PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry says he hopes the international community will agree to a request for a multinational support force to assist the Haitian National Police (PNH) restore peace and security in the French-speaking Caribbean Community country.

Addressing the end of year meeting with heads of diplomatic missions, representatives of international organisations, the dean and members of the consular corps here, Henry said he wanted to thank UN Secretary General Antonia Guterres “for relaying to the Security Council our request for assistance from a specialised force to accompany our National Police.

“We hope that in the near future, this multinational support force for the PNH can be at work. We appreciate the support of the international community, which has confirmed its commitment to guide us in the search for a lasting solution to the crisis by taking the initiative to sanction those who support armed gangs and engage in illicit trafficking of all kinds,” he told the meeting.

Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says while he does not rule out the possibility of his country being part of a military intervention, or even leading one in Haiti, he also wants European countries to join the North American country in sanctioning the elites in Haiti over alleged ties to violent gangs.