Academics and diaspora leaders unite to launch patriotic congress aimed at fighting Haiti’s crisis

PORT-AU-PRINCE —  As Haiti reels from deepening insecurity, political paralysis and mass displacement, a coalition of academics and civil society leaders from Haiti and the diaspora is organizing a “Patriotic Congress” this summer. Their goal: to unite Haitians around a common vision for recovery and chart a path out of the country’s escalating crisis.

“Haiti can’t endure anymore,” the organizer wrote in a declaration published on March 20. “Daily life has become intolerable, with over one million of our brothers and sisters displaced and forced to live on the streets. Children are unable to attend school, there are almost no medical facilities to care for the sick, and politicians continue to struggle for power without any coordination in the fight against insecurity, nor any coherent vision for the nation.”

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, Haiti has faced a cascade of crises. More than 80% of Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas are under gang control, with widespread kidnappings, sexual violence, extortion and killings deepening the despair of an already fragile population. As the humanitarian toll rises, both the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), installed in April 2024, and the United Nations-authorized Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), deployed two months later, have struggled to restore order or assert control.

In response, the Patriotic Congress for the Reorganization of Haiti (PCRH) — a nonpartisan civic initiative — is organizing a series of regional and national meetings from May 31 to June 21, 2025. The goal is to bring Haitians together, at home and abroad, to chart a unified path out of the crisis through national dialogue and collective action.

For Dr. Joel Augustin, president of the United Front of the Haitian Diaspora (FUDH) and planning coordinator of the diaspora pre-congress meeting, the Patriotic Congress is a call for all Haitians across all sectors of Haitian society to engage not only in dialogue but also to offer recommendations for rebuilding the nation. 

“In March of this year, many personalities and organizations, including many in the diaspora,

signed the declaration: Patriotic Congress for the reorganization of Haiti,” Dr. Augustin said in an email to The Haitian Times. “This initiative was launched by a host of universities, led by Quisqueya University and the 10 Public and Regional Universities (UPRs), as well as the University of Notre Dame of Haiti (UNDH), and stems from the fact that the country is facing a situation beyond critical. From the beginning, organizations

from the diaspora were invited to participate.”

“Prior to the National Patriotic Congress, 11 regional congresses will take place, including one in the diaspora on May 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST,” the diaspora congress coordinator said.

The congress is spearheaded by Jacky Lumarque, rector of Quisqueya University (UNIQ). For the past year, Lumarque has worked with colleagues in academia and civil society to lay the groundwork. Their aim is to forge a platform that bridges the geographic and political divides separating Haitians at home and abroad.

“It’s time for every citizen to take responsibility as Haitians,” the organizers wrote. “It’s time for us to take control of our destiny together.”

Haitian-Canadian and former governor general of Canada, Michaelle Jean, echoes this call in a video message to the diaspora and Haiti.

A global conversation with local roots

To ensure broad participation, the congress will begin with a virtual pre-congress session for the Haitian diaspora via Zoom, allowing Haitians living abroad to share concerns and help shape the final agenda. Similar meetings will follow across Haiti’s 10 geographic departments.

Across Haiti, the pre-congress sessions will be hosted at Regional Public Universities (UPRs) and coordinated by university rectors and local teams, including members of various civil society organizations. All major Haitian universities—both private and public— are involved in the planning. UNIQ is developing a centralized Internet site to share information and documentation related to the effort.

The idea of a national congress tackling Haiti’s challenges fascinates many in the diaspora, including Carole M. Berette Joseph, Ph.D., a higher education specialist, former community college president and university professor in the United States, who is among those coordinating the planning efforts outside Haiti.   

“The reason I am participating in this Patriotic Congress movement is that it is gathering the words of Haitian citizens all over the country and the diaspora, allowing the people to have a say in the country’s future,” Joseph told the Haitian Times. “It is time to take responsibility as Haitians. Together, we can take the first step on the path of change to start over on a new basis to reorganize our country. Together we can save our country,” she added.

The organizing committee of the Haitian diaspora congress comprises numerous organizations and influential personalities, notably current and former college presidents and professors, United Front of the Haitian Diaspora, Black Study Association, Haiti Policy House (HPH), Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development, Coalition of Organizations of Illinois and Foundation for the Emancipation of Women and Girls (FEWGI).

Three pillars of recovery amid a familiar format and higher stakes

The National Patriotic Congress will center its deliberations on three critical areas:

1. National Security: Reclaiming territory from gangs, restoring freedom of movement, reuniting isolated regions with the capital and supporting the safe return of displaced families.

2. Political Transition and Governance: Breaking the cycle of unstable leadership and crises by enabling a credible electoral process and transparent governance.

3. Institutional Reform: Rebuilding effective, trusted state institutions capable of delivering public services and reinforcing the rule of law.

Organizers stress that this is a civic initiative—not a political campaign—and none of those involved are seeking positions in government.

This is not the first time Haitian stakeholders have attempted to convene national or international dialogues to address the country’s escalating crises. Recent efforts include a multisectoral symposium held in Chicago from Feb. 27 to March 1, 2025; an International Diaspora Days summit in Montreal on April 11–13; and similar gatherings across Europe. While these forums have produced valuable ideas and fostered engagement across sectors, they often falter due to the absence of a coherent organizational framework, sustained coordination and a convergent authoritative agency capable of transforming proposals into actionable reforms. This lack of implementation infrastructure has plagued past moments of national reckoning—including the  PetroCaribe protests, demands of independence debt restitution and reparations from France and the political vacuum following President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination. Now, with the crisis reaching unprecedented levels and UN officials warning of near-collapse in parts of the country, the urgency to build such mechanisms has never been greater.

For the current initiative coordinator in Haiti, Marc Prou, “The Congress is expected to produce a joint final declaration, the objective of which is to guide strategic choices to put the country on the path to the lasting stability necessary for any development. A monitoring committee will be established to support the consideration and implementation of the recommendations made by the Congress.”

As frustration grows over the Transitional Presidential Council’s slow response to spiraling insecurity and deteriorating public services, the Patriotic Congress organizers say the time for public pressure and coordinated civic action is now.

“We call on all Haitians, wherever they may be, to come together and make this congress the first step toward real change,” the group said.

With little international support and weak central governance, many view this civic-led congress as one of the few viable paths left to halt Haiti’s collapse—and potentially rebuild a state that works for its people.

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