Haiti continues with its painful co-existence with violent armed gangs while politicians there continue their efforts to bring and end to this crisis.
A release yesterday from the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) announced that it had carried out its third visit to Haiti from November 8 to14, where the cycle of depredations and violence of the armed gangs continues, expanding to new areas and adding to the already high number of victims.
The three-member EPG consists of former Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Perry Christie; former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding; and former Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Dr Kenny D. Anthony.
It was pointed out that the political actors who are fully aware of this dire reality, “continue their zero-sum approach to the efforts to reach an agreement that would bring an end to the protracted political deadlock, opening the way to address the other facets of the crisis.”
The release said that the Group was buoyed initially by the prospects raised after receiving information that a tentative agreement had been reached on some critical areas of convergence following concessions made by Prime Minister Henry during informal discussions, led by a facilitator, which had taken place during their absence.
According to the release, the EPG sought to build on these points of agreement with regard to transitional governance arrangements for, free and fair elections. These points included the widening and strengthening of the attributes of the High Transition Council to bring about a better balance of executive power, the composition of the Provisional Electoral Council, the designation of a body to oversee government action, and the establishment of an inclusive government of national unity.
“It was immediately apparent in the course of the EPG’s discussions that the earlier intransigent position of some sections of the opposition group insisting on the resignation of the Prime Minister as a pre-condition for meaningful discussions still prevailed. The governance concessions the Prime Minister was willing to make, were brushed aside and perceived as an effort to prolong his tenure.”
However, based on the “encouraging” responses of stakeholders to a proposal made by the EPG in the course of the engagements, the Group says it will provide a draft framework of accord for their consideration and discussion that takes into account the points the stakeholders have raised in the course of these engagements, the release added.
The EPG was appointed by the CARICOM Heads of Government to represent them to extend the Community’s Good Offices to the Government of Haiti and Haitian stakeholders.
The mandate of the Group is to initiate and oversee the Community’s provision of Good Offices support in designated priority areas, including security, governance, the electoral process, and long-term development planning and advocacy. It will also liaise with key international partners and agencies.
The Group is supported by a technical team, comprised of experts from CARICOM Member States, the CARICOM Secretariat and regional specialised agencies.
