“There’s work to be done” | After the choice of a prime minister, Haitians between hope and lucidity

(Port-au-Prince) “I hope he will succeed. » Like David, a refugee in a camp in Port-au-Prince, Haitians wish their new Prime Minister Garry Conille to carry out his mission, while remaining lucid about the scale of the task that awaits him.

After weeks of talks and an initial hiccup in the nomination process, the transitional presidential council on Tuesday chose Mr. Conille as Haiti’s interim prime minister. The order formalizing his appointment was published in The monitorthe official Haitian newspaper, and made public Thursday.

This trained doctor, who was already prime minister for a short period in 2011-2012, was until now regional director for UNICEF. He must tackle a monumental task: trying to get Haiti, ravaged by gangs, out of its deep political, security and humanitarian crisis in order to pave the way for the organization of elections – the first since 2016.

“Garry Conille has his work cut out for him,” summarizes Vermont Saintyl, anthropologist.

And he “has a responsibility towards the nation because he must serve a presidential council which is not elected by the people, which is imposed by the international community,” he adds.

Mr. Saintyl was referring to negotiations between Haitian officials and several countries and organizations, notably the Caribbean Community, which resulted in the establishment of transitional authorities after the resignation of controversial Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

For James Innocent, a teacher, Mr. Conille must be credited with the fact that he “already knows the field” because he was prime minister. And “he already has a lot of international experience,” he emphasizes.

“He must now fight to deliver the country,” he pleads.

“Shooting every day”

“I support everyone who has something positive for the country. Because I don’t live. We hear shots every day,” says Mylove Similka, a merchant, in reference to the violence which is disrupting the lives of the capital’s inhabitants, 80% of which are at the hands of armed gangs.

Nerette Celisca, a resident of Port-au-Prince, finally judges that Garry Conille is “an honest citizen” who will strive “to fight corruption in the country”.

The interim prime minister said Wednesday that he was “very honored” by his appointment and thanked civil society, political parties and members of the diaspora who submitted his name.

“Together we will work towards a better future for all of our nation’s children,” he wrote in Creole on X.

The United States on Thursday welcomed the appointment of Mr. Conille, urging the presidential transition council and the prime minister to “act quickly to appoint an inclusive, responsible and credible government as well as a provisional electoral council to allow elections free and fair”.

Kenyan President William Ruto, whose country is to lead a multinational force to support the Haitian police against gangs, congratulated Garry Conille, calling his appointment an “important step”.

Highly anticipated, the force could be ready to deploy in around three weeks, “once we have carried out the assessment agreed with the Haitian police and the Haitian leaders”, Mr. Ruto recently told the BBC.

Haiti has not had a president since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The mandate of the transitional presidential council must end in February 2026 at the latest.