Regional talks wrap, national congress delayed as Haiti seeks unified crisis plan | What You Need To Know

The Patriotic Congress for National Rescue—a nationwide gathering of academics, civil society, and diaspora leaders—concluded its final regional forums on June 13, just ahead of the now-delayed National Congress in Port-au-Prince. Organizers postponed the two-day conference from June 20–21 to June 26–27 at Hôtel El Rancho to allow for deeper engagement and consensus-building on strategic planning.

Organizing committee members explained that the delay stemmed from civil society leaders calling for more time to clarify post‑congress procedures and promote broader societal mobilization outside the capital.

“Leaders from several civil society organizations, who wanted more time to interact with the congress organizers to better agree on the post-congress steps in terms of follow-up to the solution-oriented proposals, requested the one-week delay,” Marc Prou, one of the organizers, said.

“Moreover, postponing the event was necessary,” Gaëlle C. Jasmin, a technical secretary member, told The Haitian Times. 

“These regional congresses are a way to prepare for the national congress through successive approximations and to ensure increasing mobilization of the entire society without the discussions being dominated by actors in the capital.”

Organizers invite everyone interested in participating online in the National Congress to register here.

The initiative, launched on March 27 via a declaration signed by universities and diaspora groups, organized 11 pre-congress forums—including one via Zoom for the diaspora and 10 mixed online and in-person in Haiti’s public universities (UPRs). They gathered input on three pillars: security, political transition and good governance tied to necessary and sound institutional reforms.

The declaration on the Patriotic Congress for National Rescue’s official portal emphasized unity in reclaiming territory from gangs, ending the cycle of transitional governments and rebuilding governance based on the rule of law and democracy.

Regional findings and proposed solutions: examples across Haiti and the diaspora

From the initial meeting on Zoom on May 31, the discussions about the crisis and proposed solutions were largely aligned. Speakers urged decentralized governance, institutional overhaul, security reform and reconciliation. 

In Miragoâne, Nippes Department, local academics and students emphasized the importance of training self-defense brigades and supporting economic development in provinces—ideas that were also supported by the discussions in the South and Artibonite departments.

Discussions included transitional justice measures and local development strategies—issues not initially scheduled for the national agenda but repeatedly raised in regional assemblies.

In Cap-Haïtien, the capital of the North Department, around 100 students and faculty members joined civil society and political figures on June 11 to brainstorm ideas and solutions. One of the most notable attendees was former Senator Kelly C. Bastien. The former president of the Senate in the late 2000s and early 2010s has been designated to represent the northern region in the National Congress in Port-au-Prince, along with a university student.

Also on June 11, in Fort-Liberté, Northeast Department, the congress organized around the theme— “Inter‑Haitian Dialogue around Security and National Governance”—featured notable speakers, including the city’s attorney Eno Zéphirin and judge Aristil Frito.

During Bastien’s intervention, he warned students about how they would need to present their ideas on solutions to Haiti’s various crises.

“The way you guys are talking about the problems—I might not be able to do it like. I might be too nice because you’re going to negotiate with some sharks, who might trick you with words,” Bastien said.

Students proposed seizing on the opportunity of the transitional government’s new constitution proposal to change the laws, reduce government powers, provide comprehensive civic training and vet elites. However, the former president of the Senate emphasized the need to balance realism with idealism and political acumen.

“We’re asking for training on how to be citizens so we can have real Haitians,” the students argued. 

“There are too many people who say they were well-formed, have doctorates, but are fake Haitians.”

Delegates intend to deliver these proposals to Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) after the national gathering.

Challenges, gaps and broader context in search of a path forward

Some of the regional events, such as Fort-Liberté, Gonaïves and Jacmel, recorded a low rate of participation. In Fort-Liberté, only 40 of 70 invitees attended the northeast congress—organizers had failed to include rural stakeholders. In other cities, such as Gonaïves in the Artibonite, the lack of agricultural productivity due partly to gang violence emerged as a central concern, underscoring food insecurity as a national emergency.

For one of the panelists, Bénédique Paul, “this is a primary reason residents struggle to eat daily.”

“We can’t really explain why they didn’t respond despite our invitations,” Bernard Nemorin, head of Northeastern Public University, said, disappointed. “We invited several educational institutions, such as the Université Franco-Haïtienne Notre-Dame and the École Polytechnique Don Bosco in Fort-Liberté, but they didn’t come.”

Yet, despite widespread participation in other regions, organizers acknowledge the challenge for the academics, students, and leaders of civil society organizations to speak with one voice, ensuring this transition marks the last in a cycle of crisis.

Haiti is in the midst of a profound multidimensional crisis: nearly 90% of Port-au-Prince is controlled by gangs, over one million people are internally displaced, and millions are facing food insecurity. Experts from the California-based nonprofit public policy research organization RAND find hope in youth engagement, diaspora involvement and civic participation—and view the engaged discussions through the National Patriotic Congress as a critical step forward. 

Meanwhile, development organizations also advocate for sustainable, multi-sector strategies that address violence, climate resilience, food systems and infrastructure. These ideas were amply discussed during the regional forums across Haiti, emphasizing that security reforms—rooted in territorial control and unified command—must coincide with decentralization, development, justice, constitutional clarity and civic education. 

During the two days of the national congress at Hôtel El Rancho, Pétien-Ville, delegates will synthesize regional inputs and issue a unified roadmap on security, governance reform, the transition process and socioeconomic development projects. Afterwards, organizers plan to present proposals to Haiti’s institutions, including the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT).

The National Congress is an opportunity not to be missed by Haitians, organizers said. 

“The objective is for the university body to speak with one voice so that there is a way out of the crisis and that this transition is the last to put an end to insecurity,” Némorin said. “This is among the rare countrywide grassroots efforts engaging academia, youth, diaspora and civil society to craft comprehensive solutions—marking a pivotal moment in Haiti’s search for sustainable rescue.”

On Monday, Michaëlle Jean, spokesperson for the Patriotic Congress for National Rescue, issues an appeal to Haitians emphasizing the importance and urgency of this event.

“It is urgent that Haitian society organize itself to deliver a strong and coordinated response to the criminal plan aimed at destroying the country,” Jean, former Governor General of Canada, wrote. “It is our responsibility to make the brave decisions needed once and for all to stop this slide into chaos and definitively steer the country toward development.”