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Haiti Opposition Rejects Support of Prime Minister-designate

Sandra Lemaire

   WASHINGTON/PORT-AU-PRINCE - Some members of Haiti's opposition say they
   will not supportPrimeMinister-designate Ariel Henry, whomPresident
   Jovenel Moise named to the position a day before he wasassassinated.
   Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph has led the country since the
   presidentwas killedinside his private residence in the early hours of
   July 7.

   On Saturday, the influential [1]CORE group issued a statement,
   callingfor the formation of a "consensualand inclusivegovernment." The
   CORE group is comprised of ambassadors from the United States, Canada,
   France, Germany, Spain, the European Union, Brazil, and the
   representatives of the United Nations,as well as the Organization of
   American States.

   "To this end, we encouragePrimeMinister-designate Ariel Henry to pursue
   the mission he was charged with to form this type of government," the
   statement said.

   "Although Haiti faces grave danger, the members of the group express
   their hope that together, the political, economic and civil society
   actors of the country will support their officials as they work to
   reestablish security," the statement added.

   Henry, a 71-year-old neurosurgeon, addressed the nation on Sunday,
   identifying himself as prime minister and promising to announce
   hisCabinet soon.

   "In short order, I will announce the members of my consensual
   government who will occupy their posts for a brief period of time,
   until we hold elections to choose our next president," Henry said.
   "Over the past fewdays,I have met with leaders from all sectors of
   civil society as well as politicians and members of the private sector.
   I intend to continue these discussions because it is the only way to
   unite as a Haitian family."

   In response to a question posed by VOA Creole during a Port-au-Prince
   press conference on Friday, Joseph deniedwanting to stay in power.

   "I do not have any personal ambitions.I am not a member of
   anyparticular politicalparty.Jovenel Moise named mecharged'affaires,
   Jovenel Moise named me foreign minister,and it is underJovenelMoise
   that I became prime minister. I have no ties to any political party,"
   Joseph told VOA.
   Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph gives a press conference, July 19,
   2021.

   Itwasnot clear when Joseph wouldstep down.

   Opposition rejects CORE group, PM designate
   Former Senator Serge Jean Louis of the FronNasyonalDemokrasi(FND) party
   rejected outright the CORE group's statement Monday.

   "I am almost sure that no one in the opposition supports this because
   it's a road to nowhere. This is just another PHTKgovernment(the party
   of Moise)--with the same orientation," he told VOA.

   Lawyer Caleb Jean Baptiste,who heads a legal group dedicated to
   defending prisoners and human rights,also rejectedtheCORE group
   statement.

   "The CORE group is not Dessalines (Haitian revolutionary war hero), it
   is not Henry Christophe (Haitian revolutionary hero), it is not
   Haitian, they are interfering in our country, they are violating the
   OAS charter,they are violating all the agreements that we have signed
   and ratified, the CORE group does not have the right to do that," Jean
   Baptiste told VOA.

   VOA Creole reached out to both Henry and Joseph for comment but did not
   get a response.

   Funeral preparations

   Meanwhile, in Cape Haitian, preparations for Moise's funeral
   onFridayare underway. VOA Creole's reporter in the northern city saw
   stands being built toaccommodateVIPs who will be attending the official
   ceremony on Friday.

   VOA also visited the cemetery where the president will be laid to rest
   next to his father, Etienne Moise, who passed away on October 4, 2020.
   It was the president's desire to be buried next to his father, his
   family said.

   First lady Martine Moise returned to Haiti on Saturday from Miami,where
   she was treated for wounds sustained during the attack thatresulted in
   her husband's death. Dressed in black, protected by an anti-bullet vest
   and with her arm in a sling.Shewas greeted at the airport by Joseph,
   with whom she has been in frequent contact since the assassination.

References

   1. https://binuh.unmissions.org/fr/communiqu%C3%A9-du-core-group-4

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