Haiti-Elections: Struggles to appoint representatives delay CEP formation | ANALYSIS

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The deadline for sectors to appoint representatives to the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) expired on Aug. 26. As of this writing, the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) has only received representatives from three out of the nine sectors involved in the process, under the decree of May 27, 2024. Most of the actors have yet to reach a compromise for selecting their representatives

Words like compromise and agreement hold little weight in Haiti today. Societal divisions and quarrels are evident as various civil society organizations clash over the elections of their representatives to the CEP, which is tasked with organizing general elections in the country before February 7, 2026.

So far, only three of the nine sectors—Vodou, Episcopal Conference, reformed cults, Haitian University Council, human rights organizations, journalists’ associations,  women’s rights associations, farmers’ associations, and the trade union sector—have named their representatives.

The first three known members of the CEP include Jacques Desrosiers for journalists’ associations, Marie Florence Mahieu for the Haitian University Council, and Patrick Saint-Hilaire for the Episcopal Conference. The CEP should comprise nine members representing an equal number of civil society sectors. 

Efforts to resolve ongoing disputes

Three sectors — journalists’ associations, the Haitian University Council, and the Episcopal Conference — have managed to resolve their disagreements, while the other six designated sectors continue to struggle.

Choices made by the farmers’ associations, human rights organizations, and the trade union sectors have sparked significant protests from member organizations within these sectors. Additionally, other sectors, such as reformed cults, Vodou religion, and women’s rights advocates, submitted two different names each to the presidential council, complicating the work of the CPT members.

Louisette Vertilus, leader of the Platform of Organized Women for the Development of Artibonite (PLAFODA), criticized the women’s rights organization Kay Fanm for attempting to dominate the process by appointing one of their associates to the CEP without achieving consensus within the sector.

“Kay Fanm tried to create an exclusive process by sidelining women’s associations and organizations in provincial towns, allowing just two hours for these associations to elect a representative, unlike those based in the capital,” Vertilus said.

PLAFODA initially challenged the method for choosing a representative from the women’s rights sector. After much contention, leaders returned to the table for more dialogue. Yet, conflicts remain unresolved.

A similar situation occurred within the human rights organizations. However, the Platform of Human Rights Defense Organizations (POHDH), which usually dominates the selection process, withdrew its leadership to facilitate the involvement of other groups. After extensive negotiations and a postponed election, the organizations involved finally agreed on a representative. The Citizens’ Organization for a New Haiti (OCNH) conducted an election and picked Gédéon Jean on Aug. 26. 

“In the past, POHDH led this process, but the context has changed, and OCNH took over,” Jean said on Magik9 radio station following his election. However, his choice has yet to be validated by the presidential council due to ongoing contestations.

In the university sector, most actors and leaders have decided to step aside and allow the State University of Haiti (UEH) to run the selection process on their behalf.  That’s how Mathieu was quickly chosen to represent the higher education sector in the CEP. 

The representative of the journalists’ associations was selected without sector-wide conflict. However, the process was not transparent. Major media associations, including the National Association of Haitian Media (ANMH) and the Association of Independent Media of Haiti (AMIH), were not involved but chose not to hinder the process.

When it comes to the reformed cults sector,  things remain in dispute. On Aug. 6, two members of the CPT, Edgard Leblanc Fils and Frinel Joseph, met with representatives from the National Spiritual Council of Churches (CONASPEH), the Protestant Federation of Haiti (FEPAH), and the Conference of Haitian Pastors (COPAH) to facilitate negotiations, yet disagreements persist. A procedural disagreement between COPAH and FEPAH surfaced, further complicating matters.

“The delay in the invitation letter and how FEPAH acted do not inspire confidence,” said members of COPAH in a press release.

Disputes in the Vodou sector mirror those in the Protestant sector, with a faction of the National Confederation of Haitian Vodouists (KNVA) opposing Newton Louis St-Juste’s choice, alleging he is not a legitimate member of the religion.

Farmers’ organizations and unions also struggle to select their representatives. Like in a game of poker, each group wants to win. 

Forming the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) is the first and crucial step in advancing Haiti’s electoral process. However, beyond restoring peace, security, and order to the nation, the challenges encountered in initiating this step underscore the transitional government’s difficulties in adhering to its schedule.

The CPT members continue to meet with various organizations to facilitate agreements. However, it remains to be seen how long they will wait for the struggling sectors, given that forming the CEP is not their only responsibility.

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Haiti-Elections: Struggles to appoint representatives delay CEP formation | ANALYSIS was first posted on August 30, 2024 at 11:08 am.