Do we fully understand what the appointment of Anthony Frank Laurent Saint-Cyr, known simply as Laurent Saint-Cyr, to the Presidential Transition Council (CPT) on August 7, 2025, means for Haiti? In search of an answer to this question, Dhanha Bien-Aimé, a freelance arts and culture journalist for The Haitian Times, and Moise Lena Jean Louis, an arts and culture writer for Mag Ayiti, present some facts related to the new Haitian mandate and the goal of holding democratic elections by February 7, 2026, with particular attention to the selection of Laurent Saint-Cyr for the rotating presidency process that began in April 2024. We, the authors of this “World and News” section of the Mag Ayiti digital platform, are curious to see if he will actually run in the upcoming presidential elections.
We will analyze his achievements, his interests, his political career, and his orientation in light of the political realignment that seems to be emerging in Haiti. This represents the culmination of what we, as a united force, aspire to and the continuation of what we believe in as a nation. Our common foundation of unity is our strength, expressed in the two-colored flag of Haiti. What we set out to do has reached its inevitable conclusion through the details relating to the meaning of holding a position of responsibility with well-defined objectives. While not reaching a definitive conclusion, in an attempt to understand Mr. Saint-Cyr’s aspirations, should he aspire to the highest political office in Haiti, the restoration of power in the peripheral areas of the country and the governance that a nation normally exercises are precisely what we are fervently pursuing at this very moment.
The current political ferment is also reflected in the tireless efforts of those who place their trust in the strength, seriousness, and honesty of their leaders. Today, in this section of our digital news, and particularly in the in-depth research and analysis conducted by the co-authors for this category, we focus on the recently elected politician, the interim president of Haiti. He was presented as the main speaker for Haiti, in his authoritative role as ambassador and head of the executive branch, at this year’s (2025) United Nations Convention in Manhattan, New York. His intervention, which played a significant role in the general debate, took place from September 22nd to 29th, 2025. On that occasion, he delivered a speech and a call to action, describing Haiti as a “country at war,” a “modern-day Guernica.”
“Guernica” is an artistic reference that fits into the interpretive context of the large oil painting created in 1937 by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Picasso, a revolutionary Spanish artist, co-founder of Cubism and one of the most important figures of the 20th century, created this work, considered by many art critics to be the most poignant and powerful anti-war painting in history. It is on display at the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid. Therefore, at the 80th annual congress, Mr. Saint-Cyr, in his speech, compared the situation to “Guernica” and the grotesque current political reality to call for urgent and large-scale international action against criminal gangs, such as the so-called G9 Family & Allies revolutionary movement, led by Jimmy Chérizier “Barbecue,” and the G-Pèp Alliance, which includes key players such as 400 Mawozo, Kraze Baryè, and groups like the Taliban (Canaan), which control vast territories and infrastructure, causing widespread violence, kidnappings, and disruptions of essential services in a context of political instability, as cited by Wikipedia.
According to publicly available data from the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs, Mr. Saint-Cyr is a key figure in leadership development in Haiti’s private sector and transitional government. He has served as president of the American Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the High Transitional Council, and currently chairs Haiti’s Presidential Transitional Council (CPT), leading national dialogue and electoral processes, alongside his work as an executive at Alternative Insurance and his experience as a 2024 Yale Peace Fellowship recipient. Throughout his public career, he successfully served as a spokesperson for the Haitian nation and urged the United Nations to support an intervention force, while also demanding reparations from France for historical injustices and emphasizing the need for new solutions to overcome past failures. He made an indirect but unmistakable biblical reference: “Abraham said, ‘Enough, it’s too much.'”
Our guest, freelance art and culture journalist for The Haitian Times, Dhanha Bien-Aimé, then highlighted the very essence that characterizes the current political situation and the new efforts undertaken to reorient Haiti’s political future, starting with what Mr. Saint-Cyr’s presence at the convention symbolizes. Bien-Aimé suggests that this could indicate a resurgence of the country’s economic ambitions, with a particular focus on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. At the same time, infrastructural reorganization has represented a negative factor for the development of the tourism and hospitality sector, with the proliferation of franchised resorts and hotels. Underwent Haiti’s tourism and hospitality sector has faced ongoing challenges, with significant declines accelerating since 2018 due to political instability, gang violence (especially after President Moïse’s 2021 assassination), and economic crises, leading to travel advisories, hotel closures, and a drastic drop in visitors despite earlier recovery efforts post-2010 earthquake, a reference made in Haiti Travel Advisor’s website.
In line with the ideal of innovation, sound political leadership, and cultural renewal, interim President Laurent Saint-Cyr issued a call to action, characterized by a perfect balance between understanding opposing forces and forging alliances with countries of interest to rebuild a clear, effective, and achievable sovereignty. This approach is emblematic of the current political and cultural climate in Haiti this year (2025), during which the United Nations held its 80th General Assembly (UNGA80). The main theme of this year’s assembly was “Together for a Better Future: 80 Years and Beyond for Peace, Development, and Human Rights.” This reflects our commitment to preserving what we have already achieved through our efforts, refusing to remain passive in the face of the spread of disinformation and neocolonialism. We pledge not to be deceived by the same forces against which we have repeatedly fought and which, at Bois Caïman (Alligator Wood) in 1804.
This makes Mr. Saint-Cyr the most qualified person to tackle the multitude of tasks entrusted to him to reform the situation in Port-au-Prince or, at least, in the short period leading up to the February 7th elections, to help define and create an action plan that, through each of these tasks, contributes to maintaining good operational order and positively influencing all sectors of Haitian society. With 90% of the neighborhoods controlled by criminal gangs, Mr. Saint-Cyr is in a strategic position to exert a significant impact by his leadership role at a critical time for Haiti. As the first member of the Haitian private sector to simultaneously hold the rotating presidency and the position of prime minister; two positions that entail the greatest executive responsibilities in the country. Mr. Saint-Cyr boasts a strong interest in and extensive experience in the business world, having held numerous positions, including his initial role at a local insurance company, where he began his career. We are closely following the early developments of the upcoming elections, as one of the fundamental points for the future of Haiti is the affirmation of national sovereignty, a crucial element for the protection of our cultural, political, and social values.
