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标签： Haiti

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  • Zapping Haiti of July 7, 2026

    Zapping Haiti of July 7, 2026

    As the first week of July 2026 draws to a close, a series of developments across Haiti span law enforcement training, economic progress, political debate, institutional capacity-building, and community milestones, painting a multi-faceted picture of life in the Caribbean nation this week.

    On July 4, the opening of a new inter-agency tactical and athletic competition took center stage at Haiti’s National Police Academy (ENP). Divisional Commissioner Richardson Persan formally inaugurated the event, dubbed the Lycan Competition, which brings together elite specialized units from across the country’s security apparatus. Participating teams include the GIPNH-SWAT unit, the USPM, CIMO, PoliFRONT, the Haitian Coast Guard, and a delegation from the National Palace. Over four days of competition concluding on July 7, participants will test their physical and tactical prowess across a demanding slate of challenges: rigorous physical fitness assessments, a grueling obstacle course, precision shooting drills, and a 12-kilometer forced march completed while carrying a 35-pound pack.

    In the northern commercial hub of Cap-Haïtien, economic data released this week shows a promising upward trajectory for local customs revenue. The port of Cap-Haïtien, Haiti’s primary commercial gateway for the northern region, posted customs collections exceeding 1.7 billion gourdes in June 2026. That figure marks a substantial jump from May’s total of more than 1.3 billion gourdes, extending a ongoing growth trend for the region’s key trade revenue stream.

    A political controversy has emerged surrounding a recent leadership change at Haiti’s top anti-corruption body. Prominent attorney André Michel has publicly condemned the dismissal of Hans L. Joseph, Director General of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC), calling the move a damaging political misstep that undermines the Haitian government’s credibility both at home and on the global stage. Michel argues the dismissal is widely interpreted as an intentional effort to hinder ongoing anti-corruption efforts, adding that current administration officials who backed the change received deeply poor counsel.

    Capacity-building efforts in national aviation security are underway in Cap-Haïtien this week, led by a coalition of international and domestic institutions. The Inter-American Counterterrorism Committee has partnered with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), with financial and logistical support from the Canadian Embassy in Haiti, to host a train-the-trainer workshop focused on aviation security. The initiative is coordinated in partnership with Haiti’s National Civil Aviation Office (OFNAC) and National Airport Authority (AAN), bringing together 50 local participants for hands-on instruction. The program is designed to strengthen Haiti’s domestic aviation security capabilities by providing specialized training, tools, and expertise that will allow participating trainees to share their new knowledge with colleagues across national security institutions long after the workshop concludes.

    In a move to boost municipal services in Cap-Haïtien, the Haitian national government delivered a critical piece of infrastructure to the city on July 3. A brand-new dump truck was transferred to municipal authorities to support public cleaning and waste management operations across the municipality. The Cap-Haïtien Municipal Commission has formally extended its gratitude to Prime Minister Garry Conille for the targeted investment in local public services.

    Meanwhile, a long-running community serving vulnerable Haitian populations marked a major organizational milestone this week. The Jesuit Migrant Service, a Catholic organization focused on supporting migrants, displaced people, and marginalized communities across Haiti, celebrated its 27th year of operation. In a statement marking the anniversary, the organization noted that since its founding, it has centered its mission on accompanying, advocating for, and serving people facing extreme hardship who turn to the institution seeking protection, dignified treatment, solidarity, and hope. Over 27 years of work, the service has navigated profound systemic and operational challenges, organizers said, but the work has also been defined by widespread resilience, generosity, and cross-community fraternity among the populations it serves.

  • Environment : Fight against the use of polystyrene «Let’s change the system, not the climate !»

    Environment : Fight against the use of polystyrene «Let’s change the system, not the climate !»

    Thirteen years after the Haitian government signed a decree outlawing all forms of polystyrene across the country, the nation’s leading grassroots climate movement is demanding that officials finally put the long-ignored policy into action, with a planned national mobilization next week to push for change.

    Alternatiba Haiti, the National Citizens’ Climate Movement, brought together 52 representatives — 24 women and 28 men from 23 local movement chapters and four partner civil society organizations — for the group’s first 2026 National Coordination meeting, held in the northeastern city of Ouanaminthe from July 3 to 5. Over three days of deliberations, delegates assessed Haiti’s overlapping socio-economic, political and environmental crises, reviewed progress and challenges from local chapter work across the country, completed training in peaceful direct action tactics, and finalized plans for the July 10 national mobilization.

