In what is clearly its strongest statement yet on an interim government it helped create nearly three years ago, Caribbean Community leaders Tuesday lashed out at members of the transitional council trying to unceremoniously fire caretaker Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, dubbing the move unacceptable and untimely.
Issued by the Guyana-based regional secretariat, the leaders complained about ongoing efforts by several members of the council to oust the Prime Minister just two weeks before the mandate of the entire body expires on Feb. 7.
In condemning the move, the region now joins the U.S. and some western nations in warning council members about destabilizing the country at a time when heavily armed gangs are still wreaking havoc in the country, firing weapons on and hitting approaching aircraft, terrorizing urban neighborhoods and clashing with police and the military.
“The current impasse within the Haitian transitional presidential council, following the inconclusive efforts of some members to dismiss the prime minister, renders more complex an already fraught governance transition process. Meanwhile, the people of Haiti continue to suffer unimaginable violence and deprivation. This is unacceptable. It is crucial that stakeholders put aside differences to reach consensus,” the leaders stated.
Describing the situation as an unacceptable level of “internal turmoil taking place at the highest levels of the Haitian state at this delicate point in time,” the leaders argued that level-headedness in decision making should be a current priority, noting that such approaches “are urgently required of members of the Haitian executive. CARICOM’s foremost hope is for a halt to current fragmentation which works only for the benefit of the gangs, and for the restoration of lasting political stability, security and peace in Haiti, so that elections can be held, and attention re-focused on economic growth and sustainable development for the benefit of all Haitians.”
The latest developments come as the country is trying to prepare for the first elections in nearly 11 years and in the midst of a consolidated effort by the local military and police, assisted by security forces from various countries, led by Kenyan police officers, battling to retake some areas occupied by gangsters.
Late last week, the State Department revoked the visas of two unidentified council members for allegedly undermining the work of the council and for alleged links to gangs.
“These actions are being taken due to the TPC members’ involvement in the operation of gangs and other criminal organizations in Haiti,” said spokesman Thomas Pigott of the two.
“The Haitian people have had enough with gang violence, destruction, and political infighting,” the department declared, adding Washington “will pursue accountability for those who continue to destabilize Haiti and the region.”
CARICOM has, for the past three years been interfacing with its most populous and poorest member state through a three-man eminent persons group of mediators led by former St. Lucian Prime Minister Kenny Anthony.
The leaders reminded the council that the group remains open and available to Haitian stakeholders. “CARICOM calls on all Haitian stakeholders to put the future of their people and country above all else, and to act responsibly, and with urgency and patriotism,” the statement said.
The country’s security situation worsened considerably after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise at his private residence. He was among the last elected officials functioning in the nation.
