标签: Haiti

海地

  • Haiti’s Amending Budget adopted (2025-2026)

    Haiti’s Amending Budget adopted (2025-2026)

    In an early-June Council of Ministers meeting, Haiti’s governing administration formally adopted an amended 2025-2026 national budget, marking a 4.3% upward adjustment from the fiscal period’s initial spending plan to total 360.3 billion Haitian gourdes. The revised budget is crafted to advance three core national priorities that top the government’s current agenda: restoring widespread public security, organizing long-planned national elections, and stabilizing Haiti’s fragile macroeconomic landscape.

    Beyond addressing pressing immediate public security needs, the supplementary budget is structured around three overarching strategic pillars that guide all allocated spending. First, the plan prioritizes advancing food security across the country, expanding existing government social safety net programs, and expanding access to critical basic social services for vulnerable populations. Second, it targets broad economic rebound through large-scale infrastructure rehabilitation and the revitalization of Haiti’s agricultural sector, a backbone of rural employment and domestic food production. Third, it allocates dedicated resources to fully support the administration of upcoming national elections.

    Based on current projections for public revenue collection, policymakers forecast that Haiti’s overall tax burden will remain largely unchanged from the 2024-2025 fiscal year. To cover the adjusted spending totals, the government plans to modify planned Treasury bond issuances to align with current market conditions and the absorption capacity of Haiti’s domestic financial system.

    Breaking down the budget’s funding structure, 67.5% of the total 360.3 billion gourdes, equal to 243.1 billion gourdes, will come from tax revenue collected by Haiti’s Directorate General of Taxes and customs revenue administered by the General Customs Administration. Combined international grants and concessionary loans contribute an additional 70 billion gourdes, accounting for 19.4% of the total budget. When combined with other domestic funding sources—including 24.8 billion gourdes from Treasury bonds, 16.45 billion gourdes from a loan from the Bank of the Republic of Haiti, and 4.3 billion gourdes in other domestic project financing—total domestic resources reach 288.7 billion gourdes, covering 80.1% of the full amended budget.

    On the expenditure side, current operating spending makes up 59.3% of the total budget at 213.7 billion gourdes, with personnel costs accounting for 31.5% of the overall budget and goods and services expenditures making up 19.4%, the two largest spending categories. Capital expenditures, totaling 146.6 billion gourdes, represent 40.6% of the total revised budget—a notable increase from the initial budget’s capital allocation. This expanded capital spending underscores the government’s stated commitment to advancing the public investments required to improve security conditions and lay the groundwork for long-term economic recovery.

    Compared to the original 2025-2026 budget, the amended plan increases domestic resources from 279.61 billion gourdes to 290.2 billion gourdes, while external resources rise from 65.9 billion gourdes to 70.12 billion gourdes. Current operating expenditures see only a minor uptick from 213.56 billion to 213.72 billion gourdes, while capital expenditures get a far more substantial boost from 131.95 billion to 146.59 billion gourdes. The share of total budget funding covered by current tax and customs revenue has edged down from 70.5% in the initial plan to 67.5% in the amended version, offset by increases in both domestic borrowing and external financing.

  • 2026 World Cup : Coach Migné confident the Grenadiers can qualify for the second round (video)

    2026 World Cup : Coach Migné confident the Grenadiers can qualify for the second round (video)

    Three matchdays remain in Haiti’s 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage campaign, and head coach Sébastien Migné is refusing to count his side out of a spot in the tournament’s knockout round, even after a narrow 1-0 opening defeat to Scotland on June 13.

    Speaking to reporters just one day after the tough opening result, the French manager acknowledged the disappointment of falling short in their first outing, but stressed that Haiti’s World Cup dream is far from over.

    “Of course we’re disappointed. But this tournament isn’t over for us, and we’re still in the fight,” Migné said. “From the very beginning of our preparation, we knew this would not be an easy group. We don’t have the depth or the global ranking that some of the other teams here boast, and we went into this campaign ready to fight for every chance we get.”

