PM: No new president will be in place February 7

PORT-AU-PRINCE (CMC):

Prime Minister Ariel Henry, promising to do “everything in my power” to bring to justice those responsible for the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July last year, has also indicated “there will not be a new president on February 7”.

Henry met on Tuesday evening with eight of the 10 senators at the invitation of the Bureau of the Senate to discuss the current situation and the priorities, such as the restoration of security and the organisation of elections in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

“We are at a crossroads where we must continue to work together to pacify the country. At the same time, the security forces are working to fight against banditry,” Henry said.

He told the senators that the holding of elections is a constitutional prerogative, adding “we cannot wait to renew the political personne”l.

“A return to democratic order is essential. We must entrust the reins of the country to an elected president. For me, it would have been easy to set up a Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), but I do not want to take action unilaterally and exclusively,” he said.

Henry said that it is “certain that in the days to come, with the collaboration of all the players, we will finalise the consultation process with a view to achieving the final result”.

He said that the new CEP and the Constituent Assembly will be in place by February 7 and that the country will have a new constitution later this year.

“The country cannot wait more. We therefore have a duty to find a consensus around lasting solutions to this chronic crisis. We must organise the elections so that there are new elected officials. What I am certain of, there will not be a new president on February 7, 2022,” Henry said.