Journalist questions call for Haiti PM to resign

By Kimone Witter    

 

Miami Herald Caribbean correspondent Jacqueline Charles is questioning the rationale of those calling for the removal of Haitian Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry without a succession plan.

 

Ms. Charles says the situation is complicated, as due to the deterioration of the country, those who had the ability to lead have left.

 

She says there is no elected official in Haiti who could lead the country out of the current crisis.

 

"The international community is saying, okay, we need you to go to elections so that you have somebody who is elected and sort of the buck stops with them. But how do you ask people to go to elections when they are under fire? If the current prime minister were to resign or be forced out, then who steps in? Do you end up having a gang member that steps in? Do you end up having somebody who, you know, sanctioned that steps in? Or, you know, there are other groups that are saying that they should lead. Okay, if they were to step in, will that stop the violence?" she questioned. 

  

On Monday, Haitian journalist and member of the Montana Accord Monitoring Bureau, Monique Clesca, told Radio Jamaica News that Dr. Henry should step down.

 

The Bureau has rejected a meeting invitation of Haitian stakeholders from CARICOM Pesident Dr. Irfaan Ali scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Jamaica, arguing that the agenda does not envisage the eventuality of replacing the de facto Prime Minister, as requested by practically all Haitian sectors. They claim Mr. Henry is hindering any serious perspective of unblocking the crisis.

 

But Prime Minister Henry has said security must first be re-established in order to ensure free and fair elections.

 

He has committed to hold elections by August 31 next year.