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Haiti Pushes Back on US Lawmakers' Call for Transitional Government in 2021

Sandra Lemaire

   Haiti's ambassador to the United States, Bocchit Edmond, is outraged
   about a statement issued Tuesday by three Democratic U.S. congressmen
   calling for a "Haitian-led transition back to democratic order."

   "It is really disturbing," Edmond told VOA on Wednesday in an exclusive
   interview. "It saddens us to see democratic officials call for a
   transitional government. We don't think that going through a transition
   again will help Haiti."

   Haiti has had eight provisional governments since the departure of Jean
   Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier in 1986.

   The[1] joint statement issued by Representatives Andy Levin, a member
   of the Foreign Affairs Committee; Gregory Meeks, incoming chair of the
   House Foreign Affairs Committee; and Albio Sires, chair of the Western
   Hemisphere civilian security and trade subcommittee, says they are
   watching events unfold in Haiti with "growing concern."

   "Haitian President Jovenel Moïse is pursuing an increasingly
   authoritarian course of action, issuing a series of recent decrees that
   include creating an extraconstitutional domestic 'intelligence' force,"
   the statement said. "His latest actions are reminiscent of past
   anti-democratic abuses the Haitian people have endured, including the
   run-up to the Duvalier dictatorship. We will not stand idly by while
   Haiti devolves into chaos."

   'Limit the decrees'

   Jon Piechowski, U.S. deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of
   Western Hemisphere Affairs, echoed that concern in an exclusive
   interview with VOA Creole earlier this week.

   "We are asking the government of Haiti to limit the decrees and only
   issue them to prepare the legislative elections or address issues
   pertaining to the well-being, health, security [of the Haitian people]
   until a new Parliament is installed and can address constitutional
   matters," Piechowski said.

   Moise has been ruling by decree since January 2020 because Parliament
   is out of session. The terms of two-thirds of the Chamber of Deputies
   and Senate expired months before the pandemic hit the Caribbean nation
   in March.

   In their statement, Levin, Meeks and Sires said they would work with
   the incoming Biden administration and international partners to develop
   a multilateral strategy to address those concerns and hold accountable
   Haitian officials who violate the people's human rights.

   The lawmakers said they would develop a U.S. policy that "prioritizes
   the rights and aspirations of the Haitian people and supports a
   credible, Haitian-led transition back to democratic order."

   Meeting expected

   Edmond told VOA he immediately reached out to the congressmen and
   intends to meet with them in the new year.

   "I am looking forward to talking with them in January," he said.

   Haiti has faced increased pressure from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo,
   the Organization of American States and the United Nations to hold
   elections as soon as technically possible.

References

   1. https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/levin-meeks-sires-statement-recent-developments-haiti

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