Haiti - Washington : Dialogue on Diaspora Electoral and Political Participation

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Haiti - Washington : Dialogue on Diaspora Electoral and Political Participation
14/04/2025 09:27:24

Last week, the Embassy of Haiti in Washington, D.C. hosted a high-level dinner discussion between representatives of the Haitian diaspora and an official delegation led by Presidential Advisor Smith Augustin. The agenda included ongoing constitutional reform, the diaspora's electoral and political participation, and its role in Haiti's economic and institutional recovery.

In his address, Smith Augustin provided an overview of the situation in the country, emphasizing the urgency of breaking the cycle of violence, fragmentation, and exclusion through far-reaching structural reforms. He emphasized the need for a new political architecture "that recognizes and fully integrates the diaspora into governance mechanisms," emphasizing that "Haiti remains the only country in the region that does not guarantee political representation to its diaspora, a democratic anomaly that we must correct."

Representatives of the Haitian community expressed their desire to actively participate in the democratic process through :

- Effective voting rights;
- Official political representation;
- Increased engagement in strategic sectors of national development.

They also emphasized the urgent need for a clear, structured, and regularly communicated plan for their involvement in the democratic transition. Concrete proposals were made, such as:

- The creation of liaison units between Haitian institutions and the diaspora;
- The establishment of reliable and secure remote voting mechanisms;
- The development of an institutional status for the diaspora in the future architecture of the state.

In closing, Councilor Augustin reiterated the five priority areas of the Presidential Transitional Council : restoring security, constitutional reform, organizing credible and inclusive elections, rebuilding institutions, and civic engagement. He also emphasized the need to combat arms trafficking and ensure a safe, stable environment conducive to investment by the diaspora.

It should be noted that to date, more than 150,000 Haitian nationals in the diaspora are already registered on the electoral roll with the Embassy, a figure expected to grow as participation mechanisms are strengthened.

HL/ HaitiLibre