Plans are under way for Haitian President Jovenel Moise's funeral.
Acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph said planning was being done in consultation with first lady Martine Moise and the Moise family. An official government announcement was issued ahead of the press conference to introduce members of the official planning committee.
"The council of ministers will oversee the committee's work. The institutions and public administration will provide all necessary resources in completing this mission. The government should provide members of the committee with everything they need while being respectful of the task at hand," Joseph said.
In addition to himself, Joseph said the committee members include the ministers of defense, culture and communication, and interior; the director of the cabinet (chief of staff); the secretary-general of the presidency; and the director-general of the MUPANAH (Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien).
The prime minister called on Haitian citizens to participate in the funeral ceremony and events honoring Moise's life.
"We must bid him farewell with honor and dignity," Joseph said.
He did not specify when the funeral would be held but announced that further details would be forthcoming.
Political void
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti tweeted a video message from Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the situation in Haiti and the assistance the U.S. is providing in the aftermath of the assassination. The message was posted with both Creole and French translations.
"The United States is in close consultations with our Haitian and international partners to support the Haitian people in the aftermath of the assassination of President Moise. We urge the country's political leaders to bring the country together around a more peaceful and inclusive, peaceful and secure vision and pave the road toward free and fair elections this year," Blinken said in the video message.
Although the interim prime minister has taken charge of Haiti's political affairs, a leadership vacuum remains. A day before his murder, Moise named Ariel Henry as the country's new prime minister. Joseph, who had been serving as prime minister and foreign minister, was to stay on as foreign minister.
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said in a statement that the U.S. delegation dispatched to Haiti by President Joe Biden had met with Joseph, Henry and Senate President Joseph Lambert.
The delegation encouraged “open and constructive dialogue to reach a political accord that can enable the country to hold free and fair elections," the statement said.
Lambert denounced Joseph on Twitter Monday for criticizing Henry during the meeting.
"I feel insulted. Prime Minister designate #ArielHenry admits that minister @ClaudeJoseph03 denounced him in front of the American delegation," he tweeted.
Joseph has not yet responded to Lambert's tweet.
Former Senator Steven Benoit held his own press conference Tuesday to discuss his plan to fill the leadership void.
"I told Senator Lambert that we need to organize as soon as possible a national dialogue with representatives of all sectors of society, including the religious sector, to decide what we are going to do," Benoit said. "The constitution has been ignored (by President Moise) since January 2020, so today we need a political accord. And I've asked Senator Lambert to meet with the different political parties, which he has begun to do, as well as members of civil society, to discuss the issues and come up with a Haitian solution."
Benoit said he is in favor of an 18-month transition period, ending with presidential and legislative elections in September or October 2022.
Elsewhere in the capital, a commission comprised of representatives of all sectors of Haitian civil society plans to meet Thursday to sign a political accord that will name a new president.
Ted Saint Dic, one of the organizers of the upcoming meeting, told reporters the group plans to meet with the 10 Haitian senators whose terms have not expired.
"We will present a plan based on discussions we have already had, that we will make public during the meeting. With regards to the proposal to name Senator Lambert president of the republic, we believe that before making such a decision, there must be consultations. That's where we are right now," Saint Dic said.
He described the effort as a "society effort" that would not be rushed.
"We're not in a hurry. We want to allow the country to find a way to enter into dialogue and agree on solutions that fundamentally address the biggest preoccupations of the Haitian people," Saint Dic said. "The people have what it takes to decide who their leader will be."
Political leader Dieudonne Lherisson of the PLANSPA (Platfom Nasyonal Sekte Popile Ayisyen) Party also held a press conference Tuesday to call for a national dialogue.
"Everyone knows there were (only) 11 elected officials in the country — President Moise and the 10 senators. President Moise is dead now, so 10 elected officials remain, who were elected by the people. It is time for them to take responsibility and organize a national dialogue — not to mess around — but rather to find the best formula to reestablish order, fight insecurity and organize elections to allow the people to choose their leader in a democratic fashion," Lherisson said.
Asked by VOA who the United States considers to be the leader of Haiti, the State Department and White House declined to comment.
State Department spokesman Ned Price told VOA the administration is concerned about Haiti's institutions and the path to elections.
"It’s about Haiti’s institutions. We continue to support the Haitian people and their constitution, knowing that the constitution needs to be an enduring framework for what happens next," Price said. "And so yes, in our view there needs to be free and fair elections. They need to happen this year — legislative elections, presidential elections — pursuant to the Haitian constitution. And that is precisely why we have continued to support them."
Assassination investigation
Haiti's National police issued three arrest warrants Tuesday for individuals connected to Moise's assassination. Copies of the documents sent to VOA name the suspects as: Joseph Felix Badio, Rodolf Jaar (aka Dodof) and John Joel Joseph. They are wanted for murder, attempted murder, armed burglary and are described as "armed and dangerous." The police are seeking the public’s help in locating the individuals.
Police Chief Leon Charles said police have arrested 18 Colombians and three Haitians in connection with the attack, and that at least five other people were believed to be at large.
Police said a Haitian man with ties to the U.S., Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 63, is believed to be the mastermind behind the assassination plot. Haitian Americans James Solages, 35, and Joseph G. Vincent, 55, are in police custody.
State Department spokesman Price said officials are aware that Haitian Americans are in police custody.
"We continue to monitor the situation closely. As in all cases, we will provide appropriate consular services to detained U.S. citizens," Price said. "Obviously, privacy considerations preclude us from saying much more, but I do suspect that once we have had access to all three American citizens who are detained, we’ll be in a position to confirm that."
State Department correspondent Nike Ching and White House bureau chief Steve Herman contributed to this report.
