The three former Prime Ministers appointed by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to carry out the Community’s good offices function in Haiti continue to do so while the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) and the Interim Prime Minister are in office.
The Eminent Person Group (EPG), comprised of former Prime Ministers Dr. Kenny Anthony of St. Lucia, Bruce Golding of Jamaica and Perry Christie of the Bahamas, continues to work with Haitian stakeholders to assess the current political climate in Haiti.
HE Edgard Leblanc Fils, President of the TPC, who attended the 47th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Grenada, said the TPC is preparing to implement the transitional electoral system – a process that will enable Haiti to hold general elections by the end of 2025.
He said the TPC had also launched a nationwide constitutional review process to redefine the relationship between the state and its people. These efforts came against the backdrop of the difficult situation in Haiti, marked by gun violence in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other villages, Mr. Leblanc Fils said at the press conference concluding the meeting.
“Our goal is to get Haiti out of this situation,” said the TPC President, thanking CARICOM, Kenya, the Republic of Benin, Jamaica and other partners for their cooperation in the Multinational Security Assistance Mission currently deployed in Haiti.
In a communiqué issued following the meeting, CARICOM Heads of Government noted the arrival of approximately 400 security personnel from Kenya in Haiti in support of the UN Security Council-authorised Multinational Security Assistance Mission, as well as the funding gap for the deployment of security assistance personnel from CARICOM Member States.
The Heads of Government also expressed deep concern about the dire humanitarian situation, which is exacerbated by acute food shortages. They reiterated their commitment to support Haiti during the transition process and beyond, including through continued support to the EPG.
During this interaction with the media, Mr. Leblanc Fils expressed his appreciation for the work of CARICOM and the EPG, which he said drove the negotiations and discussions between the government of former Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry, and the various opposition groups. These negotiations culminated in a government formula developed by Haiti itself, following the agreements reached on March 11 in Kingston, Jamaica, at the High Level Conference on Haiti.
