Pamela A. White believes that the Montana Accord is the best formula for finding a solution to the crisis that Haiti has been experiencing for a very long time. “What is important is that the Montana agreement is a consensual agreement, more consensual than other agreements. I believe that because of this, the Haitian people must have confidence in this agreement more than any other,” said White.
The former U.S. representative in Haiti also praised the president and prime minister, respectively Fritz Alfonse Jean and Steven Irvenson Benoit, elected during the election held at the Hotel Ritz Kinam in Pétion-Ville (east of Port-au-Prince).
In an exclusive interview with ZoomHaitiNews and CaribbeanTelevisionNetwork, Ms. White believes that Fritz Alphonse Jean and Steven Benoit are the best qualified personalities to lead the transition of rupture. “I know [these two personalities] very well, especially Benoit with whom I had several meetings when I worked in Haiti. I believe that Fritz Jean has the experience and the know-how. He is very intelligent. He knows well the position of the Americans and the Haitian reality”, said Pamela Ann White who answered questions from Emmanuel Paul for ZoomHaitiNews.
Mrs. White believes that it is fundamental that the architects of the Montana agreement multiply the meetings in Washington DC in order to rally more members of the American administration to their cause. The members of the agreement should now meet with Senators, Congressmen and members of the American executive to convince them of the viability of the breakaway transition,” advised Pamela White. She also invites the two elected members of the CNT to “explain very clearly to the Haitian people what steps will be taken during the transition period.”
For Pamela White, the problem of insecurity that currently plagues the country must be the main priority of the transition team.
The former ambassador believes that de facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry should make an effort to facilitate a resolution to the crisis. “Ariel Henry has always indicated the possibility of stepping down if the population asks him to. Now is the time for him to walk the talk,” said Pamela White. However, she believes that the head of the host villa can be part of the transitional government.
The former diplomat is confident that the U.S. State Department will eventually join the consensus reached in the Montana Accord, which she says has some popular legitimacy through the organizations from various sectors of civil society represented in the Montana Accord.
This is also the position of former U.S. Special Envoy to Haiti Daniel Foote who is optimistic that the international community in general and the United States in particular understand the need to join with Haitian political and civil society organizations to facilitate the implementation of the Montana Accord.
Daniel Foote believes that this agreement is a testament to the ability of Haitians to come together to solve their problems. It is an opportunity for Joe Biden’s administration to show its solidarity with the Haitian people, he said.
Pamela White and Daniel Foote have a long history of working in Haiti. The former was ambassador from 2012 to 2015 while the latter was recently special envoy to Haiti. They have also served in other positions at the US Embassy in Haiti.
The interview with Pamela White will be broadcast live on ZoomHaitiNews platforms this Monday at around 7pm.