Spanish
Port-au-Prince.- The president of the Presidential Transition Council (CPT) of Haiti, Laurent Saint-Cyr, called for dialogue and unity this Thursday, on the occasion of the 222nd anniversary of independence, as well as emphasizing that 2026 is an election year and that security remains the main demand of Haitians.
"I call on all Haitians, wherever they may be. Let's overcome divisions. Let's move forward on the path to stability. Let's choose Haiti first," Saint-Cyr declared in a speech broadcast on social media.
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He asserted that, in terms of security, progress has been made and that the State has begun to regain control of several areas, referring to the territories dominated by armed gangs that have sown insecurity in Port-au-Prince and other parts of the country. "Today, the country is going through one of the most difficult periods in its history. The violence of criminal groups plunges thousands of families into fear", he added. He underlined that a serious humanitarian crisis keeps more than a million people in despair, from which "no one is spared," neither children, nor young people, nor mothers nor fathers. Saint-Cyr also described as "sad" the fact that armed Haitians become a "poison" for their brothers, forcing their compatriots to become refugees in their own country. "That's not what (Jean Jacques) Dessalines (the country's hero) and all our ancestors fought for. That is not the project of independence," he explained. The President of the Presidential Council stated that elections are the means to restore legitimacy, stability, and trust. "Dialogue is a tool of responsibility. It's the best way to avoid falling into chaos. It is not with weapons and violence, nor with divisions and conspiracies, much less with the pursuit of personal interests, that a nation will be built," he stated. Last November, the Provisional Electoral Council approved that the general elections be held on August 30, 2026 and that, in the event of a second round, it be held on December 6. In a part of his speech, dedicated to highlighting positive themes, he recalled the cases of Haitian athletes and intellectuals who have shone abroad, highlighting writers who have won "important" literary awards, as well as Haiti's return to the World Cup of soccer, after 52 years of absence. "All these beautiful achievements demonstrate that the Haitian people can continue to surprise the world. We did it in 1804, the Grenadiers (the soccer team) just did it last November 18th. We can make history again," he pointed out.