    Migné broke down where his side fell flat against Scotland, noting that Haiti’s build-up play consistently broke into dangerous areas, with the side moving the ball effectively into the final 25 yards of the pitch. The issue, he explained, came in the final moments of attacking sequences: the Grenadiers lacked clinical spontaneity in front of goal, and made uncharacteristically poor decisions when chances opened up.

    With the score sitting at 1-0 for the full 90 minutes, Migné told his side to prioritize controlled attacking pressure rather than throwing all players forward in a reckless chase for an equalizer— a decision rooted in the reality that final group stage placings can be decided by just a single goal of difference.

    Under the 2026 World Cup format, the top two teams from each group advance directly to the knockout round, while the four best third-placed teams across all groups also qualify for the second round. That structure, Migné pointed out, leaves Haiti with a clear path forward: if the side can claim victory in just one of their three remaining group fixtures, they remain firmly in contention to advance.

    Beyond the results, Migné reflected on the once-in-a-lifetime experience of competing on the world’s biggest football stage. “Above all else, what an incredible privilege it is to play in this kind of atmosphere,” he said. “It was truly fantastic. We won’t give up this fight, and we’ll be ready to compete again when we step onto the pitch for our next match.”

  • 2026 World Cup : The Prime Minister of Haiti meets with the Boston diaspora

    2026 World Cup : The Prime Minister of Haiti meets with the Boston diaspora

    Amid the buzz of the 2026 FIFA World Cup where Haiti’s national team is competing, a high-stakes diplomatic and community engagement unfolded on June 12, 2026. Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé carved out time from World Cup-related official activities to sit down with members of the large Haitian diaspora community based in Boston, in what both sides described as a warm and collegial gathering. The discussion, framed as open and solution-focused, centered on one core topic: the long-term trajectory of the Caribbean nation amid its ongoing security and political challenges.

    During the meeting, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé laid out a detailed update on the key policy priorities his administration has advanced over recent months. Top of the agenda was the Haitian government’s ongoing push to reclaim stability across the country, after years of widespread gang violence that has disrupted daily life and derailed political processes. A central pillar of this effort, he explained, is preparing the groundwork for democratic elections that are free, inclusive, open to all segments of Haitian society, and widely recognized as credible, with the administration targeting the earliest possible timeline for polls.

    The Prime Minister specifically highlighted the government’s sustained work to boost the operational capabilities of two core national security institutions: the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H). Both domestic forces, he noted, are continuing their frontline mission to restore public order, backed by the Multinational Force for the Suppression of Gangs (GSF), the international mission deployed specifically to counter the power of armed gangs and terrorist groups operating within Haiti’s borders.

    Beyond security and electoral planning, Fils-Aimé took time to recognize the critical role the Haitian diaspora plays in the country’s ongoing development. He praised the deep, enduring connection that Haitians living abroad maintain to their home country, noting that diaspora contributions—both financial and social—form a backbone of Haiti’s economic activity and social resilience. The Prime Minister also reaffirmed the national government’s formal commitment to keeping an open, consistent channel of dialogue with Haitian expatriate communities around the world, and to increasing their inclusion in key decisions that will shape Haiti’s future.

    The closed-door gathering itself serves as a clear signal of just how much priority the Haitian government places on strengthening ties with the global diaspora. For the current administration, the millions of Haitians living outside the country are not just a community to engage, but an indispensable partner that will be central to advancing Haiti’s recovery, entrenching long-term stability, and building shared prosperity for all Haitians—whether at home or abroad.

  • FLASH: The Inspector General of the PNH, his wife and his 6-year-old daughter kidnapped

    FLASH: The Inspector General of the PNH, his wife and his 6-year-old daughter kidnapped

    In a brazen act of violence that has shaken Haiti’s already unstable security landscape, a top Haitian law enforcement and defense official was abducted alongside his family last week in a zone officially marked as high-security, marking the most high-profile kidnapping of a senior government figure in the country in years.

    On June 11, 2026, Inspector General James Boyard of the Haitian National Police (PNH) — who also serves as Chief of Staff to Haiti’s Minister of Defense and is a widely respected senior security expert — was intercepted by a heavily armed gang contingent on the highway connecting the Port-au-Prince neighborhoods of Bourdon and Lalue. The kidnappers did not stop at seizing Boyard; they also took his wife and 6-year-old daughter, who holds United States citizenship, according to confirmation from the Associated Press.