    The date marks exactly 13 years since the Haitian administration approved the 2013 decree banning the production, importation, sale and use of all forms of polystyrene, more commonly known as Styrofoam. To date, no consecutive government has taken meaningful steps to enforce the regulation, leaving the country grappling with a growing waste crisis that activists say amplifies the nation’s already extreme vulnerability to climate disasters.

    Activists point to widespread polystyrene and plastic waste clogging the country’s ravines, river channels and drainage infrastructure, which worsens seasonal flooding that destroys homes, displaces communities and disrupts livelihoods annually. Beyond flood risk, uncollected polystyrene waste also poses a growing threat to public health across Haiti’s most underserved communities, movement leaders emphasized.

    Framing environmental action as core to public health, intergenerational justice and equitable development, Alternatiba Haiti is calling for the immediate, unconditional enforcement of the 2013 polystyrene ban. The movement is also pushing for targeted government measures to support the adoption and scaling of affordable, eco-friendly alternative packaging and materials for local businesses.

    The group has issued a national call to action, inviting all Haitian citizens, civil society organizations and public institutions to join the July 10 mobilization to demand policy compliance and urgent environmental protection. Operating through a network of 40 local chapters across the country, Alternatiba Haiti says it will continue leading a broader movement for alternative, people-centered development rooted in climate justice, government transparency, grassroots participation and respect for Haitian communities’ rights.

    In a statement following the coordination meeting, the movement reaffirmed its core message: “No development without security, no environmental protection without political will, and no sustainable future without respect for the law” — uniting under the rallying cry, “Let’s change the system, not the climate!”

  • Haitian leaders anticipate digital upheaval

    Haitian leaders anticipate digital upheaval

    Across the globe, rapid digital evolution is reshaping how governments operate, how professionals deliver public services, and how key policy decisions are made. In this shifting landscape, investing in the capacity of current leaders is synonymous with building resilient, future-ready institutions that can adapt to changing public needs. It is this guiding principle that led the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Haiti to facilitate the participation of two senior Haitian public sector leaders in a landmark regional training event focused on women’s leadership in the digital era.

    The two delegates are Magistrate Maguy Florestal, a sitting judge at Haiti’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, who also serves as Director of the National School of Magistrates (EMA), and Erna Royal, Divisional Commissioner of the Haitian National Police (PNH) and special advisor to the PNH Director General. Hosted in Panama by the global UNDP body, with financial and operational support from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the event marked the first iteration of the Regional Academy for Women’s Leadership in the Digital Age.

    Held from June 30 to July 2, 2026, the academy gathered more than 40 women in senior leadership roles across public office, political institutions, and civil society organizations, representing 24 nations across Latin America and the Caribbean. Over three days, participants centered their discussions on the most pressing challenges currently redefining public governance: widespread digital transformation, the rising influence of artificial intelligence in public administration, driving innovation in public services, inclusive governance frameworks, and women’s equitable representation in leadership shaping digital policy.

    Far more than a conventional training workshop, the academy functioned as a collaborative think tank, where leaders could exchange on-the-ground experiences from their respective national contexts, build collective solutions to shared challenges, and formally establish a regional network of women leaders dedicated to reforming and modernizing public institutions across the region.

    For Haiti, the participation of Florestal and Royal carries particular significance, as the two leaders hold senior roles in two institutions that are foundational to advancing the rule of law and sustaining public safety across the country—two priorities that remain central to Haiti’s long-term stability and development. Investing in the capacity of these two leaders, UNDP officials note, is equivalent to strengthening the ability of the institutions they lead to anticipate coming digital shifts, integrate innovative, data-driven approaches to governance, and meet the evolving expectations of Haitian citizens.

    Florestal already partners with UNDP Haiti through the Canada-funded Justice Support and Anti-Impunity Program (PAJSLI), while Royal serves as the official PNH liaison to UNDP, which manages the ongoing PNH Institutional Support Program. The regional academy extends the long-standing targeted support UNDP has provided to Haitian public institutions, helping them evolve into more effective, inclusive bodies better prepared to navigate the digital and structural transformations reshaping the Caribbean region.

  • Security : The FRG presents its objectives to the Security Council

    Security : The FRG presents its objectives to the Security Council

    On June 29, 2026, Jack Christofides, Special Representative for the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) deployed to Haiti, formally presented the mission’s first strategic report to United Nations Security Council President Leonor Zalabata Torres. The document outlines a comprehensive, time-bound operational roadmap with clear performance benchmarks and a hard deadline of September 30, 2028, for delivering core mission outcomes.

