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  The Incapacity of the World to Learn from Its Failures in Haiti. Par Patrick Prézeau Stephenson   United Nations, New York — September 30, 2025. In a scene all too familiar to seasoned observers of Haiti’s recent history, the United Nations Security Council today voted to authorize yet another international intervention in the beleaguered Caribbean nation. This time, the measure establishes the “Gang Suppression Force” (GSF)—a multinational mission of 5,500 police, military, and civilian personnel, replacing the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) whose mandate expires in mere days. The GSF, with a renewable 12-month mandate and voluntary funding, will have sweeping powers: conducting targeted operations against gangs, securing essential infrastructure, and attempting to restore the authority of a Haitian state that, in many areas, is now little more than a memory. The vote—hailed by diplomats from Washington to Panama City—was unanimous. The wor...

  Slavery’s Echo in Haiti’s Present Chaos: Parallels and Courage in the Shadow of Dessalines By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson*  (Le Français suit) Introduction: The Chains Reforged PORT-AU-PRINCE — September 30, 2025. In the crumbling heart of Port-au-Prince, where gangs rule and fear has become the air Haitians breathe, there is a haunting resonance with a past most hoped to outrun. Today, as armed factions carve the country into fiefdoms, the specter of slavery—its psychic wounds and societal fractures—returns, not in the lash of overseers, but in the tyranny of desperation, violence, and resignation. Parallel Realities: Slavery’s Legacy and Haiti’s Modern Captivity Two centuries ago, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the fierce liberator of Haiti, thundered before his soldiers: « Je ne veux garder avec moi que des braves. Que ceux qui veulent redevenir des esclaves français sortent du fort. Que ceux, au contraire, qui veulent mourir en hommes libres se rangent autour...

  Honor and Hope: Smith Augustin Named Honorary President of Haiti’s “Challenge des Écoles Citoyennes” By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson Port-au-Prince (Le Français suit)   In a sunlit room at the Villa d’Accueil this Friday, Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council member Smith Augustin received a rare honor: the title of Honorary President for the “Challenge des Écoles Citoyennes,” a flagship initiative of the Fondation STO aimed at nurturing civic duty and patriotism among Haiti’s youth.   The moment, marked by the presentation of a Certificate Honneur et Mérite by Raymond F. Lerebours, President of the Fondation STO, signals a pivotal shift for the program. With Augustin’s backing, organizers hope to propel the challenge from a grassroots movement to a national priority.   “This recognition opens new perspectives to strengthen our action and give the Challenge des Écoles Citoyennes national visibility and official recognition,” Lerebours said. The pro...

  Haiti’s Plea at the UN: Emotion, Applause, and the Hard Politics of International Inaction By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson* (Le Français suit)   President Laurent St-Cyr’s address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday was nothing short of a masterclass in emotional persuasion. Delivered with gravitas and hope, his speech culminated in “des chaleureux applaudissements” from assembled delegates—a moment that, fleetingly, seemed to unite the room in solidarity with Haiti’s suffering and resilience. Yet, behind the applause lies a much harsher political reality. The Power—and Limits—of Emotional Appeals St-Cyr’s words painted a vivid tableau of Haiti’s agony: children denied education, families exiled by violence, hospitals shuttered, and the dignity of women and girls violated. His rhetoric was laced with universal values—development, peace, and human dignity—meant to pierce the conscience of world leaders. The impact was palpable; delegates responded not with indiff...

  Building a 10K-Strong Army in Haiti: A Strategic Investment for National Security and Stability (update) By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson (Le Français suit)   Port-au-Prince & New York, September 2025  — As Haiti’s CPT President convenes with diaspora leaders in New York during this week’s United Nations General Assembly, the conversation on reconstructing Haiti’s armed forces has taken on renewed urgency. With the nation still gripped by insecurity and the economic costs of instability mounting, a robust military is increasingly seen as a keystone for Haiti’s recovery and long-term stability. Updated Cost-Benefit Analysis: 2025 Perspective In 2023, the socio-economic toll of insecurity in Haiti was estimated at $1.5 billion. Adjusting for two years of inflation (averaging 5% annually, based on standardized equipment procurement trends and reported cost escalations), the cost figures for building and maintaining a 10,000-strong army now warrant a fresh look. ...