(Port-au-Prince) The Haitian Prime Minister on Monday justified his stay in power, in the midst of a legal vacuum seven months after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, saying that the crisis in this poorest country in the Caribbean did not allow of political distraction.
Posted at 6:56 p.m.
“The situation in the country is too serious to waste our time playing a game of musical chairs at the head of the state,” said Ariel Henry.
“No one has either the authority or the right to meet in a hotel or abroad to decide, in a small committee, who will be president or prime minister”, criticized the head of government, while calling for the dialogue.
Since the beginning of the year, several opposition groups have organized meetings, in Haiti and in the United States, to appoint leaders for possible transitional regimes.
This February 7 should have been a day of presidential handover, the Constitution retaining this date in memory of the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship in 1986.
But since the attack that cost the life of Jovenel Moïse this summer, the political class has been unable to find a consensus.
The streets of the capital Port-au-Prince were deserted on Monday by its inhabitants who feared possible violent demonstrations.
However, no major incident was reported in the city where several kidnappings and violent acts were committed by the gangs over the weekend.
Since July, Ariel Henry had already suffered from a lack of legitimacy, having not been officially installed in his functions, because he was appointed by Jovenel Moïse just two days before his assassination.
Today, his opponents challenge his retention in office beyond February 7.
Ahead of the Prime Minister’s address, the Senate Speaker said Ariel Henry only had authority until midnight, after which time he was to conduct only routine business.
But, faced with a divided opposition, and benefiting from the support of the international community, Ariel Henry renewed on Monday his plan to organize elections as soon as possible as well as a popular consultation for the adoption of a new constitution.
If he affirms that it is “in dialogue that the rule of law will (be) rebuilt”, the head of government recognizes that this political agenda requires a reduction in insecurity.
“We must stop all the terrorists who shoot innocent people who pass by, who kidnap both the elderly and children,” said Ariel Henry during his speech on Monday.
Haiti has been, for months, under the rule of gangs whose hold has extended far beyond the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince.