At Nippes Patriotic Congress, speakers call for governance overhaul to help resolve Haiti’s crisis | PHOTOS

MIRAGOANE, Haiti—Leaders and civil society members in the Nippes Department called for sweeping governance reforms, decentralization, and national reconciliation during the latest round of forums aimed at resolving Haiti’s deepening crisis.

The June 7 forum, held at the Public University of Nippes (UPNip) in Miragoâne, 60 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, marked the eighth session of the Patriotic Congress for National Rescue. A mix of in-person and virtual speakers—including economists, legal experts and political figures—presented solutions as part of the national series launched May 31.

“It’s a country that is extremely sick; it is normal that we urgently look at our sick, which is Haiti,” said Yves Voltaire, rector of the UPNip.

The congress stems from a March 27 declaration signed by civil society leaders, diaspora organizations, academics and human rights groups. The declaration, read publicly by former Canadian governor general Michaëlle Jean, diagnosed Haiti’s condition as dire and called for a patriotic rescue initiative.

Voices of resilience and reform amid legal and structural priorities

Among the keynote speakers was economist Camille Chalmers, a representative of the Haitian Advocacy Platform for Alternative Development (PAPDA) and a professor at the State University of Haiti, who praised the resilience of everyday Haitians in the face of rampant violence and numerous challenges. Acknowledging the determination of self-defense groups— vigilante brigades formed in neighborhoods to combat gangs and prevent their incursions—Chalmers called for recognition of their struggles and support. 

“The members of self-defense brigades fighting armed gangs must be supervised and trained. Their resistance work must be recognized,” the economist said. 

“We must help the population understand the nature of the crisis, build a broad interactive movement, and create a new doctrine to handle the situation appropriately.”

Pierre Antoine Louis, a human rights consultant, stressed the urgency of decentralizing public services and investing in Haiti’s southern peninsula. “If these measures are implemented,” he said, “people will return to their provinces and Port-au-Prince can become a tourist destination.”

“I come from Port-au-Prince, but I have a home in the Great South,” confided the former consultant for UN human rights missions in Haiti, Rwanda and Sierra Leone. “If these measures are implemented, I will leave Port-au-Prince for good.”

From the student body, participants voiced concerns and engaged in dialogue on Haiti’s multidimensional crisis. The congress emphasized the importance of civic engagement and education in building sustainable pathways out of the current turmoil.

In the audience were Acab Bernabé, departmental director of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Odel Joseph, former departmental director of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training. Each participant listened attentively as speakers addressed topics ranging from security and education reform to economic development and governance.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SIGiZ9YIdrDRg7bJ1ae3-CP78JL-KFHh/view?usp=drivesdk                                                                 Students intervening during the Patriotic Congress of Nippes at the UPNip in Miragoâne on June 7, 2025. Photo by Jefté Fervil for The Haitian Times.

Lawyer Jonas St. Fil argued against drafting a new constitution, urging instead the implementation of the current one. “Changing the constitution destabilizes the state,” he said. “Let’s apply what we have first.”

Fellow legal expert Sonet Saint-Louis emphasized competent leadership and stronger local governments. 

On her part, former mayor Sylvie Rameau called for the use of modern governance tools to drive transparency and sustainable development.

Youdeline Chérizard, head of the Gonaïves Bar Association, called for a national healing process. “The nation must heal from the wounds caused by massacres and dictatorship,” she said. “We must shed light on gang violence and their motives for destruction.”

Diverse participation,  political voices and symbolic cultural closure

Inside a room filled with participants, the event drew municipal officials, educators, clergy, students and political figures. Notable attendees included Professor Yves Voltaire, rector of UPNip; Professor Jacky Lumarque, rector of Quisqueya University; diplomat Pierre Antoine Louis; and Professor Berthony Pierre-Louis, vice-rector for research at UPNip.

From the political arena, former deputy Yvon Geste criticized the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) as a “budget-eater” and advocated for a “national liberation strategy.” Other regional figures, such as former senator Denis Cadeau and Joseph, were also present.

Student voices contributed actively, emphasizing civic engagement and education’s role in solving Haiti’s multidimensional crisis.

The congress ended on a symbolic note with a musical performance by Professor Berthony Pierre-Louis. His song, Malantandi (“Misunderstanding”), urged unity and clarity in Haiti’s national dialogue.

The congress came just weeks after UPNip celebrated its tenth anniversary on May 17. At that event, students and faculty gathered at the Berquin campus with music and pride, reflecting the university’s commitment to community engagement.

Backdrop of crisis and toward a national gathering

Despite promises from the CPT and the Alix Didier Fils-Aimé’s government to restore order and hold elections this year, violence has escalated. An estimated 85% of the capital is under gang control, with over a million displaced since 2021, according to the United Nations and the Center for Analysis and Human Rights Research (CARDH).

Recent weeks saw over 31,000 flee parts of the Centre Department, with most fleeing Mirebalais, which was invaded by gangs on March 31. A newly formed government task force has carried out limited raids, including drone strikes in the Gran Ravin area, southeast of downtown Port-au-Prince.

Despite these setbacks and growing challenges, optimism persists. “Our nation will rise again,” a speaker concluded. “We remain the first Black republic. We will honor that legacy.”

According to UPNip’s administration, ideas generated in Nippes will feed into the national congress scheduled for June 20–21 in Port-au-Prince. Regional congresses have already been held in the diaspora, Grand’Anse, Centre, the lower Artibonite, North, Northeast, Northwest and South, with the higher Artibonite and Southeast next on June 13.

As the country heads toward the upcoming national congress, participants hope the ideas cultivated in Nippes will resonate far beyond its borders—and help chart a course toward a more stable, sovereign Haiti.

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