EVANSTON, Illinois (CMC) – A broad coalition of Haitian groups in the Haitian Diaspora wants an urgent resolution of the current political crisis in the country, saying that Haiti has “crumbled under the weight of this acute crisis”.
The group known as the United Front of the Haitian Diaspora (UFHD), based in Evanston, Illinois, claimed in an emailed resolution to nationals on Sunday that “anarchy and stagnation prevail everywhere”.
“President (Jovenel) Moise and his administration can no longer resolve the crisis without radical changes,” said UFHD, stating that its mission is “to mobilise Haitians living in the Diaspora, our children, our friends and allies to help Haiti develop”.
“So, as much as we are constitutionalists, we think that the president has to come to term with that reality and be compassionate, and make his contribution to stability and end the carnage,” it added.
UFHD claimed that Moise does not have the capacity to maintain a stable government to manage the affairs of the nation in the best interests of citizens for more than a year, adding that “that such a situation has led him to the successive nomination of prime ministers but yet powerless to obtain ratification at the level of Parliament, in spite of the fact that he has had a clear majority.”
It also said that Moise has been incapable of addressing the root causes of the nation’s deteriorating social-political crisis and its acute economic collapse, and is “powerlessness of bringing together divergent forces within the society to find solutions in spite of his attempt to create various commissions that bore no results, such as the Etat Generaux, the Commission de Consultation, etc, and others.”
UFHD noted that, since July 2018, there have been intensive demonstrations against the government to protest rising costs of living, taxes on fuel, “rampant or blatant corruption gone unpunished (the Petro Caribe dossier), and accusations of corruption levelled against the president and his entourage.”
The group said such demonstrations and failure to address their roots causes have resulted into significant loss of lives, properties, and trade and business opportunities, and disruption of basic services, including access to schools by children.
In addition to the failure of the executive branch, UFHD said the Legislature (Chamber of Deputies and the Senate) has shown its “inability to perform its basic functions,” including passing the budget, enacting legislation, voting to amend the constitution to achieve significant changes and sanctioning members for illegal acts.
UFHD said the judiciary has also been “disappointing” for its failure to pursue corrupt members of the executive branch and representatives of the civil society accused of corruption or misappropriation of funds.
Given that “a large majority of the population demands the unconditional resignation of the president,” among other things, the coalition proposed a consultative process, in the very short term, “aimed at coordinating our efforts with those of other movements with similar views as our own.”
UFHD said the consultation will be aimed at reaching points of agreement on initiatives to address the current situation, to formulate a specific set of proposals and to inform the entire population about such immediate proposal to resolve the crisis.
The group also called for the establishment of an Emergency Representative Management Council (Representative Council) composed of personalities and, in observance of the spirit of the constitution, headed by a reputable member of the Court of Cassation.
UFHD said this council must include representatives from key sectors of the population, both inside and outside the country, who will take charge of administering the transition.
In this transition, UFHD said President Moise must transfer power to the Council peacefully “and have the opportunity to legally respond to charges against him.”
UFHD also wants the Acting Prime Minister to resign from his post “in order to allow a new, acting, appropriate Interim Prime Minister to manage the day-to-day affairs of the country in collaboration with the Representative Council.”
In addition, the group wants the new Interim Prime Minister, in consultation with the Representative Council, to establish a Permanent Electoral Council (CEP) that will include members of the Diaspora.
