By Daniel Zéphyr, Gazette Haiti, Nov. 13, 2023
US Under Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the State Department, Brian Nichols offered a major endorsement for CARICOM's eminent personalities group.
In Nichols post on X (formerly Twitter) he stated that "the United States welcomes the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group Mission (EPGM) to Haiti, & applauds the steps taken to reach compromise & consensus on power sharing, inclusive governance & credible elections."
He also urged "all parties to seize this opportunity to restore democratic order."
Political parties and organizations have already met with the EPGM. The EPGM delegation is seeking to bring together the protagonists of the crisis with a view to reaching a political agreement before two important dates; the first anniversary of the December 21 agreement, and the fateful date of February 7, 2024.
Previously, informal meetings were also held in an attempt to find the broad outlines for a possible agreement.
These informal meetings produced a document. This document, which has now been sent to the drafting team, proposes a five-member Transition Council (TC) with presidential powers. It would include "a representative of December 21, a representative of the private sector, a representative of the Collectif [Kingston Joint-Declaration], a representative of Fanmi Lavalas, and a representative of the Montana Accord (or the diaspora)."
Its responsibilities will be to: With the members of the government, sign the decrees and orders, and the agenda of the Council of Ministers; Appoint a Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) in the spirit of article 289 of the Constitution from a list of qualified candidates submitted by the following organizations: the Episcopal Conference, the Reformed Cults, the human rights sector, the universities, [the Court of Cassation (CSPJ)], the Federation of Bar Associations and the Magistrates' Association, the Journalists' Association, the diaspora, employers' associations, the Vodou sector, and set the election date, on the basis of the CEP's technical opinion, which will subsequently be published in Le Moniteur newspaper; Preside over the National Security Council; Define and propose with the Prime Minister a government of national unity from a list of personalities chosen on the basis of criteria of competence, integrity and tolerance.
Up until yesterday, some had rejected the proposed agreement, arguing that it was simply a document designed to reinforce Prime Minister Ariel Henry's power.
Translated and edited for clarity by CHIP editors
Posted Dec. 5, 2023