Former interim President Jocelerme Privert used the 222nd anniversary of the Battle of Vertières to issue a stark warning about Haiti’s ongoing political, security, and economic crises, urging the urgent restoration of constitutional and institutional legitimacy.
In a message to the nation, Privert highlighted the collapse of the Legislative branch in January 2020, which has left Haiti without a functioning parliament for nearly six years. The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, he said, plunged the country into a “confused transition” that some have sought to perpetuate for personal gain rather than resolve.
“The restoration of constitutional and institutional legitimacy is now more imperative than ever,” Privert said. “Haiti needs credible, transparent, and honest elections to provide itself with legitimate leaders capable of guiding the country toward recovery.”
He warned that the nation’s political vacuum is compounded by widespread insecurity, with Port-au-Prince under threat from armed gangs for roughly five years. Government institutions have been forced to relocate, and Toussaint Louverture International Airport—the capital’s only international airport—has been abandoned by airlines after repeated attacks.
Privert also painted a grim picture of the country’s economic and social situation. He noted six years of negative economic growth and a lack of investments, while more than 60% of the population—nearly six million people—live below the extreme poverty line. Around 1.4 million Haitians have been displaced by gang violence, many fleeing looted or burned homes for precarious shelters, and millions of children remain deprived of education, particularly in areas controlled by armed groups.
“Faced with this reality, our compatriots’ hope for a peaceful and prosperous future is severely compromised,” he said. “Yet, Haiti can still recover, provided that these three essential pillars—peace, security, and stability—are urgently restored.”
Privert also urged citizens to reject demagogues, opportunists, and those who glorify corruption and violence, stressing that the country “deserves better than those who transform violence and plunder into political arguments, or worse, into a model of governance.”
While marking the historical significance of Vertières Day—the decisive victory that paved the way for Haiti’s independence—Privert emphasized that the nation’s destiny depends on collective action. “Haiti awaits neither a providential savior nor a miracle from elsewhere: it awaits its children, united and responsible, determined to break with fear, division, and resignation,” he said.
He closed with a call for civic responsibility, dialogue, and unity:
“May each of us choose the Republic. May each of us dedicate our energy to serving the Nation. May God watch over Haiti! Long live the Republic, long live Haiti!”
