Resolution EC18to22MBMW 001

Resolved, that the Executive Council, meeting in Linthicum Heights, Maryland October 25 – 28, 2021, laments the current political, economic, environmental, and security situation in Haiti, resulting in an environment of insecurity and fear for many Haitians; and be it further
 
Resolved, that the Executive Council urge support of the Commission for a Haitian Solution to the Crisis and their work seeking a resolution of the governance crisis; and be it further
 
Resolved, that the Executive Council supports the effort of the Commission which represents hundreds of civil society organizations and members of other sectors of Haitian life to develop a way forward; and be it further
 
Resolved, that the Executive Council stand alongside our Haitian relatives in the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and throughout The Episcopal Church, pray with them, and aim to listen to and better engage our Haitian relatives to ensure that the Church and people can flourish in Haiti.

 The way forward for governance is unclear, and raises questions of sovereignty and what constitutes a better democratic process: consensus around a political accord or rushed elections that continue to hurt public confidence in elections. 

o   Two potential options are on the table:  

o   The first is organized by the de facto prime minister, which involves a shorter timeline for elections, preservation of power among the political elite, and a continued push for an illegal constitutional referendum that the previous president tried and had not yet successfully moved forward.  

• The second is spearheaded by the Commissionfor a Haitian Solution to the Crisis, which began its work BEFORE the president was assassinated. The Commission is a collection of hundreds of civil society organizations, churches, political parties, businesses, and other groups. They have a full proposal signed by these members for a two-year transitional government and process to get the government re-started. That document is referred to as the Montana Document or Montana Accord (after the hotel where it was signed).  
• The roughly 12-person steering committee includes a HaitianEpiscopal priest with whom we are in close contact. This is the primary movement we have been behind, trying to connect experts from this Commission to policy makers at State, NSC and U.S. Congress.  
• Some argue merging these accords is the way forward. In some sense that is theoretically right, but in practice that could hurt the process by jeopardizing the legitimacy of the broad consensus behind the Commission’s proposal.