    Unlike traditional UN peacekeeping deployments, Christofides emphasized, the GSF operates with three distinct, tiered core objectives. First, the force will launch intelligence-driven operations – carried out either independently or in close collaboration with Haiti’s National Police (PNH) and national Armed Forces (FAd’H) – to steadily reduce and ultimately dismantle the territorial control that armed gangs have exerted across large swathes of the country.

    Second, the GSF will prioritize securing Haiti’s most critical national infrastructure, including Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport, key maritime shipping terminals, official detention facilities, and the country’s busiest national highway networks. Third, the mission is focused on long-term capacity building for Haitian state institutions, equipping local security and governance bodies to independently manage and contain gang violence once the GSF’s initial mandate concludes.

    To achieve these goals, Christofides noted, the GSF must reach its full authorized operational strength of 5,550 uniformed personnel. Once at full capacity, the force will conduct coordinated high-intensity counter-gang operations alongside Haitian security forces to maximize impact on the ground.

    The roadmap identifies three priority geographic regions for initial large-scale operations. The West Department, home to the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince where gangs currently control roughly 90 percent of urban territory, holds top priority. Operations in this region will focus on clearing key arterial roads, the capital’s public port, and the international airport to restore the free movement of people and goods.

    Next, the Artibonite Department – Haiti’s agricultural heartland and primary breadbasket, where armed groups have unleashed widespread terror that has crippled local food production – will be targeted. Securing this region is widely viewed as a critical step to ease the country’s ongoing humanitarian food crisis and reboot local economic activity.

    Finally, the Central Department, a strategic geographic buffer zone, will be secured to block escape routes for gangs fleeing counteroffensives in Port-au-Prince and prevent criminal groups from expanding their control into other regions of Haiti. As the GSF increases its troop numbers over the course of the mandate, operations will eventually expand to cover all 10 of Haiti’s administrative departments.

    Christofides was careful to clarify that the September 2028 deadline does not mark the end goal of full national stabilization for Haiti. Instead, the target sets out to achieve the minimum baseline security conditions required to reverse the country’s current trajectory of escalating gang violence, rebuild public trust in state institutions, and create space for Haitian national authorities – backed by sustained international support – to launch a long-term process of institutional reconstruction and governance reform.

  • Zapping Haiti of July 6, 2026

    Zapping Haiti of July 6, 2026

    July 6, 2026 – A roundup of key developments spanning international sports, domestic security, diplomacy and political affairs out of Haiti and around the globe on Sunday.

    In international football, the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered a stunning Round of 16 upset that will go down in Nordic football history. Norway, fielding one of the world’s most lethal strikers in Erling Haaland, knocked five-time champion Brazil out of the tournament with a last-gasp 2-1 victory that secured the Vikings’ first-ever trip to the World Cup quarter-finals. Haaland, who has dominated European club football for years, put his side ahead in the 79th minute before doubling the lead in the final minute of regulation. Brazilian legend Neymar, who came into the tournament chasing his first World Cup title, pulled one back from the penalty spot deep into 10 minutes of stoppage time, but it was not enough to avoid a historic early exit. This marks Brazil’s earliest World Cup elimination since 1990, and a visibly emotional Neymar confirmed to Brazilian broadcaster TV Globo that he was stepping away from international football after the defeat.

    Back in Haiti, domestic security forces successfully fended off an armed attack on critical infrastructure early Sunday morning. According to reports, heavily armed assailants launched an assault on the Teleco telecommunications site in the Obléon district of Kenscoff at approximately 1:00 a.m. on July 5. The attackers were met with immediate and firm resistance from members of the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd’H), who held their ground against the incursion until specialized reinforcements from the Haitian National Police (PNH) arrived on scene. The combined security forces forced the attackers to retreat, ending the assault without the attackers securing their objective.

    On the diplomatic front, Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé released a formal message marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. “250 years after its birth, the United States of America remains one of the most significant democratic experiments in modern history,” Fils-Aimé said in the statement. “On this anniversary, Haiti salutes the American people and pays tribute to a nation that continues to uphold the ideal of liberty. We also rejoice in the long-standing friendship that unites our two peoples and our shared commitment to nurturing it for the benefit of future generations.”

