Nortreus: Haiti's unelected Prime Minister should keep promises or step down

According to a Caribbean local newspaper called St Vincent Times, Haitian politician Werley Nortreus stated last week that Haiti's unelected Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, needs to step down if he knows he won't keep his word and promises he made to Haitians.

According to Nortreus, a new constitution is also needed as well as foreign intervention to fight the gangs and organize a general election.

Haiti is where Nortreus was born and raised. His interest in and desire for politics began years ago when he learned that his native country was experiencing challenges. He then started a petition in 2022 asking for a constitutional amendment that would lower the age requirement for younger politicians to be appointed to the Executive and Legislative boards.

"PM Ariel Henry said he would amend the constitution, add security, and organize a general election to pick a new President and Govt. I think the PM must keep his word and promises because Haitians deserve answers and Haiti doesn't deserve to suffer much more. If the PM knows he's not keeping his word and promises, he should resign because it will be very disappointing and embarrassing if the nation goes down into many more failures. The nation deserves a new constitution that will make Haitians much more comfortable. A constitution reform is also a must and a priority just like the international intervention and a general election", Nortreus urged the Prime Minister.

Although none of these plans have been finalized, Henry stated last year that his government would change the current constitution, add proper security, and organize a general election to pick a new President and Govt. Haitians cannot afford to go further into even more chaos, therefore Nortreus urged him to either keep his word and promises or step down.

Jovenel Moise, the former Haitian President, appointed Henry to power as Prime Minister. Before his killing by Colombians and Haitian Americans, Moise faced harsh criticism for the lost Petro-Caribe funds, high crime, and violence rates nationwide, and other issues. Investigations reveal that the PHTK party is an ally of the current PM, Henry, and a few members of his administration, including Moise.

Henry requested US assistance in 2022 in a letter to the UN to help deal with the release of the fuel and other goods crisis caused by a gang (G-9) that had taken over the area. Following negotiations with the G-9, it was declared that the main gasoline station in the capital city of Port-au-Prince was once again under the hands of the Haitian authorities.

Reports state that Haitians turned down Henry's appeal for US intervention. Under Kenya's direction, CARICOM and African nations offered their assistance. Following discussions, the UN Security Council approved it last year. The plan was also turned down by Kenyans and the country's high court. Dr. Ekuru Aukot, a former presidential candidate from Kenya, filed a petition alleging that the plan was unconstitutional in his country. Although Nortreus acknowledged that it was illegal and ambiguous to deploy Kenyan police officers to his country of origin, he still believes that foreign intervention to secure the country is a wise course of action.

"I always knew the opposition in Kenya and Justice Chacha Mwita was right when they said sending police officers to Haiti was unconstitutional. This is why I always mentioned soldiers when African nations and CARICOM volunteered because I knew such missions were for Army and Defense forces only. This is now much more complicated. Haiti doesn't share a border with Kenya, so it will not be easy about reciprocal arrangements. I think a plan B by Kenya is needed because I still think Haiti needs the intervention to secure it", Nortreus added.

Sent in by: Surin Octave

Surin Octave is a news contributor based in the Caribbean and internationally. 

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