    Haitian police investigative sources have linked the abduction to the Ti Bwa gang, a violent faction led by Christ-Roi Chéry, who operates under the alias “Chrisla”. Shortly after the kidnapping, the perpetrators issued a ransom demand for the safe return of the three hostages, though the exact sum requested has not been disclosed to the public. To date, Haiti’s Ministry of Defense has declined to issue any public statement or share details of ongoing response operations, a standard practice in high-stakes kidnapping cases designed to protect hostage lives and prevent disruption to sensitive negotiation or rescue efforts.

    Security analysts warn the abduction exposes alarming weaknesses in Haiti’s security framework and the growing boldness of armed gangs that control large swathes of the country. “A person of this rank usually receives significant police protection,” noted Diego Da Rin, an Haiti-focused analyst with the International Crisis Group. In his assessment, the successful kidnapping in a designated high-security zone points to extensive pre-planning and almost certainly required inside complicity from someone within Boyard’s own security detail.

    Da Rin added that gangs deliberately target two groups in high-value kidnappings: public officials and individuals with dual nationality, a strategy that serves two key goals. First, it allows gangs to demand far larger ransom payments. Second, it creates pressure on government authorities to hold off on offensive operations against gang-held territories where hostages are commonly held, giving the factions more breathing room to consolidate power.

    In recent weeks, Haitian security forces launched a major raid on Village de Dieu, a strategic territory controlled by the 5 Segond gang led by Johnson André — widely known as “Izo,” one of the most powerful and notorious gang leaders in Haiti. Da Rin confirmed that gangs have a history of moving high-profile kidnapping victims to hideouts within Village de Dieu, raising questions about whether Boyard and his family are being held there.

    This abduction comes amid a surging wave of kidnappings and gang violence that has crippled daily life across Haiti. In just three months between December 2025 and February 2026, at least 267 people were kidnapped across the country, according to recent United Nations data, with the majority of victims being adult men. Recent high-profile targets have included Haitian investigative journalists and foreign missionaries, demonstrating that gangs do not limit their attacks to private citizens and have increasingly targeted individuals connected to the Haitian government and international community.

  • 2026 World Cup : Haiti suffers a narrow defeat against Scotland [0-1] but impresses (video)

    2026 World Cup : Haiti suffers a narrow defeat against Scotland [0-1] but impresses (video)

    The 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered a standout opening match for underdog Haiti on June 13, as the Caribbean side fell 1-0 to Scotland but earned widespread praise for a fearless, disciplined performance at Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium, near Boston, Massachusetts. Played before a near-capacity crowd of 64,146 spectators, the Group C clash marked a historic milestone for Haiti’s national men’s team, nicknamed the Grenadiers, who defied pre-match ranking gaps to push Scotland to the final whistle.

    Managed by Sébastien Migné, Haiti lined up in a well-drilled 4-4-2 formation with a starting 11 featuring players plying their trade across top leagues in Europe, North America, and South America: goalkeeper Johnny Placide (SC Bastia, France), defenders Ricardo Adé (LDU Quito, Ecuador), Carlens Arcus (Angers SCO, France), Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs, USA), Martin Expérience (AS Nancy-Lorraine, France), midfielder Jean-Jacques Danley (Philadelphia Union, USA), playmaker Jeanricner Bellegarde (Wolverhampton, UK), winger Louicius Deedson (FC Dallas, USA), forward Frantzdy Pierrot (Çaykur Rizespor, Turkey), midfielder Ruben Providence (Almere City FC, Netherlands), and striker Wilson Isidor (Sunderland AFC, England). Migné made three second-half substitutions to reinvigorate his side: Josué Casimir replaced Deedson in the 61st minute, Lenny Joseph took Isidor’s place in the 75th minute, and Yassin Fortuné came on for Providence in the 85th minute.

