Team to select Haiti’s future leader as gang violence envelops Caribbean nation

Caribbean leaders have announced on Tuesday that almost all groups and political parties have put forward people to be part of a temporary council to choose a new prime minister for Haiti. The country is still dealing with a lot of gang violence.

The first nine-member council now has only eight members because the Pitit Desalin party, led by Jean-Charles Moïse, who used to be a senator and ran for president, chose not to take a seat last week. Moise is working with Guy Philippe, a former police officer and rebel leader who went to prison in the US for admitting to moving illegally obtained money.

The December21 group, who supports Prime Minister Ariel Henry, was one of the last to send a name to the Caricom group on Monday. The nomination was delayed because the group leaders argued about who should be chosen.

Henry cannot go back to Haiti because there is too much fighting. He said he will quit when a new council is made. He went to Kenya for work. He wanted the UN to send Kenyan police to help fight gangs in Haiti. But then, armed men attacked in February. In the city capital, Port-au-Prince, there are still problems that are happening. The sending out of something has been postponed.

UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said on Tuesday that Kenya is worried about how the government is organized in the region.

“We really hope they can start working as soon as they can,” he said. “But they are worried. ” We want to make sure that the new government plans can be put into action.

Criminal groups burned police buildings, shot at the main airport and broke into Haiti’s two largest prisons, letting more than 4,000 prisoners escape. On Monday, they broke into and stole things from houses in two wealthy neighborhoods that had been calm before, and they killed at least twelve people during the attack.

The UN says things in Port-au-Prince are still not good. Schools, hospitals, and government buildings are being attacked. Many of them are not working like they should.

He said that the health sector is still having a hard time because there are not enough medical supplies, healthcare workers, and blood.

Many people died in the attacks, and about 17,000 people have no home. Most of them went to the calmer southern part of Haiti. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported this.

“We are very worried about the fighting,” said President Irfaan Ali of Guyana, who is also the leader of Caricom.

He said to the news reporters on Monday night that time was important because of the situation. He also said that officials are still hopeful for progress.

“We’ve been having lots of meetings every night because the Haitians need to set up the presidential council,” he said. We have made progress.

The council will choose a temporary prime minister and also pick ministers, a temporary electoral council, and a national security council. All members of the council need to support the use of a foreign armed force.

The EDE/RED party, led by former prime minister Claude Joseph, the Montana Accord, which includes civil society leaders and political parties, Fanmi Lavalas, the party of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and the Jan party have all been given spots on the council. The 30 Collective represents groups that include former President Michel Martelly’s party and businesses.

One person from Haiti’s civil society and another person from its religious sector will get the remaining two nonvoting positions.

Caribbean officials have not shared all the names nominated for the council.