Exclusive: Haiti's PM Henry Asserts Sole Authority in Appointing Transitional Council
Prime Minister Ariel Henry reaffirms the constitutional mandate granting exclusive authority to him and his cabinet in selecting a transitional council for power transition in Haiti, as confirmed by his office in an exclusive statement to CNN.
Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry has stated that according to the country's constitution, only he and his cabinet have the authority to appoint a council for the transition of power. This exclusive information was shared with CNN by Henry's office on Wednesday.
Following a meeting with regional Caribbean leaders on Monday, Henry has agreed to step down from power once a transitional council is established. This council will be responsible for setting the groundwork for future elections in Haiti, which has been experiencing widespread violence and a breakdown of social order in recent weeks.
Henry’s office clarified to CNN that only he and his cabinet have the authority to appoint the transitional council. They emphasized that the country will not be handed over to new leaders without following constitutional procedures.
Jean Junior Joseph, special adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Henry, explained to CNN that according to the Haitian constitution, only the prime minister and his cabinet can appoint the transitional council. While the PM has expressed his intention to resign along with his cabinet, the process must be carried out in a proper manner.
"We will not hand over the country to a select few without following the proper procedures. Even though we are facing challenges as a nation, it is crucial that we abide by the law and lead by example," he explained.
According to Henry's office, Article 149 of Haiti's constitution specifies that in the event the president is unavailable, only the ministerial cabinet is authorized to make decisions in his absence.
“The council will have to go through the same process he went through when Ariel Henry became PM,” the statement said.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry speaks to students during a public lecture on bilateral engagement between Kenya and Haiti, at the United States International University Africa, in Nairobi, on March 1.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry recently gave a public lecture at the United States International University Africa in Nairobi on March 1. The lecture focused on discussing the bilateral engagement between Kenya and Haiti. During the lecture, Prime Minister Henry had the opportunity to speak to students and share his insights on the topic. The event was a valuable opportunity for both countries to exchange ideas and strengthen their relationship.
The United Nations secretary-general’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, stated on Wednesday that the transitional council established under the CARICOM agreement for Haiti is the way forward.
Dujarric addressed concerns about whether this announcement hinders Haiti's political transition towards elections by emphasizing that it is not the role of the secretary-general or the UN to impose a solution on the people of Haiti. He pointed out that previous attempts to do so have not been very successful.
Henry became the leader of Haiti in 2021 after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. However, his time in power has been troubled by increasing gang violence. The situation worsened when he postponed elections, citing concerns about the country's safety. This decision angered protesters who had been calling for his resignation as Haiti continued to suffer from poverty and disorder.
When the violence escalated in early March, Henry was in Kenya to finalize a deal to send 1,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti for security restoration. However, their deployment was delayed after Henry announced his resignation on Tuesday.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, speaks to students during a public lecture on bilateral engangement between Kenya and Haiti, at the United States International University (USIU) Africa, in Nairobi on March 1, 2024.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry gave a public lecture to students at the United States International University (USIU) Africa in Nairobi on March 1, 2024. The lecture focused on discussing the bilateral engagement between Kenya and Haiti.
During the lecture, Prime Minister Ariel Henry highlighted the importance of strengthening ties between the two countries and fostering a collaborative relationship. The event provided an opportunity for students to learn more about the diplomatic relations and potential partnerships between Kenya and Haiti.
The lecture was well-received by the audience, with many students actively engaging in the discussion and asking insightful questions. Overall, the event served as a valuable platform for promoting cultural exchange and understanding between Kenya and Haiti.
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After Monday's CARICOM meeting, it was decided that a transitional council would be set up with certain presidential powers, like appointing a new interim prime minister. This council would work towards organizing elections in the country for a fresh start, although the timeline for this is uncertain.
Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier, who leads the gang alliance called Viv Ansanm ("living together"), stated on Monday that his group would not accept any government formed through the CARICOM agreement.
Henry reached an agreement in Puerto Rico last week, while gangs besieged Haiti's main airport to block his return. Amidst the chaos, the Dominican Republic is the only country deporting people back to Haiti, as reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In March, the Dominican Republic deported 4,151 people to Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with its neighbor. Among those deported, the majority were men, along with 716 women, 45 boys, and 55 girls.
According to IOM data, there seemed to be no response from Dominican authorities to the deteriorating conditions in Haiti. For example, on March 4, the day after Haiti declared a state of emergency, 640 Haitians were deported.
The United Nations expressed opposition to the Dominican Republic's recent deportations, stating that forcibly displacing people back to a country deemed unsafe is not acceptable.
In response, the UN's office in Haiti announced the establishment of an air bridge between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This air bridge will help UN staff and humanitarian aid move more easily between the two countries. Additionally, it will assist in relocating some UN staff temporarily from Haiti and bringing crisis management personnel into the country, according to BINUH.
Aid is now arriving in the country after a major Haitian port terminal, previously breached by looters and protesters, was brought back under government control on Monday.
The World Food Program (WFP) conducted its first maritime aid operation since late February from Port-au-Prince to the south of Haiti on Monday. According to a post by WFP's Haiti director Jean-Martin Bauer on Tuesday, eight trucks carrying medical supplies were transferred by ferry to be distributed to 80 health facilities.
Food and other aid previously couldn’t enter the Haitian capital by sea due to the interruption of maritime ports, Bauer explained.
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The ongoing political crisis in
