Haitian Prime Minister Resigns

A Haitian Commission established by President Martelly in response to protests over delayed elections in Haiti released a report calling for, among other recommendations, the resignation of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and 40 others in Parliament and the Judiciary.

Haitian Caribbean News Network reports that the

Commission called for the resignation of Prime Minister Lamothe, of a 9-member electoral council, of the President of the High Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) and called on relevant authorities to free "political prisoners" and on opposition groups to cease a series of street demonstrations and other kinds of unrests.

The political crisis appears to have its roots in election delays since 2011 after the earthquake in 2010 that is still affecting the country very heavily, including an ongoing cholera outbreak.  

According to Mr. Medrano, the cholera outbreak in Haiti that started in October 2010 has produced more than 707,000 suspected cases and over 8,600 deaths to date, and “will continue until health, water and sanitation systems are addressed.”

“Like Ebola, cholera feeds on weak public health systems, and requires a sustained response,” he wrote.

(I'm writing this post in order to establish the background more, after only seeing in the news reporting that the Prime Minister resigned following commission recommendation.  This is actually the better article).  Here is his resignation speech.

Miami Herald reports that

The resolution of the crisis inevitably requires the forced or voluntary resignation of Martelly, the creation of a credible CEP, the release of political prisoners, the establishment of a provisional government and the holding of general elections in 2015. That’s it,” he said.

Commission coordinator Reginald Boulos said the recommendations are not an indictment on Lamothe’s performance but an acknowledgment that Haiti can no longer ignore what’s happening.

Martelly and the opposition have been at a stalemate over an electoral law with six opposition senators blocking the vote on constitutional grounds and a lack of confidence in the provisional electoral council, which is charged with staging the vote.

The lack of a law has further delayed the local and legislative elections, which should have taken place in 2011.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article4381663.html#storylink=cpy

Here is some more background on the political crisis.

Constitution calls for permanent electoral commission but there are things that must be in place including Senate vote

lack of a full Senate made this impossible but the permanent formula for choosing CEP members was applies to temporary.

This fueled the problem along with accusations the Pdt was trying to control most of the members

El Rancho Politcal Accord only fanned matters bcuz it didn't challenge the framework opposition argued was unconstitutional.

Hence Senate's Group 6 refused to give quorum to vote electoral law. Even deputies said they have reservations when they voted

Apparently despite the Prime Minister's resignation, protests continue

Sen. Moise Jean-Charles asking "the population tet fret," (cool heads). Yet he refuses to back down off their resistance @RTVCHAITI #Haiti
— Jacqueline Charles (@Jacquiecharles) December 15, 2014

Audio of speech (link)




Prime Minister on why he quit (interview in English) (link)





PS. If anyone can read/translate French or Haitian Creole I would appreciate, and post here, the translation of the Commission's report and the Prime Minister's resignation speech.  You can email it to me at thebiasedreporter@gmail.com