标签： Haiti

In a significant move to streamline the processing of Haitian passport applications, the Chancery has announced a reduction in fees. Effective immediately, the cost for an adult passport has been lowered to US$125 from US$170, while minors will now pay US$100, down from US$160. Additionally, emergency or extreme emergency services have been discontinued to ensure a uniform process for all applicants. The updated fee structure is now available on the Embassy of Haiti in the United States’ website.

In a separate development, eight armored vehicles and over thirty police officers from specialized units of the Haitian National Police (PNH) arrived in Saint-Marc, Artibonite region, on Thursday. This deployment follows a temporary blockade by residents in Pont Sondé. Operations targeting the ‘Gran Grif’ and ‘Korkorat San Ras’ gangs are set to commence once all necessary equipment and personnel are in place.

Meanwhile, Presidential Advisor Emmanuel Vertilaire has confirmed that the term of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) will conclude on February 7, 2026, as per the April 3, 2024 agreement. While Vertilaire is prepared to step down, he remains open to continuing his service if a new consensus is reached among stakeholders.

In the realm of education, the Digicel Foundation has initiated its 195th school construction project at Calvaire Sainte Thérèse in Cap Haïtien. Funded with US$600,000, this project also honors the late artist Michael Benjamin, known as Mikaben, who served as an ambassador for Digicel.

Additionally, the Embassy of Haiti in Canada will be closed on October 13, 2025, in observance of Thanksgiving, with operations resuming the following day. Similarly, the Embassy of Haiti in Washington, D.C., will be closed on October 13, 2025, for Columbus Day, with regular activities resuming on October 14, 2025.

In healthcare, the Ministry of Public Health, supported by the United Nations agency for sexual and reproductive health (UNFPA) and the ‘Timama 2’ project, has inaugurated a new operating room at the South Departmental Hospital’s maternity ward. This initiative includes the provision of materials, equipment, supplies, and human resources.

A recent investigative report by the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH), released on October 9, 2025, has unveiled a disturbing surge in violence in Haiti’s Artibonite department. Between January and September 2025, at least 24 armed attacks and massacres were carried out by notorious gangs, including ‘Kokorat San Ras,’ ‘Gran Grif,’ and ‘Taliban/Mawozo.’ These brutal incidents occurred across 25 localities and cities within eight municipalities, with Petite-Rivière being the most heavily targeted area, suffering eight attacks. The Artibonite region, once hailed as Haiti’s agricultural heartland, has now become a focal point of escalating insecurity and lawlessness. The report highlights daily occurrences of armed clashes, extrajudicial executions, rapes, arson, looting, and mass displacement of citizens. Hundreds of homes were looted or burned, nearly 100 people were killed, and numerous vehicles, including police armored cars, were destroyed or stolen. Additionally, at least six state institutions, such as police stations and magistrates’ courts, were vandalized or set ablaze. The full 25-page report, available for download, provides a comprehensive account of the crisis.

Haiti witnessed a series of significant events this week, reflecting the nation’s multifaceted challenges and achievements. On October 9th, two armored vehicles belonging to the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) were targeted by heavily armed individuals at Champ-de-Mars. One vehicle carried soldiers from the Haitian Armed Forces (FAD’H), while the other was unoccupied. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the attack. Meanwhile, in Delmas, Mayor Wilson Jeudy unveiled the municipal budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, projecting a record one billion gourdes. This marks a substantial increase from the previous year’s 800 million gourdes, aimed at enhancing the municipality’s investment capacity. On a brighter note, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé praised the Haitian national football team, the Grenadiers, for their 3-0 victory against Nicaragua in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, expressing national pride in their performance. However, security concerns persist, as eight armored vehicles sent by the Haitian National Police (PNH) to Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite were blocked by protesters demanding action against the ‘Gran Grif’ gang. In a separate development, the French Institute in Haiti is hosting the ‘Wild Haiti’ exhibition, showcasing the country’s rich biodiversity. Internationally, U.S. President Trump signed an executive order imposing a $5,000 fine for each illegal alien aged 14 or older detained, with no possibility of appeal.