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Bèf pa janm bouke pote kòn li A cow never grows tired of carrying its own horns (Haitian proverb)
*We translate the Haitian proverbs literally (word-for-word) to challenge you to reflect on and discover the spirit and poetry of the proverb for yourself. Did you understand today’s proverb?
CHAY LA | Main Story
In recent weeks, we have examined the geopolitical and partisan forces behind Prime Minister Alix Fils Aimé’s arrival at the head of Haiti’s executive branch. But what do Haitians, the very people Fils Aimé should be accountable to, think and recommend as a way forward? While the urgency to reestablish constitutional order and break the cycle of transitional governments is legitimate, what can elections held in a capital controlled by armed groups realistically promise the Haitian people?
On March 2, the CEP (Provisional Electoral Council) announced the start of a condensed registration period for political parties, running through March 12th, with plans to hold the first election round in August and any runoff in December.
This rapid timeline suggests the Fils-Aimé government intends to proceed with elections without major measures to ensure broader, safer participation, including for displaced Haitians and those living under gang control. The plan appears focused on securing key infrastructure, such as major roads and airports, while moving forward with voting despite the ongoing gang presence.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Haitian Chief of Police Vladimir Paraison said they have a plan that is “still in the kitchen and has not finished cooking yet." Unfortunately, holding elections under current conditions would all but guarantee victories for gang-supported candidates in municipalities like Kafou, Kwadèboukè, and Site Solèy, handing power directly to whoever is backing and financing those gangs.
Two recent studies offer insight into the views of everyday Haitians. According to the initial findings of a survey conducted in late 2025 by Institut de Recherche et d'Action pour la Paix (IRAP), 58% of respondents think elections should be postponed until the security situation improves. According to IRAP, which consulted internally displaced people, residents of gang-controlled neighborhoods, and armed actors, 46.5% of respondents prefer more aggressive action from security forces, compared to 28.6% who prefer dialogue with gangs, and 24.4% believe the government should pursue both.
It should be noted that support for security force interventions is not unconditional. Respondents are also deeply concerned about collateral damage, particularly from drone strikes. This is consistent with recent statements by community leaders in Site Solèy, who has raised serious concerns about the increase in government drone operations since mid-January. IRAP’s findings also revealed low confidence in the CPT, with 48% of respondents lacking faith in the justice system’s ability to deliver accountability. Civil society organizations, however, were seen as key to driving effective solutions.
Another recent public opinion poll by Aksyon Sitwayen Angaje (ASA), together with ProEco, suggests similar trends. According to ASA, 55.5% of respondents preferred delaying elections to holding flawed ones, with 95.4% insisting that security must be restored first. The data show a clear willingness to vote, with 57.6% expressing interest in participating in elections. However, people’s willingness to participate comes with conditions: the process must be secure, transparent, and trustworthy.
POLITIK/POLEMIK
According to a report by human rights group Fondasyon Je Klere (FJKL), three questionable contracts were signed by the Fils-Aimé government last year, involving the construction and management of three new prisons (in Sous Matla, Fò Libète, and Jakmèl), security in Pòtoprens, and customs/immigration modernization.
These contracts essentially hand over key state functions to foreign private companies, raising concerns over a lack of transparency and protection of Haitian interests. Reports of the contract signed with Erik Prince on security, as well as the customs/immigration modernization contract, have been circulating since last year. In the report, FJKL denounces the corrupt manner in which the contracts were awarded, as well as the lack of security gains since Prince’s firm began working with the Haitian government. Details on the prison contracts, however, are more recent, and many of the terms are egregious — including a 50-year duration and a requirement to pay for a minimum 75% occupation of each prison building in service, even without detainees.
FJKL condemned the agreements as a scandal and an abdication of national sovereignty, calling for investigations by anti-corruption agencies and future parliamentary committees — particularly given that they were signed during an ongoing crisis by unelected politicians.
In the face of such blatant selling out of the country by Fils Aimé, political analyst Johnny Celestin urges Haitians not to back down.
Nevertheless, as citizens, we would only enable this government to act with even greater impunity by avoiding engagement with it. Our task is to find ways to hold it accountable and to preserve the dignity of Haitian citizenship. Source: Johnny’s Substack
Migrasyon
Emmanuel Damas, a Haitian asylum seeker, died in U.S. immigration detention after a treatable tooth infection worsened due to inadequate medical care, his family says. Held at Florence Correctional Facility in Arizona, he was denied timely treatment and visitation until his final days. Medical neglect in ICE facilities is an ongoing concern, with 32 deaths reported last year, the highest in over 20 years.
The Trump administration continues to target Haitian migrants and Haiti's economy by threatening to restrict remittances, with the Department of Homeland Security claiming U.S. dollars shouldn't subsidize foreign economies. Characterizing the hard-earned money Haitians send to loved ones back home as theft is both cynical and alarming. Whether or not Trump can actually do this, it is already creating stress for Haitians and energizing his anti-immigrant base. For Haitians in Haiti, where remittances are a lifeline, the consequences could be devastating.
A D.C. federal appeals court has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 350,000 Haitians in the U.S., citing likely unlawful termination and severe consequences if deportations proceed.
The 2-1 ruling upholds protections, noting Haiti’s collapsing security and healthcare systems make return unsafe. The decision allows TPS holders to remain and work unless the Supreme Court intervenes. The Trump administration has since filed an emergency appeal, part of a broader effort to terminate TPS across multiple groups, including Haitians.
DEGI | Recommendations before you go
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