Thursday, April 25, 2024

TPC holds secret swearing-in ceremony at Haiti’s National Palace, as Ariel Henry’s government officially departs

After installation, the presidential council must, among other things, choose its president and prime minister, form an electoral council and ensure the deployment of the multinational security mission

HAITI TIMES
APR. 25, 2024



Overview:

In a surprising turn of events, the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) took oaths at the National Palace in Port-au-Prince rather than the announced venue, the government's Villa d’Accueil in Musseau. Now, the TPC, whose mandate extends until February 2026, is faced with restoring law and order, conducting elections, and addressing the escalating humanitarian crisis in the aftermath of Ariel Henry's exit.


PORT-AU-PRINCE — The nine members of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) were unexpectedly sworn in at the National Palace early Thursday morning, despite the ceremony initially being scheduled to take place at the government’s Villa d’Accueil in Musseau, a northeast suburb about 6 miles away from the center of the Haitian capital city. This surprising change was due to gang threats against the presidential palace, in Champs-de-Mars.

The ceremony was held at the National Palace amidst the sound of automatic gunfire in the vicinity. The TPC, now installed, will continue its operations from the Villa d’Accueil. This council is set to lead the country following over 30 months of governance by the outgoing government.

On the same day, a letter dated April 24 surfaced, announcing the official resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was stranded abroad due to gang attacks on the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. In his letter, Henry acknowledged the state of affairs and expressed sympathy for the losses and suffering endured by the Haitian people during his tenure.

“I hereby acknowledge the state of affairs and present the resignation of my government,” wrote Henry. “I sympathize with the losses and sufferings endured by our compatriots during this period.”

As Henry officially left, Michel Patrick Boisvert, the minister of Economy and Finance who has been running the government in the absence of the former PM since the end of February, was appointed as the interim Prime Minister by decree taken in the Council of Ministers issued in the Council of Ministers on April 24. He will hold this position until the formation of a new government, which will be established by the Presidential Council and a new transitional prime minister

Throughout the morning, automatic gunfire was heard in several areas of the capital, including Champ-de-Mars, Carrefour de l’Aéroport, and Delmas, which are controlled by gang leader and former police officer, Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier.

This transitional presidential council was formed from an agreement among Haitian political actors after at least five failed discussions mediated by regional Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders. The opposition, particularly the December 21 agreement and the outgoing government had remained firm in their positions, unwilling to make any concessions until March 11, following the outbreak of gang violence on February 29.

As the TPC begins its tenure, questions remain about its ability to address the numerous challenges ahead, including gang threats, holding elections in gang-controlled areas and dealing with the new political opposition. This opposition has persisted in demanding a judge from the Court of Cassation to lead the transitional period.
Haitians are waiting for results

The TPC now faces the daunting task of restoring stability and democratic order in Haiti. Former presidential candidate Clarens Renois urged the council members to overcome the longstanding issues of division and corruption in Haiti and focus on restoring security and rehabilitating the country’s dignity and democratic institutions.

“The members of the TPC must surpass themselves and master the old Haitian demons of division and corruption,” said Renois on Thursday. “The mission of the TPC is to restore security and rehabilitate our dignity and democratic institutions,” he added.

Meanwhile, calls are growing for the council members to deliver tangible results to extricate the Haitian population from the ongoing violence and political crisis that has persisted since the assassination of former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.

The December 4 Collective, which believed that a judge from the Court of Cassation was the appropriate choice, called on the new governance team to ” immediately restore security, economic recovery and the re-institutionalization of the country.”


“The new governance team must immediately restore security, economic recovery and the re-institutionalization of the country.”DECEMBER 4 COLLECTIVE

The organization also urged the new leaders to strengthen and supervise the Haitian National Police (PNH), which is tasked to provide public security, and the Haitian Armed Forces (FAD’H), which are responsible for national security and territorial integrity.
Urgent tasks awaiting the TPC

Per a political consensus signed by the engaged stakeholders on April 3, after its installations, the TPC will immediately take on the following task:Picking a president among themselves.Nominating a provisional prime minister who will form a new government.Working with the new government to establish a provisional electoral council (CEP). Supervising and guiding the major transition projects, which include public and national security, economic recovery, infrastructure rehabilitation, food and health security, national conference and constitutional reform, rule of law, justice, human rights, and elections to renew the country’s political personnel.Establishing a control body to oversee the actions of government members as soon as possible. taking steps to facilitate the deployment of the multinational security support mission to be led by Kenya against gang violence in Haiti.

However, many observers remain skeptical of the TPC’s effectiveness in tackling these various challenges and achieving the objectives set for the transition period to establish a climate of peace in Haiti.


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