UNITED STATES, CMC—Haitian Rapper Wycliffe Jean hopes that installing a transitional Presidential Council will help “pivot the nation away from past destructive practices.”
In a post on his social media account X (formerly Twitter), the foreign-based musician said the transitional presidential council “offers an opportunity to finally listen to and address the needs of the Haitian population, especially the most vulnerable.”
Haiti has been steeped in political turmoil and social unrest following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise on July 7, 2021.
Rival gangs have over-run the poverty-stricken French-speaking country, plunging citizens into further despair and forcing several foreign agencies to remove non-essential staff from their offices in Haiti.
Following the installation of the transitional Presidential Council on Thursday, interim Prime Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert said the country is at a crossroads and is searching for solutions to overcome the multidimensional political crisis.
In his post, Jean raised the concern that some of the transitional council members are believed to have contributed to the Haitian crisis but hastened to add that the council’s mere establishment was a step in the right direction.
“It is important to recognize that, while some elements of this alliance have been viewed as part of the problem, especially as the instigators and perpetrators of numerous violations that intensified systemic challenges, the establishment of the council represents a significant stride toward filling the governance void,” Jean wrote.
He said the first step toward achieving the broader goal of implementing constitutional reform and holding fair and credible elections within the two-year mandate is to stabilize the nation and deliver the “necessary aid to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, where over 1.4 million people are at risk of starvation.”
Jean called for a thoughtful, inclusive solution that reflects the Haitian context, includes representatives from all societal and walks of life, and fosters an environment that supports sustainable peace and development.
“It is important to me that we do not perpetuate a system of exclusion and inequity, as we ensure that everyone’s voice – especially those of the most vulnerable and the unheard, including voices from all factions and sectors – is represented in our efforts to address the challenges we face.”
Jean, who failed in his attempt to become a presidential candidate in Haiti in 2010, pledged his commitment to contribute to the discussion “particularly on security issues and peacebuilding efforts, and work towards solutions that honor and protect the interests of all involved parties.”
Following installing a transitional council in Haiti, seven countries officially notified the UN Secretary-General on Friday of their intention to contribute personnel to the Security Council-backed support mission for the crisis-wracked Caribbean nation.
The UN said Kenya has offered to lead the multinational mission, which aims to provide much-needed support to the national police in a bid to regain control of the streets from gang rule.
The UN said that the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica also pledged their support.
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