce and the country is trying to deal with a deadly cholera outbreak.

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