Wyclef welcomes installation of transitional presidential council in Haiti
HAITIAN RAPPER Wyclef Jean is hopeful that the installation of a transitional Presidential Council would help to “pivot the nation away from past destructive practices”.
In a post on his social media account X (formerly Twitter), the foreign-based musician said the transitional presidential council “offers an opportunity to finally listen to and address the needs of the Haitian population especially the most vulnerable”.
Haiti has been steeped in political turmoil and social unrest following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise on July 7, 2021.
Rival gangs have over-run the poverty-stricken French-speaking country, plunging citizens into further despair and forcing several foreign agencies to remove non-essential staff from their offices in Haiti.
Following the installation of the transitional Presidential Council on Thursday, interim Prime Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert said the country is at a crossroads and is searching for solutions to overcome the multidimensional political crisis.
In his post, Jean raised the concern that some of the members of the transitional council are believed to be contributors to the Haitian crisis, but hastened to add that the mere setting up of the council was a step in the right direction.
“It is important to recognise that, while some elements of this alliance have been viewed as part of the problem, especially as the instigators and perpetrators of numerous violations that intensified systemic challenges, the establishment of the council represents a significant stride toward filling the governance void,” Jean wrote.
He said the first step toward achieving the broader goal of implementing constitutional reform and holding fair and credible elections within the two-year mandate, is to stabilise the nation and deliver the “necessary aid to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, where over 1.4 million people are at risk of starvation”.
Jean called for a thoughtful, inclusive approach to a solution that reflects the Haitian context, includes representatives from all sectors of society and walks of life, and fosters an environment that supports sustainable peace and development.
“It is important to me that we do not perpetuate a system of exclusion and inequity, as we ensure that everyone’s voice – especially those of the most vulnerable and the unheard, including voices from all factions and sectors – is represented in our efforts to address the challenges we face.”
Jean, who failed in his attempt to become a presidential candidate in Haiti in 2010, pledged his commitment to contribute to discussion “particularly on security issues and peace-building efforts, and work towards solutions that honour and protect the interests of all involved parties”.
Following the installation of a transitional council in Haiti, seven countries officially notified the UN secretary-general on Friday of their intention to contribute personnel to the Security Council-backed support mission for the crisis-wracked Caribbean nation.
The UN said Kenya has offered to lead the multinational mission that aims to provide much-needed back up to the national police, in a bid to regain control of the streets from gang rule.
The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica also pledged their support, the UN said.