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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 9 February 2022

Haiti braces for further instability amid grim anniversary

By DÁNICA COTO and a crumbling economy as
EVENS SANON they prey on those in need.
Associated Press Lionel Fortuné, a 33-year-
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) old law student, was
— Schools and businesses among the few who ven-
across Haiti shuttered their tured outside and waited
doors on Monday and a long time for a public bus
large numbers of police to materialize on the empty
patrolled the streets as the streets. "This country has to-
country confronted a grim tally deteriorated," he said.
anniversary. "You don't know who you
Monday marked not only can count on, who you
seven months since Presi- can trust to lead the coun-
dent Jovenel Moïse was try to the right path."
slain at his private resi- Henry has promised to hold
dence but also the end of general elections by the
his term, with opponents end of this year as his ad-
demanding that Prime Min- ministration tries to improve
ister Ariel Henry step down, security conditions.
arguing that his administra- Haiti currently has only 10
tion is unconstitutional. elected officials since it
Henry brushed aside those failed to hold legislative
criticisms during a press elections in October 2019
conference on Monday amid political gridlock and Demonstrators carry around a mock coffin as they protest for justice in connection with the
assassination of late President Jovenel Moise in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022.
evening where he again massive protests, with Moïse Associated Press
pledged to create a provi- ruling by decree for more
sional electoral council to than a year before was not moving forward," Ed-
pave the way for general killed. Since then, numer- mond said. He dismissed
elections. He noted that ous opponents have chal- accusations that Henry is
exactly 36 years ago, for- lenged Henry and nomi- not considered a legiti-
mer Haitian dictator Jean- nated their own leaders, mate leader given that
Claude Duvalier fled the moves that the prime minis- Haiti's chief public prosecu-
country amid a violent up- ter has not recognized. tor, whom Henry has since
rising. "Thirty-six years later, "The basic thing today is fired, noted that the prime
we must realize that we not to fight for a short-lived minister spoke with one of
have failed to establish a piece of power," Henry the main suspects in the
truly democratic system," said. "No one has the au- presidential slaying hours
Henry said, adding that for thority or the right to meet after it occurred. Henry has
every three steps forward, at a hotel or abroad to said he received multiple
the country goes back decide in a small commit- calls that day and doesn't
two steps. Henry blamed tee who is to be president remember all of them.
the economy for most of or prime minister. All this is "It's an ongoing investiga-
Haiti's ongoing problems, a distraction."Bocchit Ed- tion," Edmond said. "Let us
saying it was too small to mond, Haiti's ambassador leave (this to) the justice
allow people to live well, to the U.S., echoed those system." One of the most
get jobs or obtain good thoughts in an interview high-profile groups that op-
government services. He with The Associated Press, pose Henry, the Montana
said his administration is saying that Henry did not Accord, named after the
fighting to reduce a surge make himself prime minister hotel where it was signed,
in violence and is looking but rather was chosen by a has proposed a two-year
for more resources to help legitimate and democrati- transitional period to allow
those in need. "We know cally elected president. He Haiti time to create a safer
there is a lot of misery out said the process of choos- environment for voters. The
there," he said. Thousands ing an electoral council group, made up of thou-
of people opted to stay was very well advanced sands of supporters includ-
home on Monday, afraid and called on opponents ing prominent politicians
that even greater violence to dialogue with Henry and and civil society leaders,
would erupt as Haiti's politi- work together, adding that recently nominated as its
cal instability deepens, kid- he remains optimistic elec- leader Fritz Jean, former
nappings spike and gangs tions will be held. "My only governor of the Bank of the
grow more powerful amid fear is to see my country Republic of Haiti.q