The transition in Haiti is hampered by disagreements between the personalities who should make up the future governing body, one of them told AFP on Monday, two weeks after the announcement of the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
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Appointed a few days before the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, Mr. Henry was highly contested. His mandate was marked by a rise in the power of gangs which were already ravaging the country and today control 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince.
He agreed on March 11 to give way to a “presidential transition council,” announced during a meeting between Haitian representatives and those of several countries and organizations including the Caribbean Community (Caricom).
But this council – which must have seven voting members representing the main political forces in Haiti and the private sector, in addition to two non-voting members – is struggling to see the light of day.
The political parties each managed to nominate their candidate after arduous negotiations and back-and-forths. A sign that the situation is changing, the list changed again this weekend.
From now on, the representatives differ on the personality who should be brought to head the presidential council, one of them told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The personalities met on Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning by videoconference and must meet with Caricom, still remotely, in the afternoon, according to the same source.
This meeting must focus on a political agreement which will serve as a framework document for the installation of the presidential council, said this representative.
According to him, the meetings made it possible to move forward on several points, including the criteria for becoming president of the council and for choosing an interim Prime Minister.
This weekend, Haiti’s ambassador to UNESCO, Dominique Dupuy, selected to represent the EDE/RED/Compromis historique coalition, announced that she was throwing in the towel.
The only woman chosen to serve on the council spoke of death threats against her family as well as misogynistic attacks.
She was replaced by Smith Augustin, former Haitian ambassador to the Dominican Republic.
After a weekend marked by intense exchanges of gunfire, relative calm reigned Monday in Port-au-Prince, where activities had resumed their course. However, schools and public administrations remain closed.