The Barbados Defence Force is collaborating with other CARICOM countries to send a team to Haiti to assist with the civil unrest in the French-speaking CARICOM country.

This has been disclosed by Military Advisor to the Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Lovell during the BDF’s 45th Anniversary Celebrations Media Launch at the St. Ann’s Fort.

Lieutenant Colonel Lovell says they are waiting on the directive from the Prime Minister and the CARICOM Security Chief.

Meantime, the United Nations Security Council was due to meet later today behind closed doors on Haiti as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, called for the “urgent deployment, with no further delay” of the planned security force.

He notes that the Council approved the deployment in October last year.

Mr. Türk urges the international community to act swiftly and decisively to prevent Haiti’s further descent into chaos.

Haitian officials have confirmed that more than 45 hundred inmates are now known to have escaped in last week’s prison breakout, among them prominent gang members as well as those arrested in connection with the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse three years ago.

The break followed coordinated gang action against national institutions with the stated aim of bringing down the Haitian government.

Haiti has imposed a seven-hour curfew as well as a state of emergency after criminal gangs last weekend stepped up their fight to remove Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry from office.

Mr. Henry is now stranded in Puerto Rico after having travelled to Kenya where he signed an agreement allowing for the UN Security Council-sanctioned international force led by the African country to restore peace and security in his troubled country.