CARICOM leaders reacted with shock and outrage on Wednesday after news that Haitian President Jovenel Moise was assassinated at his home and his wife Martine seriously injured.

Moise is the second Caricom leader to be assassinated, following the killing of Grenada's prime minister Maurice Bishop in 1983.

In an official statement, Haiti's interim Prime Minister Dr Claude Joseph said the assassination took place around 1 am on Wednesday.

He said, "A group of unidentified individuals, some of whom spoke in Spanish, attacked the private residence of the president of the Republic, thus mortally wounding the chief of state."

Joseph condemned the "heinous, inhuman and barbaric act," and asked the country to be calm. He said the country's security is "under control" by the police and armed forces and all measures are taken to guarantee the continuity of the state and protect the nation.

The country's borders and its airport were subsequently closed and a state of siege – one tier above a state of emergency – was declared. Martine has since been taken to the US for medical treatment and is in critical condition. She arrived in Florida at approximately 3.30 pm.

There were several protests in the country's capital Port-au-Prince earlier this year calling on Moise to step down as the Opposition said his term was supposed to end on February 7. Many of these protests resulted in clashes with the police.

Moise was elected in 2016 with an AP story stating he ruled by decree for over two years after the country failed to hold elections.

In a press release, the TT government said it was shocked at the tragic developments.

"We offer our deepest condolences to the family of President Moise and to the Government and People of Haiti, our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) on this most distressing occurrence.

"TT pledges to work together with our Caricom colleagues and other hemispheric and international partners to support Haiti at this very difficult time."

Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne told Newsday the news was a tragedy for the Haitian people and all of Caricom. "I join with our Prime Minister and all Caricom leaders and nationals in expressing condolences to his family and the people of Haiti," Browne said.

CARICOM SHOCKED

Caricom chairman and Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne held an emergency meeting Wednesday afternoon to discuss the incident. In an official statement he said Moise was "mired in a debate as to whether his term ended months ago or continues until early next year.

"The assassination of last evening further complicates the jostling for power that has characterised the Haitian state and its future," Browne said.

"Caricom will continue to work in close co-operation with the Haitian people, the UN, the OAS and the governments of France and the US in bringing a reasonable settlement of the state of uncertainty and instability that now threaten the peace and security in Haiti and our community as a whole.

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