New Leaders, New Hopes: Haiti’s Transition Council and Police Force See Major Shake-Up

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haiti’s Presidential Transition Council (CPT) has a new captain at the helm, with Laurent Saint-Cyr officially taking over as president in a week marked by sweeping changes in both the political and security arenas.

Representing the private sector, Saint-Cyr became the fourth and final rotating leader of the CPT on August 7, succeeding Fritz Alphonse Jean. His six-month term will guide the council through its most critical stretch — overseeing preparations for democratic elections in November and managing the transition until February 2026.

In his first address, Saint-Cyr struck a note of unity and national pride. He announced that, for the first time, Haiti will officially commemorate the Bois Caïman ceremony on August 14 — a historic event symbolizing the spiritual and revolutionary awakening of Haiti’s enslaved people.

But Saint-Cyr is not just leaning on symbolism. Within days of his swearing-in, he began outreach to influential figures from across Haiti’s political spectrum. On Wednesday, he met with former President Jocelerme Privert. The following day, he announced on X that he had spoken with two-time president and Fanmi Lavalas party founder Jean-Bertrand Aristide, reaffirming his pledge to foster national dialogue. Both conversations, Saint-Cyr said, centered on the urgent need to restore security to enable elections, alongside reforms to strengthen governance and constitutional order.

The leadership change at the CPT coincided with a significant shift in the Haitian National Police (PNH).  By presidential decree, Inspector General Jonas Vladimir Paraison has been appointed interim Director General, replacing Normil Rameau, who had served in the role since June 2024.

Paraison, a seasoned officer with senior postings in Port-au-Prince and beyond, previously coordinated security at the National Palace under President Jovenel Moïse and was among the first responders on the night of Moïse’s assassination in July 2021. In March 2025, he was wounded during a major operation against gangs near the palace — a testament to his frontline experience.

The government has framed his appointment as part of a broader security overhaul, aimed at reclaiming territory from gangs and stabilizing conditions ahead of the polls. Rameau’s tenure saw gang influence expand dramatically, leaving large parts of the capital under criminal control.

Together, Saint-Cyr’s political outreach and Paraison’s security mandate represent a coordinated push at a time when Haiti faces both institutional paralysis and daily violence. The stakes are high — but for the first time in months, there is a glimmer of forward momentum.