    Ranked 83rd in the FIFA global rankings compared to Scotland’s 40th spot, Haiti weathered an early Scottish storm to grow into the game. Scotland got off to a fast start, coming close to breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute when Scott McTominay’s effort rattled the woodwork behind Placide. Eleven minutes later, after Placide made an initial reflex save to deny Ché Adams, the loose ball fell to John McGinn just outside the 18-yard box. McGinn’s shot took two deflections off Haitian defenders before looping over the goalkeeper to put Scotland ahead 1-0, a scoreline that would hold until full time.

    After halftime, Haiti shifted into a higher gear and began to threaten Scotland’s goal consistently, proving sharp and dangerous on counter-attacks. Midway through the second half, Ruben Providence cut down the left wing and fired a powerful strike that Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn could only parry away. A chaotic scramble in the six-yard box followed, but Scotland’s backline managed to clear the danger before a Haitian attacker could poke home the equalizer. Later, Scotland looked to extend their lead through young winger Ben Doak, but Martin Expérience made a game-saving tackle to snuff out the chance.

    In the closing 10 minutes, Haiti threw all their players forward in search of the equalizer that would earn their first-ever World Cup point. First, Wilson Isidor came within inches of connecting with a dangerous cross from Providence, before striker Frantzdy Pierrot’s powerful header grazed the outside of the Scottish post. Scotland’s players spent the final minutes clinging to their narrow lead, visibly on edge as Haiti’s persistent pressure nearly produced a late equalizer. When the final whistle blew, Scotland held on for three points, but the story of the match was Haiti’s impressive performance.

    While the result leaves Haiti at the bottom of Group C with zero points after one match, following Scotland’s three points, and a 1-1 draw between Morocco and Brazil that leaves both with one point, the performance has given Haitian fans plenty of optimism ahead of their remaining group stage fixtures. Haiti will face five-time world champions and pre-tournament group favorites Brazil on June 19 at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, before taking on 2022 World Cup semi-finalists and the highest-ranked African side Morocco on June 24 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

  • 2026 World Cup : Ambassador Henry Wooster wishes Haiti the greatest success !

    2026 World Cup : Ambassador Henry Wooster wishes Haiti the greatest success !

    It has been 52 years since Haiti’s men’s national football team last qualified for the FIFA World Cup, and the small Caribbean nation’s long-awaited return to the global tournament has already captured the imagination of millions of Haitian fans at home and across the diaspora. As the team – nicknamed the Grenadiers – prepared to kick off its first group stage match against Scotland on June 13, 2026, followed by upcoming fixtures against global powerhouses Brazil and Morocco, the top American diplomat in Port-au-Prince extended a message of warm congratulations and well wishes.

    Ambassador Henry Wooster, the United States Chargé d’Affaires in Haiti, released a public statement honoring the national team’s historic milestone, highlighting the far-reaching significance of the achievement beyond the pitch. “This is a moment of great pride for Haiti. After more than five decades, Haiti is back on one of the biggest stages in world football, inspiring millions of people both at home and abroad,” Wooster said in his address.

    The ambassador emphasized that the current squad, a new generation of Haitian football talent, earned their spot in the 2026 tournament through relentless effort, collective dedication, and unwavering belief in their shared goal. For a nation that has navigated ongoing political instability, economic hardship, and widespread social challenges in recent years, Wooster noted that the team’s success stands as a powerful symbol of Haitian perseverance, resilience, and collective national identity.

    “This achievement goes far beyond football. It represents a celebration of perseverance, resilience, and national pride. This team embodies the aspirations and dreams of an entire nation that continues to move forward with courage, despite the challenges it faces,” he added.

    On behalf of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Wooster extended congratulations to every person who contributed to the team’s historic qualification: the players who trained and competed for years, the coaching staff that built a cohesive and competitive squad, the families that supported the athletes through every setback, and the passionate fans that never lost faith in their national team.

    Addressing the Grenadiers directly, the envoy urged the team to compete with confidence, carry their national flag with pride, and savor every moment of their once-in-a-lifetime World Cup journey. “We wish Haiti the greatest success. May you inspire young people across the country to dream big, work with determination, and never give up,” Wooster closed his statement with the rallying cry “Grenadye alaso!” – Go Grenadiers!

