On Tuesday, 13 Senators (Joseph Lambert, Rony Celestin, Jean Rigaud Belizaire, Pierre Francois Sildor, Onondieu Louis, Jean Marie Ralph Fethiere, Nawoon Marcelus, Pierre Wanique, Herve Lenin Fourcand, Denis Cadeau, Gracia Delva and Sorel Jancinthe), addressed a correspondence to Senator Carl Murat Cantave, President of the Senate, expressing their "disagreement with the decision of the Bureau, which persists in holding a interpellation session against a former Prime Minister who has no longer entery in Parliament".

Extract of the letter :

"[...] As a matter of fact, on 18 March 2019, the Assembly of Deputies realized and, through a massive vote of 93 in favor, 6 against and 3 abstentions, took a motion of censure that led to the dismissal of Prime Minister Jean Henry Céant and his Government;

Considering that the said motion of censure having dismissed Prime Minister Jean Henry Céant and his Government was duly notified to the President of the Republic who took note and announced provisions to replace the fallen Prime;

Considering that the Senate of the Republic could not hold its meeting as it was planned and, consequently, no decision has been issued as to the case;

[...]

We, the Honorable Senators of the Republic, signatories hereof, intend to signify, as a matter of fact, signify to the Honorable President of the Senate of the Republic, that the massive vote of the Chamber of Deputies who dismissed the Prime Minister and the Government deserves the respect of the Senate; that we disagree with the decision of the office which persists in holding a interpellation session against a former Prime Minister who no longer has his entry into Parliament; request that the work be resumed in the Senate of the Republic in accordance with the internal regulations and the provisions of the last Conference of Presidents; Finally, let us say that the President of the Senate of the Republic, the Honorable Carl Murat Cantave, must make himself available for the necessary consultations to replace the new Prime Minister [...]"

In addition, five other Senators (Dieudonne Luma Etienne, Wilfrid Gelin, Jacques Sauveur Jean, Kedlaire Augustin and Willot Joseph) wrote to Cantave, asking him to convene, as a matter of urgency, a special conference of Presidents to find a solution to this crisis which is developing around due to this conflict of interpellation of the Prime Minister between the two room, which risks mortgaging the future of the democracy in Haiti and tarnishing more the image of the parliamentary institution.

For its part, against all odds, the former Prime Minister Jean-Henry Céant does not intend to give way, not only he continues to affirm that he is still in office according to him, but also he assigns the President of the Chamber of Deputies before the court of refered and before the CSC/CA for having been dismissed from his post.

He asked the Superior Court of Accounts in particular to declare "null" the request for interpellation, the vote of the Chamber of Deputies and the minutes relating thereto.

Céant also brought an interlocutory action for a stay of the interpellation pending a court decision.

Note that Wednesday, March 20, the interpellation session put in continuation by the President of the Senate did not take place. 16 senators took part in a meeting initiated by the Senator Cantave, around the reaction following the vote of censure of the Chamber of Deputies against the Prime Minister, Jean Henry Céant and in an attempt to resolve their differences before the interpellation session still in progress Thursday, March 21.

Youri Latortue invited his colleagues to refrain from any initiative pending the decision of a judge following the action taken by the Prime Minister. Senator Latortue and other members of the radical opposition left the meeting.

HL/ HaitiLibre