HAITI-OAS adopts resolution on Haiti

WASHINGTON, CMC – The Organization of American States (OAS) Friday adopted a resolution that acknowledges the signing, on December 21, last year, an accord entitled, ‘National Consensus for an Inclusive Transition and Transparent Election” by the government and representatives of the business sector, social sector, and political parties in Haiti.

The resolution, adopted by acclamation by all the OAS member states, also seeks to encourage further inclusion and participation of those stakeholders in Haiti who still need to sign the Accord while also moving forward with implementing the structures outlined in the Accord.

Prime Minister Henry signed the political agreement last December, with the signatories agreeing to a 14-month transition period that would include the holding of new general elections in 2023 and the entry into office of a newly elected government on February 7, 2024.

In addition, the agreement provides, among other things, for the establishment of the High-Level Transition Council (HCT) and a body for the Control of Government Action (OCAG), proving a “political balance” in the country. Three members of the HCT were installed earlier this week.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the OAS told the special meeting of the Permanent Council on Haiti that his delegation had been pleased to” participate with other colleagues in drafting and negotiating the text of the resolution.”

He said that the situation in Haiti is grave and that the activities of more than 200 gangs, their control of large parts of Haiti, including more than 60 percent of the capital as well as their utter contempt for the rule of law “cannot be tolerated by any of our member states.”

He said action must be taken urgently to address the situation and that Antigua and Barbuda “profoundly regret that the United Nations Security Council has failed to respond to the security and humanitarian crises that engulf Haiti and the Haitian people.

“At the same time, we are also concerned that the authorities in Haiti – and other parties – have not been able to achieve the unity of purpose and common cause that Haiti urgently needs,” Sir Ronald said, noting that while St. John’s welcomes the Accord, which was signed on December 21, last by representatives of the Haitian governments and some representatives of the private sector, political parties and civil society, for an “Inclusive Transition and Transparent Elections,” “we are troubled that the process is not inclusionary enough.

“We are troubled by reports of collaboration between some politicians and members of the private sector with some of the criminal gangs. If these reports are true, they do not bode well for a swift end to the rule of crime and terror that now overwhelms the country, especially its law enforcement agencies.”

Sir Ronald said that Antigua and Barbuda is also worried that Haiti no longer has an elected legislature and that its judiciary is dysfunctional.

“That there is no oversight or accountability by those who form the government could be more helpful to building national confidence and consensus. This situation cannot continue.

“For without national confidence and solid support for the institution of government, it will be tough – if not impossible – to challenge and overcome the criminal gangs and their collaborators, who now hold the entire country hostage.

“And, we caution Haitian leaders, from all sectors, that the world expects them, acting together, to create the blueprint for Haiti’s future,” the Antigua and Barbuda diplomat said, adding that while friendly governments can help, “Haitians must do the necessary and constructive work.”

Sir Ronald said that the resolution “strongly shows for the plight of the Haitian people, and the readiness of member states – each within their capacity – to act urgently in assisting in efforts of the Haitian authorities to restore order and security.”

The resolution reiterates the position adopted by the OAS General Assembly on October 6, last year, on the security situation in Haiti and hemispheric cooperation for preserving democracy and the fight against food insecurity.

It notes that “any solution to the current multidimensional crisis in Haiti requires the efforts of all stakeholders of the Haitian nation, including the government, the opposition, civil society, women’s organizations, and the private and religious sectors.”

The resolution notes the request by the Haitian government on October 9 last year to the OAS Secretary-General, Luis Almagro, for “effective support from Haiti’s international partners in the form of the immediate deployment of a specialized armed force of sufficient strength to stop, throughout the country, the humanitarian crisis that has been caused by, among other things, the breakdown in security resulting from the criminal actions of armed gangs and their sponsors.”

It also notes the report released in January this year by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) regarding the situation of human rights in Haiti, calling on the HCT “to coordinate a political dialogue aimed at broadening the consensus surrounding this accord and ensuring it is as inclusive as possible.”

Further, the resolution seeks to encourage the United States and other member states “to contribute, as appropriate, resources and capacity, to act urgently in supporting the Haitian authority’s efforts to restore order and security.”

The resolution also agreed to the establishment by February 22 of a Working Group of the Permanent Council to serve as a mechanism for regular meetings of the OAS on the situation in Haiti as well as to invite the Haitian government “to establish and maintain a regular ongoing dialogue with the “Working Group on Haiti” to facilitate support by OAS member states, permanent observers, and the General Secretariat for free, fair, and credible, elections and democratic transition in Haiti, noting the targeted date of February 7, 2024, as agreed on the December 21, 2022, accord. “

The OAS Working Group on Haiti, with the assistance of the General Secretariat, will convene by March 17, a Security, Humanitarian, Electoral, and Democracy Assistance Dialogue with the participation of the Haitian government and the HCT “to permit the Council to provide OAS member states, permanent observers and the General Secretariat with information regarding the priority areas of assistance required to enable and ensure inclusive participation of Haitian stakeholders in arrangements for inclusive and, free, fair and credible elections and democratic transition.”

The resolution also urges the OAS General Secretariat to provide the necessary support to the Permanent Council Working Group on Haiti to fulfill its assigned responsibilities and that the Working Group provide a report to the Permanent Council by March 31, 2023, and thereafter on a quarterly basis.