CARICOM Eminent Person Group ends visit to Haiti

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The three-member CARICOM Eminent Persons Group (EPG) has ended a six-day visit to Haiti, warning that there needs to be a return to the ethos of the March 11 agreement in Jamaica.

A statement issued by the EPG said that the visit allowed the group to be in a position to report to CARICOM leaders and that it permitted an exchange of views and dialogue with representatives of a wide spectrum of Haitian society, including the bicephal executive; the Director-General of the Haitian National Police as well as the leadership of political parties not represented on the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) or in the government.

The EPG, comprising Dr Kenny Anthony, Bruce Golding and Perry Christie, former prime ministers of St Lucia, Jamaica and The Bahamas, also met with representatives of Haiti's major international partners, namely Canada, France and the United States.

It also met with representatives of the United Nations Office in Haiti (BINUH), the Organization of American States, and the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) Force Commander.

“The visit to the TPC and the Prime Minister facilitated an update on the overall situation, their activities and plans as well as their concerns,” the statement said, adding that the EPG was encouraged that the TPC appeared to be making some effort to overcome the delays in putting in place a number of the key institutions and entities required under the April 3 Accord.

These include the Provisional Electoral Council, the Government Action Oversight Organ, the National Security Council and the National Conference.

“The issue of the estrangement between some sectors and their Council representatives and the resulting friction was raised. The EPG also discussed the unease among the stakeholders resulting from the non-publication of the April 3 Accord, the absence of the proposed critical institutions, Council inaction, and the negative impact on the Council of its inaction on the allegations of corruption against three of its members.”

The statement said that a major concern articulated by both governance institutions was the difficulties experienced by the Haitian police and the Kenyan force in addressing insecurity.

“This remains the foremost expectation of the Haitian people. The common concern articulated was that the Kenyan force was both under-staffed and under-equipped and as a result lacked the capacity to hold reclaimed territory. The need for the provision of adequate funding for the MSSM for an early resolution of these equipment and personnel shortfalls was emphasised."

The statement said for his part, Prime Minister Garry Conile was acutely aware that the window of opportunity would not last long and that the people of the country expected delivery. “He made it clear that the lack of resources and the breakdown of State institutions were impediments, but that efforts were underway to address the critical socio-economic and humanitarian issues that beleaguered the population.

“The Prime Minister emphasised that, unless the issue of insecurity is resolved, progress in other critical theatres of government action would very likely be compromised,” the  PG said in the statement.

It said that in the meetings with the wide scope of civil society representatives and the political parties not represented in the TPC and government, there was the common view that what was needed was a reset and a reconfiguration of the TPC.

“There was unanimity with regard to the concerns and issues raised – the inability of the State to improve security; disappointment over the lack of impact of the presence of the Kenyan forces; the erosion of public confidence in the TPC, exacerbated by the corruption scandal and strident demands for the three Councillors to be withdrawn; increasing concern that because of delays, perceived as inaction,  the transition process would not meet its deadline of February 2026 for the seating of an elected president."

The statement said the political party representatives not linked to the TPC “decried the non-inclusive nature of the Council of Ministers and the pecuniary and other advantages that were likely to be enjoyed in the lead-up to elections by those political parties represented on the Council through their designated ministers.

“Delays in installing the critical institutions, the need for greater effectiveness in attaining the major objectives in the allotted time, and the corrosive impact of the allegations of corruption have contributed to the fragility of the transition process.

“The corruption allegations could not have come at a worst time, and will require speedy resolution in order to preserve the integrity of the institution and public confidence in the transition process,” the statement added.

It said in this regard, the enquiry of the anti- corruption investigative agency will be of critical importance.

“There needs to be a return to the ethos of the agreement in Jamaica of March 11, 2024, which was built on inclusiveness, consensus and accountability,” the EPG members warned.

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