By Caribbean News Global 
USA / HAITI – In a letter dated April 26, 2021, to US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, 68-US Congress-persons “expressed serious and urgent concerns regarding the quickly deteriorating situation in Haiti, and the State Department’s recent criticism of some of the unconstitutional actions by the administration of president Jovenel Moïse,” noted that “it is past time for a more significant review of US policy in Haiti.”
The letter to Secretary Blinken also encouraged him to support the sovereignty of the US’s oldest neighbour in the hemisphere by reaffirming the US commitment to the principles of democracy and rule of law. […] help Haiti achieve political stability and representative democracy,” added that “continuing along the same path will only exacerbate the situation.”
Amid ‘nationwide unrest and political turmoil’ … severe instability and political violence, president Jovenel Moïse continues to run the country without any legislative oversight, and has since abused his rule by decree powers in direct violation of the Haitian Constitution’, the letter explained.
“As a result of the political instability, a crashing economy, lockdown from protests, and street gang violence, the Haitian federal government is failing to meet even the most basic needs of its citizens. The Moïse administration lacks the credibility and legitimacy to oversee a constitutional referendum scheduled for June 2021 or to administer elections that are free and fair. The proposed constitutional reform, which legal experts maintain is unconstitutional, would further concentrate executive power.”
“We are also concerned about inclusiveness of elections, lack of preparedness of electoral institutions to hold elections, as well as the unconstitutional composition of the provisional electoral council. […] the risk of gender-based violence against Haitian women and girls, as increased political violence and a weak legal system foster widespread impunity for heinous gender-based crimes,” the letter continued.
“Despite this alarming situation, the State Department has been insistent, both in public and in private briefings with members, that elections – now scheduled for later this year – are the only path forward. While elections will clearly be needed in the near future to restore democratic order, we remain deeply concerned that any electoral process held under the current administration will fail to be free, fair, or credible and that continued US insistence on elections at all costs will only make this outcome more likely.”
The 68 US Congress-persons urge the State Department to consider nine factors detail in the letter and summarised below:
- Make clear that the US will not provide any support, financial or technical, to facilitate the proposed constitutional referendum, including through multilateral institutions.
- Listen to the voices of Haitian civil society and grassroots organizations, who have been clear that no elections under the current administration in Haiti will be free, fair, and credible.
- Clearly identify and communicate to Congress what specific metrics you will use to evaluate whether Haiti’s elections will be free and fair, including a realistic timeline for achieving those necessary predicates.
- Refrain from opining on constitutional interpretations in Haiti, specifically regarding the dispute over the mandate of president Moïse.
- Promote the protection of human rights and the rule of law by enforcing Global Magnitsky Act sanctions on individuals credibly implicated in abuses.
- Combat corruption and impunity by tasking US law enforcement agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to investigate compliance with US tax laws on the part of Haitian politicians and private sector actors with interests in the US.
- Support the redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian migrants living in the US and put a temporary freeze on all Title 42 related expulsions to Haiti.
- Refocus and reform US policy in Haiti through the appointment of a trusted and credible actor to serve as Special Representative for Haiti.
- Hold high-level consultations with Haitian civil society and diaspora groups to hear their concerns and recommendations for a democratic path forward.
