HAITI-EPG warns of “hardened” positions by some stakeholders in Haiti

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Eminent Persons Group (EPG) has ended a five-day visit to Haiti, expressing disappointment that the tone of the discussions with the stakeholders in the French-speaking CARICOM country “had hardened and that the positions of some stakeholders had regressed significantly.”

The EPG is led by the former prime minister of St. Lucia, Dr. Kenny Anthony. It includes the former prime minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, and his former Bahamian counterpart, Perry Christie.

It has been tasked, along with a small team comprising technical expertise in mediation, security, and political research supported by the CARICOM Secretariat, to facilitate consultations with Haitian stakeholders.

At their summit in Trinidad and Tobago in July, CARICOM leaders had “expressed “grave concern over the deep humanitarian, security and governance crisis” in Haiti.

Last year, Haiti’s Prime Minister, Dr. Ariel Henry, sent an urgent appeal to the UN asking for “the immediate deployment of a specialized armed force, in sufficient quantity” to stop gang warfare in his country.

In a statement Monday, the EPG said that it had been “encouraged by the positive steps made in previous meetings with the Haitian stakeholders in Jamaica in June and in Haiti in July and by the outcome of informal discussions among the stakeholders which had taken place in August to reduce differences as had been recommended by the Group.

The three-member Group returned to Haiti on September 4 for a five-day visit with the “intention of building on this political platform, fragile though it was, to make progress in the search for a sustainable solution to the long-standing political impasse.”

But the EPG said it was “disappointed that the tone of the discussions had hardened and that the positions of some stakeholders had regressed significantly, reflected in the strident calls for the resignation of the Prime Minister.

“These developments coincided with the alarming deterioration of the security situation in Port-au-Prince in August and the deepening of the humanitarian crisis in the country.

“In this impaired political environment, the agreed commencement of intensive mediation meetings with reduced groups of participants was delayed by the setting of conditions and non-compliance with the agreed limits on the number of persons to be present in a new phase of intensive mediation.”

The EPG said that following intensive discussions, including one that brought together Prime Minister Henry, representatives of the December 21 Accord, the Joint Declaration of Kingston, and civil society, “an agreement was reached on the arrangements for the intensive mediation meetings to commence on September 12.

“This phase of the negotiations will be facilitated initially by the EPG by video conference and subsequently in person by the EPG should the stakeholders so request,” the statement said.

The EPG said it remains “hopeful that with determination, goodwill, and a recognition that the interests of the people of Haiti must be the overriding concern of all stakeholders, a solution can be found to restore Haiti on a path of constitutionalism and democracy.”

Earlier this month, the United Nations relief chief, Martin Griffiths, said the “carnage in Haiti needs to stop,” warning that Haiti is in the grip of “extreme brutality,” with gang-related violence continuing to force thousands from their homes amidst widespread suffering.

The UN said that this year, gang violence in the Caribbean has claimed more than 2,500 lives, with over 1,000 injured. At least 970 Haitians have been kidnapped, and 10,000 forcibly displaced from their homes.