Details on the meetings between Blinken and the authorities in Haiti

The Prime Minister and other actors directly involved in the discussions, contacted by AyiboPost, highlight the main points addressed during the U.S. Secretary of State’s visit to Haiti

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a brief visit to Haiti on Thursday, in a context of strong protests against three members of the Presidential Council accused of corruption, as well as criticisms over the inefficacy of the Kenyan forces deployed in Haiti to fight insecurity.

In his meeting with the head of the government, Blinken reiterated “his commitment and willingness to ensure that we have the necessary support to face the crisis,” reports Prime Minister Garry Conille in an exclusive interview with AyiboPost on Friday.

The Presidential Council is responsible for establishing the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), but the government expects « positive results » over the coming week, continues Conille.

The head of the government says he welcomes the discussions on transforming the multinational force into a United Nations peacekeeping mission. This idea is part of several options being explored by the U.S. administration in a context of underfunding for the current mission.

“We will need to wait until we discuss with the Presidential Council and other actors says the Prime Minister. It’s important to understand the implications. I also need to understand what the other options are.”

The issue of child recruitment into gangs was on the agenda. The United Nations Children’s Fund estimates their presence in armed groups to be as high as 50%.

The government tells AyiboPost that it plans to set up a program for these armed children as part of a back-to-school initiative.

These children, some of whom were “forced to join” gangs, must “lay down their arms, go through a center, undergo a psychological evaluation, and get a health assessment,” according to Prime Minister Conille.

In his meetings and public statements, Antony Blinken – the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Haiti since 2015 – reaffirmed his support for the government, the ongoing efforts to resolve the insecurity problem, as well as the political progress made in recent months.

He also met with the President of the Presidential Council, Edgard Leblanc Fils, members of political parties involved in the transition, and officials from the Kenyan force deployed in Haiti.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille. | Photo: Chuck Kennedy

He also met the President of the Presidential Council, Edgard Leblanc, members of political parties involved in the transition and officials from the Kenyan force deployed in Haiti for the past two months.

The Secretary of State announced $45 million in humanitarian aid and promised efforts to renew the HOPE/HELP program. This program allows subcontracting companies to send their products to the U.S. market duty-free. It expires next year.

During the meetings, Haitian politicians expressed their grievances, according to informed sources or participants in the discussions, as well as a member of the President of the Presidential Council’s cabinet.

Secretary Blinken meets with the president of the Transitional Presidential Council, Edgard Leblanc Jr. | Photo: Chuck Kennedy

“It is true that for some, the worst is behind us, but for the majority of Haitians today, there is still no end in sight,” commented former deputy Jerry Tardieu to AyiboPost.

The leader of the “En Avant” party participated in the meeting organized by the delegation led by Blinken with representatives from nine political structures.

During this meeting, a representative of the December 21st Agreement, André Michel, claimed to have requested the resignation of their representative Louis Gérald Gilles from the Council, according to two sources familiar with his statement.

Contacted by AyiboPost, Pascal Adrien, another influential figure of the December 21st Agreement and present at the meeting, tells AyiboPost that he agrees “in principle with the temporary replacement” of Gilles, but insists on the need for a “mechanism duly notified by the Presidential Council or signed by its president Edgard Leblanc.”

It’s true that for some, the worst is behind us, but for the majority of Haitians today, there’s still no end in sight.

– Jerry Tardieu

The matter of the three counselors embroiled in a blackmail scandal against the head of a public bank tarnishes the Council’s reputation.

Members of former Prime Minister Claude Joseph’s EDE party are also calling for the resignation of the party’s representative, Smith Augustin.

Behind the scenes, Joseph is reportedly trying to push Augustin out after publicly defending him, according to an informed source. It is unclear whether Augustin will give in to the pressure. Neither he nor Joseph responded to requests for comment.

Before the U.S. delegation, Moïse Jean Charles reaffirmed his support for his representative, Emmanuel Vertilaire.

However, the leader of Pitit Desalin did not support the other counselors accused of corruption in his statement, observes one of the participants.

