By Robenson Geffrard, Le Nouvelliste, August 25, 2023
Since the publication of the CORE group's famous communiqué on July 17, 2021, in which the it had clearly decided that Dr. Ariel Henry should lead the country and not Claude Joseph after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, the CORE Group has completely fallen off the radar. It has remained silent on the situation in Haiti over the past two years.
At the end of his mission in Haiti, the Canadian ambassador Sébastien Carrière, speaking last week on Radio Magik 9, revealed that the Core Group was uncomfortable with the way his way of communicating with the public...
Composed of the most powerful ambassadors and international organizations in Haiti, the CORE Group has issued virtually no joint communiqué on the country's situation since 2021. According to Carrière, it is normal for players in the diplomatic community in Haiti who share the same values and positions to consult each other and adopt joint strategies.
"I think concerted action is important here as elsewhere, perhaps a little more so here. Where Canada was becoming uncomfortable (Editor's note: uncomfortable within the Core Group) was regularly pronouncing on internal (Haitian) politics in public. I think this discomfort was shared by other members of the diplomatic community", Carrière confided during an interview on Radio Magik9.
Carrière, who left his post in Haiti this week, emphasized that "consultation continues, exchanges of information continue. This is normal. The way we communicate has changed... Everyone has their own voice", said Sébastien Carrière, referring to the members of the CORE Group.
Asked whether the Core Group as an institution continues exists, Carrière replied, "It's up to you to decree that as a journalist, the CORE Group hasn't issued a communiqué since 2021."
After the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse at his home on July 7, 2021, there was open conflict between Claude Joseph, the outgoing Prime Minister in office, and Ariel Henry, Prime Minister-designate of Mr. Moïse. The two men were battling over the management of power following the assassination of the Head of State.
It took the publication of the CORE Group's famous communiqué on July 17, 2021 to put an end to this conflict over succession and inheritance.
The Core Group's statement read: "the CORE Group (comprising the ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, the European Union, Spain, the United States of America, the Special Representative of the Organization of American States and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations) calls for the formation of a consensual and inclusive government. To this end, it strongly encourages Prime Minister-designate Ariel Henry to pursue the mission entrusted to him to form such a government."
"As Haiti faces grave perils, the members of the group express the wish that all political, economic and civil society actors in the country fully support the authorities in their efforts to restore security throughout the country, including in areas currently plagued by gang violence, to organize free, fair, transparent and credible legislative and presidential elections as soon as possible, and to ensure that every citizen benefits from adequate state services", the statement concluded.
Approximately forty-eight hours after the Core Group's formal statement, Claude Joseph was forced to step down as Prime Minister in favor of Ariel Henry. Henry and his government have been running the country alone since July 20, 2021.
Translated by CHIP editors
Posted Sept. 2. 2023