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Since the death of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, the poorest country in the Americas is fighting to appoint a new leader, amid an already fragile economic, political and social situation.

Uncertainty among its leadership has the potential to further plunge Haiti into unrest as it grapples to maintain law and order after years of chaos in its streets, widespread gang violence, and inflation.

Claude Joseph has stepped forward as the Interim Prime Minister since the death of Jovenel. He appears to be leading the country through its most trying time in its history, giving updates on the assassination as newly-appointed prime minister Ariel Henry stands in the background.

President Jovenel appointed Joseph as a temporary leader and one day before his death, nominated Henry to replace Joseph.

Joseph told the Associated Press that he had spoken to Henry three times and both agreed that he would be in charge for now.

Joseph said of Henry, “He was actually designated but never took office.

“I was the one who was a prime minister, who was in office. This is what the law and the constitution say.”

However, Henry who was waiting to be sworn in, said in a separate interview with AP, “It’s an exceptional situation. There is a bit of confusion.”

“I am the prime minister in office.”

The  Supreme Court’s chief justice, who would have brought stability to leadership in a time like this, recently died of COVID-19.

Where the Bahamas stands

The killing of the Haitian president has the potential to increase mass migration to the Bahamas, which already has a migration problem from the land of more than 11 million people.

After the assassination, the Dominican Republic which shares a border with Haiti, immediately closed its border.

Bahamas Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield said the Bahamas has strengthened its borders in response to the act, as well.

Haitians, in time past, have reported that they leave the troubled island-nation to escape the extreme poverty and widespread violence, and leave for the Bahamas, which is considered peaceful with a more stable political, social and economic sphere.

It is feared that the assassination and a power struggle among its leaders could leave Haitians scared and result in large numbers fleeing to the Bahamas.

Haitian government must show strong leadership so that the people can feel safe and remain at home.

The Bahamas joins other CARICOM nations in flying the Haitian flag after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in the early morning hours of Wednesday.

Cabinet Office released a statement on Wednesday evening saying it will observe Moïse’s death as a member state of CARICOM.

Haiti’s flag will be flown along with the CARICOM flag at half-mast on Thursday, Friday and the day of his funeral.

After his death, CARICOM heads of government met and issued a statement condemning “this abhorrent and reprehensible act that comes at a time of deep turmoil and institutional weakness in the country.”

Caricom leaders have called for the assassins to be “apprehended and brought to justice, and for law and order to prevail,” in the island-nation.

The statement goes on to say, “In accordance with its values, as expressed in its Charter of Civil Society, the Caribbean Community does not settle its differences by violence which undermines democracy and the rule of law, but peacefully through dialogue and recourse to democratic institutions.”

The big story

Gunmen killed President Moïse and critically wounded his wife Martine who is receiving treatment at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.

Police said they have arrested two suspects and killed four others responsible for Moise’s death at around six in the afternoon. It is not known if others were involved in the plot to kill the late president.

Haiti has since been placed on lockdown for two weeks since the events unfolded, as the country grapples to maintain control and security.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas and is usually beset by gang violence, rising inflation, and protests by opposition supporters.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis expressed dismay and disturbance at the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse on Wednesday morning.

Minnis, in a statement released by his office, said his government “strongly condemns the actions of the perpetrators.”

“We offer our deepest condolences to the Government and the people of Haiti.”

“We pray for the people of Haiti and for a peaceful resolution to the political crises,” he said.

Minnis added that Caricom has had ongoing discussions on the social and political unrest in Haiti and has since offered assistance to find a “peaceful resolution to the political crises” there.

“I have been in contact with the Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.”

Minnis assured that embassy staff in Haiti’s capital remains safe as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs monitors the situation.

Why it matters

President Jovenal Moïse was killed by unidentified men clad in black at his private residence in the capital Port-au-Prince.

Interim Prime Minister Claude Jean has called for calm and declared a state of emergency for two weeks.

He called the act, “heinous, inhumane and barbaric.”

Minnis and Jovenel

President Moïse welcomed Prime Minister Minnis to the country in 2018  at the National Palace of the Republic of Haiti where a high-level meeting was held between the two men.

During the meeting, Minnis and Moïse highlighted the need for the creation of economic, commercial and investment opportunities between Haiti and The Bahamas and encouraged closer collaboration between national, regional and international law enforcement institutions, to fight illegal immigration, illicit trafficking in narcotics and the smuggling of migrants.

Haiti has been placed in a state of emergency following the assassination of President Jovenal Moïse, killed in the early hours of Wednesday at his private residence near Port-au-Prince.

The wife of the president First Lady Martine Moïse was also shot during the ordeal as unidentified assailants stormed residents speaking Spanish.

Residents reported hearing high-powered weapons being fired at around 1am and seeing men dressed in black as they ran through the neighbourhood, along with sounds of grenades and drones overhead echoing through the early morning hours.

In a video captured of the event, someone speaking English with an American accent is heard saying, “DEA operation. Everybody stand down DEA operation. Everybody back up, stand down.”

But US sources said the assailants were imposters and Haitian government officials said, “these were mercenaries.”

Claude Joseph now stands as the interim prime minister. The government has described it as “a barbaric act.

Here’s what to know about Jovenal Moïse

• The fifty-three-year-old was Haiti’s 58th president.
• Jovenel Moïse was known as the “Banana Man” because he exported bananas. He never held a political office before he came to office in 2017. Moise campaigned under the moniker Neg Bannan Nan or the Banana Man, a reference to his farming roots.
• Moïse was from northern Haiti and the political protégé of former President Michel Martelly.
• Moïse was ruling by decree since January 2019. He was due to held a general election in 2019, but the election was postponed. The election was expected t be held in September.
• Critics of his government said he was holding on to power as his reign became deeply unpopular among citizens.
• Moïse supported changes to the 1987 constitution, which was met with opposition.
• The day before his assassination,  Moïse named a new prime minister, Dr. Ariel Henry, to head the government and prepare the country for elections in September for president, a new parliament and local government officials.