Most of the presidential advisors are to assume leadership of the group under an agreement reached in May. It is unclear if, as planned, Augustin will take over the Council on October 7th.

But already, at least one of the CPT members accused of corruption seems to want to distance himself from the arrangement.

“Gérald Gilles personally told me [about a week ago] that he is not interested in the rotating presidency,” reveals to AyiboPost Jean Junior Joseph, a member of Edgard Leblanc’s cabinet.

Dr. Gilles was contacted by AyiboPost. He did not comment.

Questioned by Blinken about this scandal and the possibility of “replacing” the implicated CPT members, at least one Haitian official mentioned an ongoing investigation by the Anti-Corruption Unit.

The President of the Council, Leblanc, insisted on decisive progress in the process of establishing a Provisional Electoral Council.

According to Jean Junior Joseph, only one sector – the [rural community] – has yet to choose its representative. A government insider does not share this optimism, saying it strays from the reality of the ongoing difficulties in forming the council.

Other participants raised concerns about the upcoming elections.

Alongside a “comprehensive” approach to security strategy and constitutional reform, former deputy Tardieu said he stressed the “need for the CEP to be impartial and objective to avoid disputes” after the upcoming elections.

The marathon of meetings for the day ended with a press conference at the diplomatic lounge of the Toussaint Louverture Airport.

Following his opening remarks, Secretary Blinken took one question from a Haitian journalist, another from a state employee who owns a radio station, and two questions from U.S. journalists traveling with his delegation.

The two Haitians had submitted their questions in advance at the request of the U.S. Embassy. One of the foreign journalists told AyiboPost that they had not been asked to submit their questions in advance. Although common in several countries, the submission of questions before press conferences remains criticized in the profession.

While answering a question about strengthening the Kenyan mission, the Secretary of State mentioned the reopening of the main hospital in Port-au-Prince and the re-opening of the airport as examples of the Kenyan mission’s work in collaboration with the Haitian National Police.

The airport had been closed in March after a rare violent assault by gangs on state infrastructure in the metropolitan area.

The Kenyans were not yet in Haiti when the airport resumed operations at the end of May following operations by Haitian forces. Foreign officers were also not involved in the operation to secure the State University of Haiti Hospital on July 7, 2024, according to an AyiboPost investigation.

To this day, the hospital remains closed, and the Prime Minister’s last visit to the facility with journalists ended in an exchange of gunfire with gang members at the end of July.

Attributing these successes to the Kenyans surprises some observers.

“The Secretary of State is greatly exaggerating the MSS’s early successes, especially when one considers that it is primarily local forces who are responsible for the achievements – such as they are,” says Jake Johnston, a Haiti expert at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, to AyiboPost.

Although the Kenyan mission was presented as an effort to train and strengthen the local police, Johnston continues, “it seems that so far, it is the local police who are working to train the MSS.”

AyiboPost contacted the U.S. Embassy to clarify the official’s statements.

“The Secretary stated the milestones from the last few months,” a spokesperson for the embassy tells AyiboPost. “The examples he gave were positive steps forward that both MSS and PNH have made in their respective or joint operations. As he said in his remarks, we are clear-eyed about the work that needs to be done and that the challenges are significant.”

Secretary Blinken holds a press conference in Haiti.

The next major meeting regarding the situation in Haiti will take place at the United Nations General Assembly this month.

The U.S. is considering asking for the transformation of the Kenyan-led mission into a UN peacekeeping force.

This transformation would ensure the initiative’s sustainability and adequate funding. It is unclear whether this proposal will be approved by the organization.

Blinken’s visit shows strong support for Haitian authorities.

« Despite a very busy schedule, especially due to the situation in the Middle East, it’s remarkable that he’s going to Haiti to meet both the CPT and the Prime Minister, » noted Philippe de Bard, an independent expert on Haiti, in an interview with AyiboPost.

By Widlore Mérancourt

Keep in touch with AyiboPost via:

► Our channel Telegram : click here

► Our Channel WhatsApp : click here

► Our Community WhatsApp : click here