Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Hosts Stakeholder Roundtable on Multinational Security Mission

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – On October 16, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) hosted a roundtable discussion with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti Barbara Feinstein on the recent United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing a multinational security mission in Haiti.

“This roundtable served as an opportunity for the Haitian Diaspora to discuss a path forward for Haiti and define the multinational security mission’s rules of engagement and safeguards. I am grateful that Deputy Assistant Secretary Barbara Feinstein was able to join this important and much-needed dialogue, and I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for their firm commitment to respecting Haitians’ self-determination,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “The distinctive backgrounds, expertise, and cultural competency of the Diaspora are essential to engagement and will ensure that we do not make the same mistakes of the past during this defining moment in Haiti’s future. As Deputy Assistant Secretary Feinstein highlighted during the roundtable, I share the view that this mission is an important first step for Haiti but will be insufficient without political consensus on the ground.”

“The Haitian Diaspora is a vital partner in supporting Haiti on a path towards improved security, prosperity, and a return to democratic order. I applaud Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick’s vision in convening Haitian American leaders to discuss the multidimensional crisis in Haiti. Their valuable and frank insights, expertise and know-how will continue to inform our approach at this critical time,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti Barbara Feinstein.

The roundtable served as an open discussion with Haitian Diaspora community leaders in South Florida on the multinational security mission and the role that civil society can play in this effort, as well as on other relevant topics including justice, governance, and arms trafficking. This roundtable is an ongoing conversation and part of a larger series of discussions around what it will take to move Haiti forward.

Attendees included representatives from the Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center, the City of Miami Gardens, the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON), the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce, Community Alliance Relief & Empowerment Services (CARES), Pathways to Wellness Foundation, the Family Action Network Movement in Action, and other key representatives from the Haitian Diaspora. 

Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick ― the only Haitian American Member in Congress ― proudly serves as a permanent member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a co-chair of the Haiti Caucus and is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus’ Haiti Working Group.

For photos of the roundtable, please click here.