By Gazette Haiti, March 2, 2023
UNIR leader Clarens Renois was a guest of the program "Le Rendez-vous with Volcy Assad" yesterday. Renois says the December 21 Accord is signed by Henry's friends and allies, including former signatories of Henry's previous September 11 Accord. Renois believes that this agreement will lead nowhere.
Clarens Renois, senior journalist and political leader of the UNIR political party, was one of the initiators of a consensus that was meant to bring together the majority of the country's political parties. Despite months of negotiations, he did not sign the December 21 Accord. According to Renois, Henry's Accord cannot address the great challenges Haiti faces today.
“I was not in Haiti in December. I was asked to come and sign the December 21 Accord; to send by WhatsApp three names to sign the Accord”, remarking on the informal approach to sign an Accord.
From that point on, Renois says he asked to consult the Accord. "I said but it is not on this accord we're working on", Renois responded. He explained that UNIR eventually released a statement to the press clarifying that they did not support the December 21 Accord.
According to Renois, many changes were made in drafting the Accord. "We have considerably reduced the prerogatives of the High Council of the Transition and we have reduced the number of members it should contain".
For the good of the Accord, Renois says, it must meet the challenges of the day and providing real solutions to the crisis. “Generally, you sign an Accord with those who oppose you, not with friends and allies”, he criticized.
The December 21 Accord was largely signed by the signatories of the September 11 Accord. In addition, few of the signatories are not representative of the population.
Renois believes this Accord cannot lead to elections. He says "we have no choice but to continue the dialogue," he said.
Renois says this dialogue can be facilitated by several actors, including CARCICOM representatives and former British diplomat and CEO of the NGO "Inter Mediate". They ought to meet with other political actors, including the eight signatories to the January 30th declaration.
A few days ago, Port-au-Prince received a CARICOM delegation led by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. He met with several political leaders, including signatories and non-signatories of the December 21 Accord. “The intention to meet as many people as possible was good. PM Holness indicated that he wanted to have a better understanding of the crisis, ” Renois said.
According to Renois, Jamaican Prime Minister has made it clear that the political leaders do not have much time to resolve the crisis because the eyes of the international community are turned towards Ukraine for geopolitical interests.
A few days ago, the spokesperson for the Democratic and Popular Sector André Michel indicated that the December 21 Accord is sufficient and that non-signatories only have to participate in its implementation.
According to Renois, the signatories of December 21 must show political wisdom to find a solution to this crisis. Moreover, the very fact that Prime Minister Ariel Henry accepted the arrival of a CARICOM delegation in Haiti is proof that he recognizes that his December 21 Accord cannot help to curb the crisis.
Renois calls on the signatories of the December 21 Accord and those who have not signed this agreement to launch a frank dialogue with the goal of moving Haiti beyond the current political impasse. "We need an Accord that has a broader consensus," he believes.
translated by CHIP editors
Posted March 18, 2023