HAITI-CARICOM is concerned over the public rift between the TPC head and Prime Minister Conille

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC—The 15-member regional integration movement, CARICOM, on Monday said it is “deeply concerned” by the ongoing public differences between the President of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC), Leslie Voltaire, and Prime Minister Garry Conille.

“This growing lack of cohesion imperils the transitional process based on the spirit and the principles of compromise, consensus, and inclusiveness set out in the Political Agreement of 11 March 2024 in Jamaica and the Political Accord of 3 April 2024 drawn up by the Haitian stakeholders,” CARICOM said in a statement.

It said this “inappropriate and distracting conflict occurs when the insecurity and humanitarian crises deteriorate gravely.

“This further deepens and prolongs the despair of the Haitian people seeking a glimmer of hope and relief. These differences between the executive leaders also undermine confidence among Haiti’s partners and the wider international community, impeding the provision of the critical assistance that Haiti urgently requires to address and overcome the complex crisis it is presently mired”.

CARICOM warned that this “perilous moment in time calls for cohesiveness and joint focus in addressing the many challenges that obstruct the search for stability and progress towards the objectives of the transition.”

Last Friday, Voltaire, in a nationwide radio and television broadcast, gave a mixed assessment of the first six months of the transition and of the main projects in progress.

His address reviewed the security situation in the French-speaking CARICOM country, the efforts made to improve the judicial system, the management of public finances, and the adoption of the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 budgets.

He also spoke about the preparations for the next elections and the reform of the Constitution, among others.

Media reports in Haiti said Prime Minister Conille has refused the TPC head’s request to reshuffle the existing cabinet. Voltaire reportedly asked for the removal of the Ministers of foreign affairs, Haitians living abroad, Justice, Planning, Defense, Public Health, and Interior.

In its statement, CARICOM said that through the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), which is chaired by former St. Lucia prime minister Dr. Kenny Anthony and including the former prime ministers of Jamaica and the Bahamas, it is monitoring “these disquieting developments closely.”

The statement said that the EPG has “engaged with both the President of the Transitional Presidential Council and the Prime Minister to understand better the roots of the disagreement to guide its efforts at facilitation and a return to comity between the leaders of the executive.”

It said that the efforts of the EPG will continue for as long as required.

“Further, CARICOM calls on all the members of the Transitional Presidential Council and the interim government to remain focused on working for the Haitian people and the important task at hand, which is to lay the ground for free and fair elections by February 2026,” the statement added.