Haiti’s Most Publicized Gang Leader Moves Towards Installing New Government

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – Haiti’s most publicized gang leader has warned of a genocide should Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry be allowed to come back to power in Haiti even as he remains stranded in Puerto Rico.

Former rebel leader Guy Philippe, flanked by Haiti opposition party officials addressing the media (CMC Photo)Jimmy Cherisier, alias, Barbecue, who’s been acting as the chief of operations for the armed criminal gangs that are seeking to overthrow the government, warned Wednesday of a genecide, should Henry persist in his efforts to remain in power.

If Ariel Henry does not step down, if the international community continues to support him, there will be a civil war, which would end in a genocide in Haiti,” Cherisier told reporters.

“The US, Canada, France, and the whole group of western Ambassadors (known as Core Group) will be solely responsible for the deaths which would follow a decision to allow Henry to remain in power in Haiti.

“Toppling Henry’s government is a first step in our struggle towards establishing a new system, which would take into account the social interests of the Haitian people. After getting rid of Henry, we’ll make sure that the country is led by a strong government, and that there is a strong justice system,” he added.

Cherisier told reporters that “our immediate goal is to look for government ministers, and those supporting Ariel Henry.

“If anybody knows where they may be found, we want to know, so we may go after them,” he said.

Henry is now stranded in Puerto Rico after having travelled to Kenya where he signed an agreement allowing for the UN Security Council sanctioned international force led by the African country to restore peace and security in his troubled country.

But the criminal gangs that have all, but taken over the capital, Port au Prince, said a new government would soon be installed with a judge, Durin Duret Jr., as chairman assisted by  former rebel leader and former police commissioner Guy Philippe, and Francoise Saint-Vil Villier, from the religious sector.

Haiti’s new de facto rulers have been, over the past couple of days, increasing their efforts to hasten the process towards installing a new presidential council to lead the country.

Dozens of political parties and organizations have decided, on Wednesday, to affix their signatures to an agreement document presented to them by the anti government movement.

The outspoken and leftist political leader, Jean-Charles Moise said that preparations are well on the way to install the new rulers of Haiti.

“The government has decided to flee, and in the face of the vacuum, we as responsible politicians, have to act,” Moise told the radio station Radio-Tele Eclair, on Wednesday.

“The Prime minister has taken flight, the police Chief has gone into hiding, government ministers have dug a hole where they’ve decided to conceal themselves,” said Moise promising to chase them everywhere.

“We’ve told hotels not to welcome fleeing government officials, and we’ve also warned their families and friends not to accept to take them in to avoid problems,”  he added.

Moise said the judge who will preside over the the member council, will soon engage in consultations with relevant national and international entities in the hope of establshing various partnerships in the country.

Earlier, CARICOM said it has not been “able to reach any form of consensus” regarding the situation in Haiti despite working on the issue over the past three days.

“Despite of many, many meetings we have not yet been able to reach any form of consensus between the government and respective stakeholders in the opposition, the private sector, civil society and religious organisations, CARICOM Chairman and Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali said in a video statement.

He described the unfolding situation in Haiti, which is part of the 15-member regional integration movement “as complex with many moving parts.

“It is compounded by the absence of key institutions functioning such as the Presidency and the Parliament. This is further undermined by the outbreaks of violence and a lack of humanitarian aid,” Ali said.

He said CARICOM has been urging “all Haitian stakeholders of an urgent need for a consensus given that they all agree that the solution must be Haitian led and Haitian born.

“Consensus and getting a consensus is therefore of paramount importance,” Ali said, adding that CARICOM recognizes that there must be a political solution “to anchor any stabilization of a security and humanitarian effort”.