  • Politic : Validation of the recovery and development plan (2025-2030) for the Great North

    Politic : Validation of the recovery and development plan (2025-2030) for the Great North

    On June 13, 2026, the Haitian government formally approved the Medium-Term Recovery and Development Plan for the country’s Great North region, a strategic roadmap spanning 2025 to 2030, during a national videoconference hosted under the patronage of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé. The cross-sector gathering drew more than 120 stakeholders, including representatives from national public agencies, local governing bodies, the private business community, domestic civil society organizations, and international technical and financial partners (TFPs) backing the initiative.

    In his opening address to attendees, Marc-Kenley Mogene, Chief of Staff for Haiti’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, outlined the plan’s core mission: to drive accelerated economic transformation across the Great North by rolling out large-scale structuring investments, generating thousands of new formal jobs, and boosting the region’s overall competitiveness to attract additional outside investment. Mogene stressed that successful execution of the plan depends on three non-negotiable foundational conditions: mobilizing sufficient domestic and international financing to fund planned projects, strengthening collaborative alignment between all public and private sector stakeholders, and leveraging the central coordinating role of the Northern Corridor Development Council, which will oversee implementation tracking, cross-initiative alignment, and accountability for all activities outlined in the plan.

    Prime Minister Fils-Aimé framed the plan’s validation as a landmark milestone for Haiti’s broader national efforts to rebuild the economy and address long-standing territorial development imbalances across the country. He reiterated that the regional planning initiative grows out of a new national development vision centered on leveraging the unique realities, inherent strengths, and untapped potential of each of Haiti’s geographic regions. The prime minister added that the region-first framework, first piloted in the Great North, will be gradually rolled out to other parts of the country, with the Far South slated as the next region to receive a customized development plan, all in service of building more inclusive, sustainable national growth.

    Senior public sector officials presented the plan’s four mutually reinforcing strategic pillars that guide all priority actions. First, the plan prioritizes broad economic diversification to reduce the Great North’s dependence on a small set of vulnerable industries. Second, it targets transformative infrastructure upgrades and private sector revitalization to build a resilient productive base that supports long-term expansion. Third, it commits to large-scale investments in human capital and expanded access to essential public services to widen economic opportunity and advance social inclusion for marginalized communities. Fourth, it includes targeted reforms to strengthen regional governance, rebuild public trust in state institutions, and ensure long-term accountability for results.

    The plan was developed over months of collaborative work under the leadership of Haiti’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, in close coordination with national sectoral ministries, and with technical and financial support from key international partners including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank, the European Union, and the United Nations system operating in Haiti. It now serves as the official strategic framework guiding all public and private investments, policy reforms, and priority development actions focused on the Great North for the next six years.

    Following the formal validation, representatives of international technical and financial partners, local government leaders, and private sector executives all expressed broad support for the initiative, and reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to working alongside the Haitian government to turn the plan’s development vision into tangible results for residents of the Great North. With the approval process complete, the milestone marks the end of an extensive nationwide consultation process that incorporated input from all affected stakeholder groups, and clears the way for the formal implementation phase, where planned investments, governance reforms, and accountability mechanisms will be put in place to drive lasting, sustainable development across the Great North region.

  • 2026 World Cup : Haitian Prime Minister visited the Grenadiers the day before their opening match

    2026 World Cup : Haitian Prime Minister visited the Grenadiers the day before their opening match

    On the eve of one of the most defining matches in Haitian sports history, the country’s top political leadership traveled to Massachusetts to rally the national men’s football team, the Grenadiers, ahead of their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup fixture against Scotland’s Tartan Team. Kickoff for the match, held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, just outside Boston, is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. local Haiti and U.S. Eastern time on June 13, 2026.

    Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé led the official delegation, which included Foreign Minister Raina Forbin and Minister for Haitians Living Abroad Kathia Verdier, for the morale-building visit with players and technical staff on Friday, June 12. The encounter was steeped in raw emotion and collective national pride, as Fils-Aimé delivered a unifying message of solidarity from both the Haitian government and the entire Haitian community — including millions of citizens and diaspora members around the globe.

