PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Eminent Persons Group (EPG) is returning to Haiti on Wednesday, a few weeks after it announced plans to provide a draft framework of accord for the consideration by the various stakeholders in the French-speaking CARICOM country.
The EPG, led by the former prime minister of St Lucia, Dr Kenny Anthony, includes the former prime minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, and his former Bahamian counterpart, Perry Christie. They will remain in Port au Prince until December 14.
Sources said that the new mission by the EPG is aimed at promoting the conclusion of an agreement between the stakeholders, noting that while the so-called “Collective of political parties” that has brought together several political parties is willing to participate in the latest round of discussions, it has rejected the draft transitional framework claiming that it is aimed at keeping Prime Minster Dr. Ariel Henry and the government in power…
The EPG members paid their third visit to Haiti from November 8-14, holding discussions with the various stakeholders to find a political compromise to stabilize the country and promote a democratic transition.
A statement issued following their last visit noted that 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 political actors, fully aware of this dire reality, continue their zero-sum approach to the efforts to reach an agreement that would bring an end to. “
But the EPG said it was buoyed initially on this latest visit “by the prospects raised by information that 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.”
The EPG said it sought to build on these points of agreement about transitional governance arrangements for free and fair elections.
It said these points included the widening and strengthening of the attributes of the High Transition Council (HTC) to bring about a better balance of executive power, the composition of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), 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 E{G said, adding that the governance concessions the Prime Minister was willing to make “were brushed aside, perceived as an effort to prolong his tenure.
“Based on the encouraging responses of stakeholders to a proposal made by the EPG in the course of the engagements, the Group 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 EPG said in its statement.
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