CARICOM's Eye on Haiti: A Tale of Transition and Tribulation

GEORGETOWN, Guyana. August 20, 2024 - In the sweltering heat of August 2024, as the Caribbean sun beat down on Port-au-Prince, the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group (EPG) embarked on a six-day odyssey through the labyrinth of Haitian politics. This wasn't just another diplomatic jaunt; it was a critical mission to take the pulse of a nation in flux.

The Stage: A Delicate Dance of Democracy
At the invitation of Haiti's Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) and urged by a chorus of stakeholders, the EPG traded their virtual meeting rooms for the gritty reality of Haiti's streets. Their goal? To peer behind the curtain of progress reports and get a front-row seat to the unfolding drama of Haiti's transition.

The Cast: A Motley Crew of Power Players

The EPG's dance card was full to bursting. They waltzed with the bigwigs of the bicephalous executive, tangoed with the top brass of the Haitian National Police, and even squeezed in a quickstep with the Minister of Women's Affairs. But the real meat of their mission lay in the frank exchanges with a veritable who's who of Haitian society:

• Nominating sector leaders (the kingmakers of the political chessboard)
• Political parties left out in the cold (not on the TPC, not in the government)
• Civil society mavens (including women's rights warriors and human rights crusaders)
• The holy and the moneyed (religious and private sector bigwigs)
• Labour unions (the voice of the working masses)
• A sprinkle of diaspora (bringing an outside perspective to the inside track)

And let's not forget the international gallery:

• The diplomatic troika of Canada, France, and the USA
• The United Nations' eyes and ears on the ground (BINUH)
• The Organization of American States (OAS)
• The head honcho of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM)

The Plot: Progress, Pitfalls, and a Pinch of Hope

The EPG found the TPC in a flurry of activity, trying to breathe life into the skeletal framework of the April 3 Accord. Key institutions like the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and the Government Action Oversight Organ (OCAG) were slowly taking shape, but the road was far from smooth.

Security: The Elephant in the Room

Both the TPC and the Prime Minister sang a similar tune of concern: security, or the lack thereof, was the thorn in Haiti's side. The Kenyan cavalry, brought in to bolster the beleaguered Haitian police, found themselves outgunned and outnumbered. The cry for more boots on the ground and better gear echoed through the corridors of power.

The Prime Minister's Lament

Haiti's Prime Minister didn't mince words. The clock was ticking, and the people's patience was wearing thin. With state institutions in tatters and resources scarcer than hen's teeth, the task ahead was Herculean. His mantra? Fix security, or watch all other efforts crumble like sandcastles in a storm.

The Outsiders' Perspective

Civil society and the political wallflowers were singing from the same hymn sheet: "Reset and reconfigure" was their battle cry for the TPC. The litany of woes was long and familiar:

• Security situation: Still dire
• Kenyan forces: More shadow than substance
• TPC's reputation: Tarnished by corruption whispers
• Transition timeline: Looking shakier by the day
• Political inclusivity: A game of musical chairs where some always lose out

The Climax: A House of Cards on Shaky Ground

The transition process, it seemed, was built on foundations of sand. Delays, perceived inaction, and the stench of corruption were eroding public faith faster than a Caribbean hurricane. The EPG's verdict? A swift return to the spirit of the Jamaica agreement of March 11, 2024 – a cocktail of inclusiveness, consensus, and accountability – was the only antidote to Haiti's political malaise.

As the curtain falls on this act of Haiti's ongoing saga, one thing is clear: the road to democracy is paved with good intentions, but littered with potholes of reality. The world watches with bated breath as Haiti teeters on the brink of either breakthrough or breakdown.

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