KINGSTON, Jamaica- Prime Minister of Haiti, Dr Ariel Henry is adamant that there is no more time to waste in returning his country— which is undergoing political and economic turmoil— to normalcy.

“So many people of our population have been adversely affected. We do not have any more time to waste, we need a national effort to take our country out of this infernal spiral. We have to start once again to become a normal country,” he said.

Henry was speaking at the opening ceremony for consultations with Haitian stakeholders being hosted in Jamaica from June 11 to 13. The meetings are being facilitated for Haitians to find a solution to the crises in the French-speaking Caribbean country.

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, with Henry taking office days after the killing, Haiti has been in the throes of political and economic crises. The country has been without any elected representatives since early January, and last held a presidential vote in 2016.

Henry noted that Haiti has been in this transition for almost two years “and it’s high time for us to start the process that will lead us to free democratic and inclusive elections.”

He noted that while some Haitians wanted to get to power without going through elections and to choose a new prime minister, there are others who felt it was necessary to first have an environment which is secure and safe so that the people of Haiti could themselves choose the men and women they want to lead them.

“We will be having general elections soon. The population must have trust in the process and that they must be sure that their votes will be taken into account. That is the indispensable solution for strong participation to have a certain legitimacy of the government for the future,” he said.

The Haitian prime minister argued that critics may claim “we are just longing for power,” but stressed that the aim is to have a national consensus to do away with corruption, change mentalities and to have a civic commitment.”

“We have…made the commitment to have a reshuffling within the government and the promise was done to have reforms for the civil service and that was done. Significant changes have been announced to bring order to diplomacy, and that will be done,” he said.

He further noted that changes and transformation will be done with the transition council he has installed to prepare for the elections, noting that it has also been ensured that there will be a transitional electoral commission that will be set up with personalities from different sectors of Haitian national life.

“We have to prove to our compatriots that we are serious. When we say that we want to give the people the right to pronounce on their own destiny today, once again, on behalf of the Government, I hold out my fraternal hand to you and invite you to work together with us to bring about the changes that I just mentioned,” he said to the Haitian stakeholders and Caribbean Community (Caricom) representatives present.

He further called on his Caribbean counterparts to work with the transitional council in “restructuring the economic apparatus, let us look at ways of financing political parties and candidates, help and contribute with political peace….[let us] talk about infrastructure, renewable energy, education; we are waiting for you. Haiti needs the contribution of every one of his daughters and sons.”

The Haitian consultations were endorsed by Caricom Heads of Government, following Jamaica’s offer to host the meetings during its participation in a mission to Haiti, led by Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in February this year.

As host, Jamaica is providing the venue for the consultations as well as arrangements to facilitate the attendees, who will include representatives from Haiti; the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), which comprises three former prime ministers, including Jamaica’s Bruce Golding; the prime ministers of The Bahamas; the Caricom secretary general; and representatives from international partners and donor support for Haiti.

The consultations themselves will only involve the Haitian stakeholders supported by the EPG with their requisite technical personnel.

The EPG, which is also comprised of former Prime Minister of St Lucia Dr Kenny Anthony and former Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie, has been tasked, along with a small team comprising the technical expertise in mediation, security, and political research supported by the Caricom Secretariat, to facilitate the consultations with Haitian stakeholders.

It is reported that rival gangs have taken control of up to 80 per cent of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, and have continued a deadly fight for more territory.

The United Nations reported that more than 840 people were killed in the first three months of this year, while more than 600 people have been slain in April alone. Also, more than 400 people have been kidnapped so far this year.

-Alecia Smith