Canada’s new ambassador to Haiti, André François Giroux, senses a favorable wind for the different forces present in this country in crisis to reach common ground which will lay the foundations for free and democratic elections.
In an interview with The Canadian Press from the Pearl of the Antilles, he insisted that the de facto government led by Ariel Henry must, according to Canada, seize the opportunity of the future multinational mission led by Kenya.
“Now is the time to roll up your sleeves [et] to sit down, then start speaking the truth,” he says in French during a virtual interview organized in Canada’s two official languages.
The one who worked in 1999 on the Haitian issue when he was assigned to the United Nations in New York, maintains that “the stars are beginning to align” for the achievement of a consensus necessary for the initiation of an electoral process.
He is encouraged by the visit to Haiti this week of a delegation aiming to facilitate dialogue between the different parties. More specifically, it is the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Group of Eminent Persons (GPE).
“I think they made things happen,” Mr. Giroux said in English.
Faced with a crisis of insecurity, an outbreak of gang violence and endemic political tensions coupled with blatant food insecurity, Canada is calling for consensus. The goal — defended by Ottawa in every forum for more than a year —: to promote solutions developed by Haitians, for Haitians.
“From our point of view, when Haitian society gives us the feedback that “Yes, indeed, we have the critical masses here that are necessary to really move forward,” I think that will be enough for us.” , supports the ambassador.
Not up to Ottawa to decide on leadership
The legitimacy of Ariel Henry’s leadership is contested by many Haitians, underlines Liberal Party of Canada MP Emmanuel Dubourg, mentioning that the Prime Minister of Haiti has not been elected, nor have any MPs or senators.
Haiti’s last elections were before the COVID-19 pandemic. Former President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in July 2021 and Prime Minister Ariel Henry subsequently presented himself as leader.
“We understand that people tell us that the current Prime Minister is illegitimate. Okay, OK, but it’s not up to us Canadians to say who should replace him for what period or what. No ! “, said MP Dubourg, a Haitian of origin who represents the Montreal riding of Bourassa in the House of Commons.
According to him, Canada does not “unconditionally” support Ariel Henry. “This is the person who is here at the moment. So we are working with Ariel Henry in order to find this consensus, but if the Haitians decide otherwise, we will work with the people or the person that the Haitians would have chosen,” he continues.
Good luck to the Haitian National Police
Ottawa has yet to announce its contribution to the multinational mission to be led by Kenya, but Canadian officials said last month that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will likely send police officers.
A large part of the hundreds of millions of dollars promised by Canada since last year to stem the Haitian crisis is reserved for the Haitian National Police (PNH).
Ambassador Giroux affirms that the PNH was not initially designed to deal with such an increased presence of armed gangs. Over the years of its existence, he emphasizes that its mandate has also become more complex due to difficulties in retaining personnel and equipment that are often incompatible with each other.
“We should not discard the model” of the PNH, he believes, arguing that Canada now ensures better coordination based on a rigorous analysis of needs on the ground.
In the opinion of MP Dubourg, checks will need to be carried out along the way with the police.
“People tell us that there are some of these police officers who are part of gangs at other times of the day or in the evening, so we feel a little torn,” he says. to fall.
While it is banking on funding the PNH, Canada is mainly insisting on holding elections in order to lead to a lasting end to the crisis.
The MP emphasizes that Ottawa is “perfectly aware that there cannot be an election tomorrow morning.”
“First, we must resolve the security aspect if we want people to vote. […] However, for the moment, criminal gangs are calling the shots in Haiti. »
Support from Quebec
The Quebecer, who was also a member of the National Assembly under the liberal government of Jean Charest, mentions the special ties that unite the province to the Pearl of the Antilles.
The vast majority of members of the Haitian-Canadian diaspora are established in Quebec, he noted, and the province has welcomed them, historically, through immigration measures that have been favorable to them.
However, more recently, the federal government of Justin Trudeau did not hide its disappointment that Quebec decided to pass its turn to participate in a new initiative promised by Ottawa. The program, which will soon be launched, aims to bring in 15,000 migrants from the Hemisphere, including Haitians.
Mr. Dubourg still hopes that Quebec will eventually rally around the federal initiative. “We continue to work with them through the contacts I have, all that. We did not give up,” said the elected official.
The Quebec Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, Martine Biron, declared, in writing, that “Quebec has done its part, while respecting its resources”.
The latter recently announced that François Legault’s government is planning $4.8 million over three years to help Haiti. “The plan is exceptional and targeted support considering the worsening situation in this country. We believe that this is an effort that is within our means,” concluded Ms. Biron in a statement sent to The Canadian Press.
With the collaboration of Dylan Robertson