    The Prime Minister framed the team’s World Cup qualification as a watershed historic moment for the Caribbean nation, noting that the run to the tournament has already united Haitians across divides behind a shared national goal. He positioned the Grenadiers as far more than just a group of athletes, calling them a powerful symbol of hope, unity, and what the country can achieve against steep odds.

    “You are much more than a football team. You are the face of Haitian youth who refuse to give up, who dare to dream, and who prove that, despite the difficulties, Haiti is capable of rising to the ranks of the world’s best nations,” Fils-Aimé told the squad. “You are hope, you are opportunity. You are an example; we are watching you and counting on you.”

    Speaking after the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Forbin extended her own congratulations to the team for achieving the unprecedented feat of qualifying for the World Cup. She highlighted the behind-the-scenes diplomatic and consular work that cleared logistical hurdles to enable Haiti’s participation in the global tournament, adding that the squad serves as a powerful showcase of the exceptional talent nurtured among Haitian youth.

    For her part, Minister Verdier praised the team’s achievement as one that transcends the boundaries of sport. She noted that the Grenadiers’ journey has already become a source of inspiration for current and future generations of Haitians both at home and abroad.

    In a gesture of gratitude for the government’s support, the entire squad presented Fils-Aimé with an official team jersey bearing the signatures of every player. The Haitian government used the occasion to reaffirm its full confidence in the national team, and issued a call to all Haitians, regardless of their location, to rally behind the Grenadiers during this historic milestone.

    Closing his remarks, the Prime Minister emphasized the unifying power of the team’s moment on the world stage: “Together, as our Grenadiers are demonstrating today on the world stage, we can accomplish great things when we move forward united.”

  • 2026 World Cup : The Scottish national team, a difficult opponent but…

    2026 World Cup : The Scottish national team, a difficult opponent but…

    On the evening of June 13, 2026, football fans across the Caribbean and the United Kingdom are gearing up for a historic 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage encounter that will make history for both competing nations. Taking place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, just outside Boston, this match will kick off at 9:00 p.m. local Haiti and U.S. time, marking the first-ever meeting between Haiti’s men’s national team, the Grenadiers, and Scotland’s beloved Tartan Army side. It will also be Haiti’s first-ever competitive match against a British Isles national team, adding an extra layer of novelty to the already anticipated fixture. For both sides, the match marks a long-awaited return to the world’s biggest football stage. Haiti, currently ranked 83rd in the global FIFA rankings, is stepping onto a World Cup pitch for the first time in nearly 52 years, while Scotland – sitting 43 places higher at 40th – is ending its own 28-year drought from the tournament, having last competed in 1998 in France. Scotland, led by long-tenured head coach Steve Clarke, enters the contest as the clear favorite on paper. The side has enjoyed a steady upward trajectory in European football in recent years, built around a core of experienced, in-form Premier League talent that drove its successful qualifying campaign. Central to Scotland’s threat is Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, who led the team’s attacking stats in qualifying with two goals and one assist – more direct goal involvements than any other player in the squad. McTominay is one of three key players, alongside Aston Villa captain John McGinn and Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, who started all six of Scotland’s qualifying matches to secure their spot in the 2026 tournament. Despite their consistent qualification for major tournaments over the decades, Scotland’s World Cup history is defined by underperformance and heartbreak. The Tartan side has qualified for the World Cup on eight previous occasions – 1954, 1958, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, and 1998 – but has never managed to progress beyond the group stage in any of their campaigns. Across their 23 total World Cup matches, Scotland holds a record of four wins, seven draws, and twelve losses, having scored 25 goals and conceded 41 overall. This first-round elimination curse extends to all of their appearances at the UEFA European Championship as well: across twelve total appearances in major men’s international tournaments, Scotland has exited at the group stage every single time. For Haiti, the underdog side heading into the contest, supporters are focusing their hopes on two star attacking forwards: Frantzdy Pierrot and Duckens Nazon. The Grenadiers’ modest pre-match aim is to secure at least a draw or get on the scoresheet in their return to the World Cup. Early match prediction models on matchday morning gave Haiti just a 20% chance of a victory, with a 22% probability of a draw and a 67% chance of a Scotland win. Still, Haitian football supporters have remained optimistic, noting that upsets are always possible in the World Cup’s group stage. Nazon in particular comes into the match in red-hot form following CONCACAF qualifying. The Haitian attacker finished the qualifying campaign as joint top scorer across the confederation with six goals, including a memorable second-half hat-trick after coming off the bench against Costa Rica. He also led all CONCACAF qualifying players in total shots (34) and touches in the opposition penalty area (59), marking him as the most dangerous goal threat for the underdog Grenadiers.

