By Alterpresse, March 21, 2024
According to a statement received by Alterpresse, a number of feminist and human rights organizations [1] have expressed doubts about the integrity of some of the people who are expected to make up the Transitional Presidential Councill.
The organizations warn that "the presumed names cited for the composition of this Presidential Council, unfortunate recuperations of the various corrupt and criminal regimes that have governed us in recent decades, cannot be those who can offer the population this way out"..
The damage caused by more than 20 years of bad governance cannot be repaired by the same actors "who meticulously constructed our misfortunes and planned our destruction", the statement continue.
The women's and human rights organizations say they are calling for credible people to be appointed to the Transitional Presidential Council, and for a transparent process that will truly bring about the "break with the past" that Haitians are calling for.
Following the resignation of de facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry on Monday March 11, 2024, 7 personalities from various political sectors have been appointed as members of a Transitional Presidential Council, set up with the help of CARICOM.
Two others are expected to be appointed as observers to this body.
This Transitional Presidential Council, which will have to appoint a new interim Prime Minister, must not include anyone under international sanctions, who is opposed to the United Nations (UN) resolution in favor of the deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, or who wishes to be a candidate in the eventual elections.
The Transitional Presidential Council is made up of Edgard Leblanc Fils of the Collectif des partis politiques du 30 janvier 2023, Leslie Voltaire of the Fanmi Lavalas political party, Dominique Dupuy of the Résistance démocratique/Engagés pour le développement (RED/EDE) and Compromis historique groupings, Louis Gérald Gilles of the December 21, 2022 Accord, Fritz Alphonse Jean of the Montana Accord, Laurent St Cyr, who represents the private sector, and Emmanuel Vertilaire of the Pitit Dessalines political party, who initially refused to be part of the council.
On Wednesday March 20, 2024, there were two major changes in the composition of the Council.
Haiti's Permanent Delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Ambassador Dominique Dupuy, replaced Marie Ghislaine Mompremier on the Presidential Council for the RED/EDE grouping and political compromise.
Pastor Frinel Joseph and René Jean-Jumeau have been appointed as observers to the Transitional Presidential Council, respectively by civil society organizations and the Rassemblement pour une entente nationale et souveraine (REN).
Frinel Joseph was ultimately appointed to replace Pierre Jean Raymond André on this transitional body.
These feminist and human rights organizations argue that CARICOM and a section of the international community have no right to impose conditions on Haitians in order to integrate their own Presidential Council.
They demand a solution by and for Haitians, and respect for Haitian sovereignty.
"Only Haitians know what solutions are best to meet the current challenges, and have the interests of our people at heart", they say.
"The Haitian people, including Haitian feminists, have been calling for a breakthrough transition for over 7 years. A transition of rupture, which will put Haiti on the road to good governance, social justice, development and collective well-being", the statement explains.
They deplore the lack of political will and provisions to strengthen Haiti's legitimate institutions, which are called upon to defend and protect the population.
The political parties Rasanbleman sosyalis pou yon inisyativ nasyonal tou nèf (Rasin kan pèp la) and Konbit travayè peyizan pou libere Ayiti (Kontrapèp la) have denounced an attempt by the CARICOM to control the process of setting up a Transitional Presidential Council in Haiti.
Rasin kan pèp la opposes the criterion imposed by CARICOM, all those who will be members of the Presidential Council should support resolution 2699, which the United Nations (UN) Security Council voted on Monday October 2, 2023 to authorize an International Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti.
[1] The feminist and human rights organizations, which expressed this position on March 19, 2024, are: Nègès Mawon, feminist organization MARIJÀN, Kouraj pou pwoteje dwa moun (Kppdm), Organisation Trans d'Haiti (Otrah), Plateforme genre du Nord-Est (Pgne), Groupement antipatriarcal pour la justice, l'intersectionnalité, la paix et un ordre nouveau (GRANJIPON), Organisation pour l'émancipation des femmes à travers l'éducation (Oefe), feminist organization Dantò.
Translated and edited for clarity by CHIP editors
Posted March 30, 2024