A transitional council tasked with bringing political stability to Haiti was installed Thursday in the Caribbean country’s capital, which has been marred by gang violence and a surge in hunger and poverty.
The newly installed council will appoint a new prime minister and cabinet, and draw up a roadmap to ultimately hold the long-awaited general elections. That mandate will expire on February 7, 2026, and a new president will be sworn in on that date.
Ariel Henry resigns as prime minister as Haiti continues to face deadly gang violence
The council is made up of eight men and one woman. Seven members have voting rights.
A transitional council tasked with bringing political stability to Haiti has been established in the country’s capital, which is marred by gang violence and soaring hunger and poverty. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Let’s take a glimpse of who they are:
voting members
Smith Agustín — Former Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, legal expert, and sociologist. He is associated with the EDE/RED political party. He replaced Dominique Dupuis, a former UNESCO ambassador candidate who recently resigned following political attacks and death threats.
Dr. Louis Gerard Gilles — The former senator will represent the signatories of the December 21 agreement in the council. The group has ties to outgoing Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Gilles is associated with the Haitian Freedom Coalition party, New Direction Coalition.
Fritz Alphonse Jean — Economist, Director of INHOPP (Haiti Institute for Public Policy Research). Former central bank governor, former interim prime minister. He frequently travels abroad seeking support from the Haitian community. He is affiliated with a civil society organization known as the Montana Compact.
Edgarde Leblanc Fils — former president of the Haitian Senate from 1995 to 2000. Fils came in second place in his February 2016 parliamentary indirect presidential election behind Joselerm Privert. He is the general coordinator of the People’s Organization of Struggle. He represents the January 30th political group.
Laurent Saint Cyr — President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti and Managing Director of Haiti Alternative Insurance Company.
Emmanuel Vertilaire — Judge of the Cap-Haitien Court is an expert in criminology and anti-corruption efforts. He is associated with the Pitti Dessalines political party and the National Farmers’ Network.
Leslie Voltaire — veteran politician who was a member of the governments of Jean-Bertrand Aristide and René Préval. His influence goes back more than 30 years. He is a former Minister of Education and Minister of Education for Haitians living abroad. He ran for president himself in 2010, but later claimed that votes were rigged against him. He is associated with the Funmi Lavalas party.
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observer
Regine Abraham — agronomist and cabinet director of the Ministry of the Environment. She took the job after René Jean Jumeau resigned over his alleged involvement in the squandering of PetroCaribe funds. She has worked at the World Bank and the European Union.
Frinell Joseph — This evangelical pastor rose to prominence as treasurer of the Haitian Election Commission, which represents Haiti’s faith. Four years later, in 2020, the Haiti Pastoral Conference accused him of focusing too much on personal political objectives on the council. He and seven other city council members resigned due to local pressure. The pastor is well known in the country for his lectures on spirituality.
