In a letter addressed to Caricom on Sunday March 31, 2024, allies of Prime Minister Ariel Henry plead in favor of the establishment of a president from the Court of Cassation to lead the transition, in place of the presidential council within which they are represented through the former senator Louis Gérald Gilles. These supporters of December 21, including Me André Michel, Marjorie Michel and Edmonde Supplice Beauzile, argue that the Presidential Council is struggling to be installed and is not unanimous among the population.
Despite their commitment to respect the Prime Minister’s decision to give up his place in favor of a Transitional Presidential Council, the signatories highlighted in this letter the numerous obstacles encountered in the establishment of this structure. Disagreements over the choice of members, as well as challenges to the legality of this body by eminent jurists, have tainted its credibility and raised questions, according to Ariel Henry’s allies.
“We believe that CARICOM and the partner countries which support these initiatives have sinned and jeopardized all the chances of success of their approach, by being content only to have the concept of this council of seven (7) and two ( 2) observers, without taking the trouble to obtain that the stakeholders formally sign an agreement on its mission, its organization, its operation and the duration of its mandate”, write Me André Michel, Marjorie Michel, Edmonde Supplice Beauzile and others .
Faced with these challenges, Ariel Henry’s allies argued in favor of the following formula: entrusting the presidency of the transition to a judge of the Court of Cassation, in collaboration with a Prime Minister and an inclusive government of national unity. They recalled that this formula had already been successful during tumultuous periods in the country’s history, notably between 2004 and 2006, when it made it possible to organize free and democratic elections.
The signatories of this correspondence also expressed their concerns about the future of the Transitional Presidential Council, highlighting the internal tensions and threats of dissension which weaken its cohesion, risking compromising its effectiveness. They warned against the risks of rapid breakdown or blocking of this structure, which seems more to be an external imposition, according to them, than a consensual choice negotiated between Haitian actors.
These supporters of December 21 wrote this letter while they have their representative within the Presidential Council, in the person of former parliamentarian Louis Gérald Gilles, candidate to become president of this transitional body.
In this letter, the signatories did not refer to their representative or specify whether they will ask him to resign from this responsibility.
It should be remembered that the majority of judges at the Court of Cassation, including President Joseph Lebrun, were appointed by Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
The correspondence bears the signature of the most fervent supporters of Ariel Henry including Michel André, Marjorie Michel and Edmonde Suplice.
In publications on X during the day of Monday March 1, Michel André and Levaillant Louis reaffirmed their support for Dr. Louis Gérald Gilles. According to information, the name of the former MP who withdrew in favor of Gilles had been associated with the document without his knowledge.
By: Daniel Zéphyr
