Electoral process: COSHARCO and CSH accused of favouritism

CEP formation: COSHARCO and CSH favor opacity and cronyism

Trade union organizations, including the Union of Staff of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (SPEMENFP), the Union of Bailiffs of the Republic of Haiti (SHJRD’H), and the National Union of Normaliens of Haiti (UNNOH), wrote to the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) to demand a transparent and participatory process in the choice of the sector’s representative on the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP).

The organizations that signed the letter addressed to the CPT express their concern about the harmful actions of two trade union organizations responsible for coordinating the process leading to the choice of the person called upon to represent the trade union sector at the next CEP. In the official letter sent to these two sectors, it is clearly stated that the work must be carried out in the terms of reference: “Guarantee the inclusion and equitable representation of the various sectors of Haitian society in the electoral process,” the document reads.

Instead of getting down to work and fulfilling their mission in accordance with the terms of reference, the Collective of Haitian Trade Unions for the Respect of the 1987 Constitution (COSHARCO) and the Haitian Trade Union Coordination (CSH) prefer to get bogged down in cronyism and operate in almost total opacity. The leaders of organizations that endorse the correspondence denounce the leaders of COSHARCO and CSH who prefer to gather their friends in a closed circle to confidentially choose, without any form of transparency, a so-called representative for the trade union sector with a view to forming the CEP.

“This malicious move must not and will not go through. Endorsing such an approach would open the way to the repetition of possible electoral shenanigans likely to discredit the upcoming elections,” insist Garry Lapierre, Schelormith Dorvil, Ismaël Ernandes Auguste and Josué Mérilien, respectively leaders of SPEMENFP, SHJRD’H, RCENE and UNNOH.

Furthermore, the trade unionists who signed the note advocate the exclusive use of local funds for the financing of electoral operations as an essential condition for holding good elections in order to resolve the problems related to insecurity and foreign interference, among others. They urge the CPT to adopt the necessary measures to curb these excesses both at the level of the trade union sector and at the level of other sectors. The trade unionists demand that they be represented in the structure responsible for coordinating the process in order to guarantee transparency and the full participation of the sector.

According to the latest news, the denounced trade union organizations have chosen Nemrod Sanon to represent the unions in the CEP. The person concerned turns out to be a common unknown and a complete incompetent, denounce trade unionists.

Herve Noel
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