    Political tensions are rising around upcoming electoral processes in Haiti, however, as a broad coalition of opposition and civil society groups say they have been locked out of negotiations over a new national electoral decree. A coalition made up of more than 20 political parties and civil society organizations issued a statement pushing back against government claims of inclusive consultations, saying they were never invited to participate in discussions or provide input on the electoral decree published on June 2, 2026. “The signatory organizations wish to set the record straight. At no point were they invited by the Government to participate in consultations or to provide feedback on the electoral decree of June 2, 2026. This gives a false impression of the consultation process and risks misleading national public opinion as well as international partners,” the coalition said.

    In global tennis news, Haitian-Japanese star Naomi Osaka notched a career-defining upset on one of the sport’s biggest stages, defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka to qualify for the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time. Ranked 14th in the WTA rankings coming into the match, Osaka dominated the opening set 6-2 before closing out the win with a 7-6(2) victory in the second set on Centre Court. The result marks a major milestone in Osaka’s ongoing return to top-level competition after a series of injury and personal breaks from the tour.

    In domestic economic news, Haiti’s central bank, the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), has highlighted the growing impact of the country’s savings and credit cooperative (CEC) sector on national financial inclusion. As of the end of March 2026, the sector counts 62 licensed cooperatives, more than 1.48 million individual members, and holds a total of more than 38 billion gourdes in total assets. BRH commended the sector for its key role in financing local economic activity and expanding access to financial services across the country, confirming its standing as a core pillar of Haiti’s national financial system.

  • «The abolition of the death penalty in Haiti: a commitment to be preserved» dixit lawyer Jean Wilner Morin

    «The abolition of the death penalty in Haiti: a commitment to be preserved» dixit lawyer Jean Wilner Morin

    When global anti-death penalty advocates gathered in Paris last week for the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, Haiti’s top human rights oversight official brought a urgent, nuanced message from his violence-plagued nation: the hard-won abolition of capital punishment must be defended, even as the country grapples with a systemic breakdown that threatens the fundamental right to life every day.

    Jean Wilner Morin, Haiti’s Ombudsman, addressed a dedicated congress session focused on advancing life protection and the global elimination of capital punishment, delivering a talk titled “The Right to Life and the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Haiti: A Commitment to Uphold.” Morin opened his remarks grounding his advocacy in universal human rights principles: the right to life, he emphasized, serves as the irreplaceable foundation of all other fundamental human freedoms, a value formally codified in every core international human rights agreement. This universal recognition, he argued, places a non-negotiable legal and moral obligation on all sovereign states to shield every individual within their borders from arbitrary deprivation of life.

    Turning to Haiti’s own legal history, Morin walked the audience through the decades-long process that removed capital punishment from the country’s framework. Formal abolition was first enshrined as a constitutional principle in Article 20 of Haiti’s 1987 constitution, adopted nearly 40 years ago after the end of decades of authoritarian rule. That landmark constitutional commitment was solidified a year later, when a government decree issued in June 1988 fully struck all references to the death penalty from the country’s national legal code. Morin framed this step as one of the most significant advances for fundamental human rights in Haiti’s modern democratic history.

    But the ombudsman did not shy away from the profound challenges that now undermine that progress, laying bare the grim reality of the country’s ongoing security and institutional collapse. Haiti is currently grappling with an unprecedented security crisis marked by the rapid expansion of violent armed groups, widespread and repeated violations of basic human rights, and a judicial system that has been weakened to the point of near collapse. This confluence of crises has created a pervasive culture of impunity, Morin explained, that has opened the door to a surge in extrajudicial killings, mob lynchings, and vigilante justice – all practices that systematically violate the fundamental right to life that abolition was meant to protect.

    Morin stressed that the Haitian state’s obligation to protect the right to life extends far beyond simply maintaining the formal abolition of capital punishment. Upholding that core principle requires far more systemic action: active prevention of summary executions, aggressive prosecution of perpetrators of human rights abuses, sustained efforts to root out systemic impunity, and guarantees that all victims of violence have meaningful access to fair and effective justice.

    In closing, Morin outlined the defining challenge facing Haiti today: rebuilding respect for the rule of law by reconstructing a judicial system that is independent, accessible to all Haitian citizens, and effective at upholding the law. He reaffirmed that consistent respect for the right to life – from ending capital punishment to curbing extrajudicial violence – remains an essential precondition for consolidating Haiti’s fragile democracy, protecting all fundamental human rights, and rebuilding the Haitian people’s shattered trust in their public institutions.

