Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council issues statement

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – Haiti’s tTransitional Presidential Council (CPT) has pledged to restore “public and democratic order” in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country even as criminal gangs continued with their efforts to remove the government of Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry.

In its first official statement signed by eight of the nine members, the CPT said it is “determined to alleviate the suffering of the Haitian people, trapped for too long between bad governance, multifaceted violence and disregard for their perspectives and needs.”

It has promised that as soon as the members of the council are officially installed, the priority would be to “put Haiti back on the path of democratic legitimacy, stability and dignity”.

The TPC has also pledged to “execute a clear action plan aimed at restoring public and democratic order through the restoration of the security of the lives and property of the population, the relief of poverty and the achievement of free elections as well as the reforms necessary to the progress of the nation”.

It said it has developed the criteria and mechanisms to choose a council president, a new prime minister and a ministerial cabinet.

“We are at a crucial turning point that calls us to unity. It is imperative that the entire nation comes together to overcome this crisis for the well-being of all and a future better for our country,” the statement said.

Earlier this month, Guyana’s  President and the CARICOM chairman, Dr. Irfaan Ali, had told reporters in Jamaica that an agreement had been reached that would allow for Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down and for a transitional governance arrangement “which paves the way for a peaceful transition of power, continuity of governance and action plan for near term security and the road to free and fair elections”.

CARICOM is also spearheading a Haitian-led solution to end the political and socio-economic situation in the country.

Ali said that it was also agreed that there would be the creation of a CPT comprised of seven voting members and two voting observers.

Those with votes include the ‘Pitit Desalin’ party headed by Jean-Charles Moise, the EDE party of former prime minister Charles Joseph; the Fanmi Lavalas party; the December 21 coalition led by Henry; the Montana Accord group; and members of the private sector.

The non-voting members will be represented by one member from civil society and one member of the interfaith community.

Those who signed the statement on Wednesday were Fritz Alphonse Jean, with the Montana Accord group; Leslie Voltaire with Fanmi Lavalas; Louis Gérald Gilles with the December 21 Agreement political group, which is allied with Henry; Laurent Saint-Cyr with the private sector; Edgard Leblanc Fils with the January 30 political group; Emmanuel Vertilaire with the Pitit Desalin party; Augustin Smith with the EDE/RED political party; and Frinel Joseph as one of two non-voting observers.

Smith recently replaced former nominee, Dominique Dupuy, a UNESCO ambassador, who stepped down following political attacks and death threats.

“In addition to the unfounded political attacks against me and the threats on my life, my participation as the only young woman (34 years old) among eight men comes up against obstacles that certain actors have decided to create,” Dupuy said in a video announcing her decision to step down.

The United Nations said it continues to support Haiti’s struggle to overcome violence and instability, as the beleaguered country is in the grip of widespread gang violence, its institutions are on the verge of collapse and its citizens are facing a daily fight for survival.

While the situation in Haiti has long been characterized by lawlessness, with powerful gangs controlling much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, the UN said the months of January and February 2024 have been “the most violent in the last two years”, with over 2,500 people killed, kidnapped or injured since the start of the year.

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