Former rebel leader Guy Philippe rejects Caricom’s proposed agreement for Haiti’s transition

Haiti.- Former Haitian rebel leader Guy Philippe has rejected the proposed agreement by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) aimed at establishing a presidential council to oversee a transition and conduct elections in Haiti.

In a video shared on social networks and reported by Haitian media, including Le Nouvelliste, Philippe accused the international community, through Caricom, of ridiculing the Haitian people. He called on Haitians to mobilize against the Caricom agreement, asserting that the entity lacks the authority to dictate the country’s leadership.

Philippe declared, “The international community, through Caricom, has decided, once again, to ridicule the Haitian people, as it has done for more than a century. Since the departure of President Jean Claude Duvalier, the international community has been the architect of all the ills of our people.”

He criticized the proposal, stating, “No citizen, no Haitian could accept this proposal from the international community because it is this same international community, in complicity with the political and economic elites of Haiti, that got us into this crisis.”

Philippe emphasized that the revolution in Haiti is progressing well, asserting that the international community no longer has total control, thanks to the determination of the people. He urged Haitians to mobilize against Caricom’s decision, stressing that the regional organization lacks legal authority to determine Haiti’s leadership.

As the leader of the National Awakening (Réveil National) party, Philippe proposed last week to head a presidential council, replacing absent Prime Minister Ariel Henry. This proposal suggested a potential alliance with Senator Moïse Jean Charles, although the feasibility of reaching a consensus remained uncertain.

Caricom has announced the formation of a seven-member presidential council, which will govern during the transition by majority vote.