  • Sports : 3 Grenadiers from the World Cup visit Haiti

    Sports : 3 Grenadiers from the World Cup visit Haiti

    In a moving display of national pride and unity, Haiti officially welcomed three of its star World Cup Grenadiers back to home soil Sunday, July 5, with an official greeting organized at Cap-Haïtien International Airport. Acting on instructions from Prime Minister Fils-Aimé, a high-level inter-ministerial delegation traveled to the northern airport to extend a warm, official welcome to national players Duckens Nazon, Martin Expérience, and Josué Duverger, who helped represent Haiti on the 2026 FIFA World Cup global stage.

    The welcoming delegation included senior government and local officials: Tourism Minister Stéphanie Smith, Tourism Ministry Director General Sinedie Saintil Dupuy, Youth and Sports Ministry Chief of Staff Innocent Joseph, Minister of Youth, Sports and Civic Action (MJSAC) Pythagore Dumas, Cap-Haïtien Mayor Michel St. Croix, Cap-Haïtien District Deputy Delegate Rulz Angrand, and Haitian National Police Departmental Director Divisional Commissioner Ernst Bouquet Dorfeuille. Youth Ambassador and prominent influencer Ariana Milagro Lafond also joined the event to show public support for the returning athletes.

    All attendees gathered to share gratitude and public support for the three players, turning the airport arrival into a landmark moment of shared patriotic unity for the Caribbean nation. Speaking on behalf of MJSAC, Minister Pythagore Dumas emphasized that the Haitian state owes deep thanks to the athletes, who carried the nation’s flag with honor and distinction throughout the 2026 World Cup tournament. Dumas reaffirmed that the Grenadiers serve as critical role models for young Haitians across the country, adding that their standout performances on the global pitch have strengthened the ministry’s commitment to expanding youth sports development and nurturing emerging homegrown athletic talent.

    In her official remarks to the crowd and the players, Tourism Minister Stéphanie Smith called on all Haitian citizens to follow the Grenadiers’ example, urging “all the sons and daughters of the Nation to become Ambassadors of our heritage, builders of trust, and agents of territorial recovery.” Smith extended warm personal thanks to the three players on behalf of Prime Minister Fils-Aimé and the entire Haitian government, before presenting the athletes with commemorative plaques honoring their historic World Cup appearances.

  • FAd’H : 665 new Recruits begin their Military Training

    FAd’H : 665 new Recruits begin their Military Training

    On June 7, 2026, Haiti’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the completion of selection procedures for the latest cohort of recruits joining the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H), with the final selection round wrapping up on July 5. After navigating a rigorous multi-stage vetting process that evaluated medical fitness, physical endurance, psychotechnical aptitude, and administrative eligibility, 665 candidates have officially earned a spot in the new recruit class, including 98 women who will move forward to start their foundational military training.

    This step marks a key milestone in the Haitian government’s broader strategic push to rebuild and modernize the country’s national armed forces. The administration has framed the expansion of FAd’H as a core priority to enhance the military’s operational capacity, ultimately building a professional, disciplined, and fully functional military institution that can effectively respond to persistent national security challenges and support long-term national development initiatives.

    Looking ahead, defense officials have announced that a second round of recruitment will launch immediately after this initial cohort is deployed to their active units. As part of this next phase, 2,000 additional candidates will be called to participate in the same standardized selection testing process that guided the current intake.

    To uphold core values of transparency, inclusivity, and equal opportunity, the upcoming selection process will draw from candidate pools registered at recruitment centers across all of Haiti’s major urban centers. This decentralized geographic approach is designed to ensure balanced regional representation in the armed forces, guaranteeing that any qualified applicant from across the country has an equal chance to serve in FAd’H ranks.

  • News : Zapping

    News : Zapping

    Over the past week, Haiti has seen a series of significant developments spanning diplomatic engagement, institutional leadership changes, social programs, cultural preservation efforts and industry recognition, shaping the nation’s trajectory across multiple sectors.

    Diplomatic outreach took center stage in London, where a high-level meeting on July 1, 2029 brought together Haitian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Anaïse Manuel and Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the UK House of Commons. The bilateral talks centered on two core priorities: the evolving security landscape in Haiti, and opportunities for the UK to expand bilateral trade ties while supporting sustained, long-term economic growth for the Caribbean nation. This engagement marks a continued push by Haiti to strengthen international partnerships amid ongoing domestic challenges.

