PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC—The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has called for support for efforts to ensure free and fair democratic elections in Haiti as the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country moves towards ending the ongoing political and socio-economic crisis.
“No effort must be spared to support the steps which aim to lead this country towards the holding of democratic elections which give the authorities the legitimacy to be able to undertake their reconstruction process,” Cardinal Parolin said as he addressed a high-level international conference on the crisis in Haiti, organized by the Academy of International Catholic Leaders and the Latin American Conference of Religious over the weekend.
The cardinal said, “The crisis hitting Haiti is hitting a poor and desperate population with the collapse of the health system, the lack of food, and the violence.
“The truth is that the current humanitarian tragedy is causing a state of more than a million and a half inhabitants threatened with acute malnutrition and has generated an unprecedented exodus,” he told the conference.
Lesly Voltaire, who was one of two members of the recently sworn-in nine members of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) tasked with ensuring that the French island holds free and fair elections next year, told the conference the current power of “urban guerrilla warfare and terrorism which manifests itself in kidnappings, rapes of children and women, thefts and fires” and which benefits from the support of part of the police and “economic elites who profit from this terror.”
Another CPT member, Régine Abraham, said in addition to all the proposals presented by the various leaders, there is a need to emphasize “the recovery of the dignity of Haitians” and the provision of tools for the resilience of the people.
He said this would include international aid to guarantee security, comprehensive assistance, social, economic, and psychological support, construction of infrastructure and housing, a sustainable economy, a nutritional plan, strengthening of the education system, and strengthening of the health system.
Vice President of the Haitian Episcopate and Bishop of Anse-à-Veau and Miragoâne, Monsignor Pierre-André Dumas, speaking from the hospital bed where he is recovering from an attack suffered a few weeks ago, said, “My people are suffering a lot, so many children have lost their lives, so many women are suffering violence.
“We must help build a strong democracy in Haiti, and the violence and security must stop,” Mgr. Dumas said, calling for “normalcy in people’s lives, as people live hidden in their homes.”
He outlined four key points to deal with the current situation: a paradigm shift in Haiti’s relations with other countries, particularly with the United States, guaranteeing the stability of institutions, building an economic engine, and respecting the rules of the game.
The political advisor for Latin America of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Christopher Lundquist, reiterated the call for “the deep solidarity of the Church of the United States with the people of Haiti” and appreciated the “heroic work” of volunteers who give their lives to move Haiti forward.
President of the Academy of Catholic Leaders, Roco Buttiglione, told the conference, “Haiti needs international aid, but no one listens.
“The minimum level of international solidarity is lacking. The Haitian people are outside the circle of production of international wealth; that is why none of the powerful of this world cares whether they live or die,” he said.
He said he supports the proposal that “Fratelli tutti” becomes the axis of the reconstruction of Haiti where “Christian communion presents itself as a reference to unite this person and restore to each person their dignity in daily life.”
Among other participants at the conference were former presidents Felipe Calderón (Mexico), Eduardo Frei Montalva (Chile) and Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Echeverría (Costa Rica) as well as the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States and former Nuncio to Haiti, Cardinal Christophe Pierre and the Vatican Ambassador to the United States, Cardinal Emeritus of Madrid, Carlos Osoro.
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