  • Education : Day of discussions with Protestant leaders on the accreditation of educational institutions

    Education : Day of discussions with Protestant leaders on the accreditation of educational institutions

    Against the backdrop of milestone anniversaries for Haiti’s Protestant educational community, the Haitian Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) brought together more than 600 Protestant sector education leaders on June 10, 2026, for a full-day collaborative discussion focused on advancing the national accreditation process for private educational institutions. Attendees included heads of primary and secondary schools, vocational training center leaders, university deans, and rectors from across the country’s Protestant-led education network.

    The gathering was intentionally timed to align with major commemorations: the 40th anniversary of both the Protestant Federation of Haiti (FPH) and the Federation of Protestant Schools of Haiti (FEPH), as well as the 210th anniversary of the founding of Protestantism in Haiti. The core goal of the meeting was to align religious and secular education leaders around the urgent need to bring private Protestant-led institutions into compliance with national education standards, a change that officials say will cement consistent educational quality and open doors to stronger collaboration between the sector, public regulators, and global development partners.

    Addressing the assembled delegates on behalf of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, Ms. Axène Joseph opened the event by noting, “On behalf of the Head of Government, I feel a sense of national pride and a great honor to address this assembly of representatives from Protestant schools and universities in Haiti today.” She emphasized that the Haitian government, through the MENFP, has launched an ambitious national education reform agenda that aims to fundamentally reshape the country’s entire school system, framing the gathering as a critical milestone in that broader transformation.

    MENFP Minister Vijonet Déméro framed the discussion as a proactive step to clear up confusion around accreditation protocols, helping Protestant denominations navigate the multi-step process of gaining national recognition for their institutions. He stressed the outsized influence that the Protestant education sector holds in Haiti: “If we consider the country’s school system, it’s easy to see that Reformed churches manage many schools, with a presence in rural areas and disadvantaged urban neighborhoods. If the Protestant sector succeeds in modernizing, Haitian schools will be transformed. If it commits to change, the Republic will move forward.” Déméro also outlined the ministry’s broader transformation agenda, which includes sweeping curriculum reform, standardization of core instructional materials, expanded access to digital, civic, and financial education, new investments in student mental health and well-being, infrastructure upgrades, and expansion of the national school canteen program.

    Raina Forbin, Haiti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs, praised the initiative for centering the critical work of the Protestant education sector and pledged her department’s full support throughout the three-stage accreditation process, which begins with institutional opening authorization, moves to issuance of an operating permit, and concludes with the award of a full accreditation certificate.

    FPH President Calixte Fleuridor and FEPH Executive Director Christon St. Fort both commended the MENFP for organizing the collaborative dialogue, while calling for continued investment in and expansion of public-private partnerships in Haiti’s education sector.

    The second half of the day was dedicated to practical, step-by-step procedural guidance for attending institutions. Walex Pierre, Director of the Directorate for Support to Private Education and Partnerships (DAEPP), laid out the core pillars of the National Policy for the Accreditation of Private Schools (PONAEP). Yves Villefranche of the National Institute for Vocational Training (INFP) walked attendees through recognition protocols for vocational training centers, while Jean Judson Joseph of the National Agency for Higher Education and Scientific Research (ANESRS) outlined the specific process for private universities. Elysé Colagène, Director General of the National Education Fund (FNE), explained how institutions can access national school grants, and Lucson Philémon, Coordinator of the National School Canteen Program (PNCS), detailed the requirements for schools to join the widely used meal program.

    To cap off the day of collaboration, the MENFP’s Directorate of Academic and Professional Development issued more than 300 operating permits to school representatives in attendance, marking tangible progress toward national compliance even as the broader accreditation process continues.