    In a separate cross-regional partnership between Mexico and Haiti, the first official working meeting was held between Mexican Ambassador Jesús Cisnores Chávez and Haitian Minister Emmanuel Menard. The two sides laid out a roadmap for collaborative work across cultural and academic sectors, covering joint vocational training programs, shared scientific research initiatives, restoration projects for at-risk historical artworks, nationwide heritage conservation efforts, and expanded people-to-people cultural exchanges. The partnership aims to preserve Haiti’s unique cultural legacy while building institutional capacity across related fields.

    Domestically, a key leadership change took place at Haiti’s General Customs Administration (AGD) on July 3, 2026. Economy and Finance Minister Serge Gabriel Collin formally swore in Walter Gabellus as the agency’s new Director General. Gabellus succeeds outgoing leader Gérald Remplais, stepping into a critical role overseeing customs operations that underpin the nation’s revenue collection and trade regulation.

    In a targeted social impact initiative in Cap-Haïtien, 30 vulnerable young people have begun hands-on vocational training in high-demand skilled trades: tiling, plumbing, and electrical work. The program is a joint effort between the U.S. Embassy in Haiti and the local Center for Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CEDEL), delivered through the Lespwa Center. By equipping participants with industry-recognized technical skills, the program aims to remove barriers to formal employment and support long-term professional integration. Allison Lee, Public Affairs Advisor at the U.S. Embassy, highlighted that accessible vocational training is a foundational tool for expanding economic opportunity for marginalized youth across Haiti.

    Haiti’s national police force also saw a leadership change in its Northern Department. Divisional Commissioner Frantz Ernst Dorfeuil was officially installed as the new Director of the Northern Departmental Directorate of the Haitian National Police (PNH), taking over the role from outgoing Divisional Commissioner Sem Calixte. The leadership transition comes as security remains a top priority for the northern region of the country.

    Finally, Haiti’s iconic Barbancourt distillery earned international industry recognition at the 2026 International Spirits Competition, held June 29, 2026. The distillery’s signature Barbancourt Réserve du Domaine 15-Year-Old Rum was awarded a gold medal for quality, and the company additionally took home the prestigious honor of being named “Haitian Distillery of the Year”. The awards put a global spotlight on Haiti’s long-standing rum-making tradition and its standing in the international spirits market.

  • Economy : Signing of an agreement for innovative and job-creating entrepreneurship

    Economy : Signing of an agreement for innovative and job-creating entrepreneurship

    In a landmark move aimed at unlocking Haiti’s economic potential through youth-led innovation, Haiti’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) has joined forces with the Higher School of Infotronics of Haiti (ESIH) and the Avenir Foundation to officially launch AyitiLAB, a groundbreaking entrepreneurship initiative. The formal partnership was cemented earlier this week via the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, held at the Avenir Foundation’s headquarters in Delmas 83.

    AyitiLAB was designed from the ground up to nurture creative, job-creating business concepts that deliver measurable, long-term benefits to Haiti’s national economy. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Commerce and Industry James Monazard framed the agreement as far more than a symbolic gesture: it is a collective pledge to address long-standing gaps in Haiti’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, a top strategic priority for his ministry.

    “We firmly believe that lasting economic transformation for our country can only come from empowering our young people to design, launch, and grow value-creating businesses that meet local needs,” Monazard stated, adding that the MCI remains fully committed to supporting all partner organizations as they roll out the initiative across the country.

    Patrick Atié, Director of ESIH, celebrated the partnership for creating a much-needed platform for Haitian young people to translate academic knowledge into real-world impact. The initiative will give emerging creators and entrepreneurs space to demonstrate their skills, refine innovative projects, and build ventures that drive inclusive national growth, he said.

    For Etzer Émile, President of the Avenir Foundation, the signed memorandum represents a promise to Haiti’s next generation of leaders, not just a bureaucratic formality. Émile also highlighted the MCI’s consistent, multi-year efforts to expand support for youth entrepreneurship, noting that the institutional commitment has laid critical groundwork for initiatives like AyitiLAB.

    During the launch event, Japhé Mercier, AyitiLAB’s representative, outlined the core mission and structure of the new program. Mercier emphasized a key observation that shapes AyitiLAB’s work: the greatest barrier to Haitian youth entrepreneurship is not a lack of talent among the country’s young population, but the absence of a supportive ecosystem that can nurture emerging ideas, turn raw innovations into actionable community solutions, and help early-stage concepts grow into sustainable, long-term businesses. AyitiLAB is built specifically to fill this gap, creating the infrastructure and support network young entrepreneurs need to thrive.