WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Montana Hotel was once proclaimed one of Haiti’s most luxurious vacation destinations. This was before the 2010 earthquake that devastated most of Port-au-Prince destroyed the hotel. But it survived even that, and today, the Montana Hotel stands strong, risen from the ashes.
Much like the hotel, the agreement named after the place it was crafted – The Montana Accord – appears to be rising once again. After a celebrated launch, it went dormant for months, even as new proposals came forward and Haiti fell into steeper violence. But lately, the Montana agreement’s architects appear to be present once more as discussions, debate forums, negotiations and, naturally, informational sessions about Haiti have increased.
Of the latter, a recent session held at Busboys & Poets on Sept. 23 featured Magali Comeau Denis, one of the coordinators of the agreement. In Comeau Denis’ remarks there, she said her group plans to call for a Haitian national conference to address political party reform as well as the relationship between state and society, state and citizen, and state and nation. Comeau Denis noted that since the Duvalier regime ended, the country’s two transitional governments – in 1990 and 2006 – were brokered by civil society, with support from the international community.
Members of the Accord believe they have a unique opportunity to prove that democracy and stability are not mutually exclusive and can exist in concert.
It is also critical for the group to mobilize to take measures to revive Haiti’s failing economy in order to create a path out of the current chaos the country faces,” Comeau Denis said.
The Accord has created a collective of political and civil society forums, in an effort to fight towards the arc of democracy in Haiti. Formally called the “Commission for a Haitian Solution,” the planning group that drew up the Montana Accord proposed a two-year interim government, with a president, prime minister and oversight committees. Their stated goal is to restore order, administer elections and create a truth and justice commission to address past human rights violations.
However, these proposals have yet to make headway with Prime Minister Ariel Henry. On the contrary, he said in June at the Caricom special Haitian stakeholders meeting in Kingston that talks of replacing him as Prime Minister constitute a non- starter. Similarly, a third Caricom delegation traveled to Haiti in August to bring together Henry and other stakeholders – to no avail.
Meanwhile, last week during the United Nations General Assembly, Haiti and Kenya signed an accord to lead a multinational peacekeeping mission in Haiti to combat gang forces.
In an effort to unite Haiti’s diverse population, Comeau Denis noted, her coalition spans across religious sects – Vodou, Episcopal, Catholic and Protestant. Still, the commission will continue to collaborate in search for a solution that would unite the fragmented nation. For the effort to take place however, she said, the international community must see Montana as a plausible solution for change.
When Congressman Gregory Meeks, chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, spoke at the Congressional Black Caucus last week, he emphasized the importance of the Montana group.
“During the 50th anniversary of Caricom, the number one topic talked about is how we can all work together to help Haiti– because it’s going to take all of us,” Meeks said. “It’s going to take the international community, it’s going to take groups like the Montana group and other civic groups.
“We need to hear from the people and make sure we are guided by them. It can’t be the United States or anybody else saying ‘Haiti you must do this,’” Meeks said.
Haiti has been continually marked by increasingly violent crimes, massacres and other atrocities, with gangs controlling at least 60% of Port-au-Prince and such acts leaving at least 2,400 dead since January this year. Law enforcement has just under 14,000 police officers left in a country of over 11 million and alarmingly, the justice department has told residents to defend themselves.
Thus, the reason for the multinational force to be deployed.
“The year 2023 marked the beginning of a genocide of the working class of Haiti,” Comeau Denis said.
Knowing how acutely many Haitians are suffering, why has the Montana Accord not been unable to broker a compromise with the Prime Minister’s government? After two years of negotiation and dialogues, people of Haiti have yet to see change.
This leaves a final question: Will the Montana Accord be the solution that finally allows Haiti to resurrect from the ashes?
Guest Author | Wen-kuni Ceant
Read: Montana Accord’s role in resolving the Haiti crisis – the reboot | Opinion – The Haitian Times
