PORT AU PRINCE – Prime Minister Garry Conille has told the new commander of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAD’H), Lieutenant General Derby Guerrier, that his role will be crucial as efforts continue to bring peace and stability to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
Prime Minister Garry Conille and the new Commander of the Armed Forces, Derby Guerrier.Earlier this week, the government renewed a state of emergency for several areas until September 19, adding that curfews may be established if necessary in the departments and districts where a state of emergency has been declared.
Haiti has been without an elected head of state since July 7, 2021, when Jovenel Moise was assassinated at his private residence overlooking Port au Prince.
The United Nations says gang wars have displaced more than 578,000 Haitians, while nearly 5 million – almost half the population of 11.7 million – are facing acute hunger, with 1.6 million of those people at risk of starvation.
Haiti has also benefitted from the deployment of police officers from Kenya under the United Nations sanctioned mission to combat powerful armed gangs that have wreaked turmoil in the Caribbean country.
The head of the Transitional President Council (TPC), in Haiti, Edgard Leblanc Fils, said that he expects presidential and legislative elections to be held by the end of 2025.
Guerrier replaced General Jodel Lessage, who had been in the position since 2018, and in his address to the installation ceremony, Prime Minister Conille said his assumption of the command of the Armed Forces of Haiti marks not only a decisive turning point,” but also an act of faith in our collective ability to restore the greatness and sovereignty of our country.
“Mr. Lieutenant General, by accepting this command, you take on your shoulders the weight of history and the hope of an entire people. Your mission, oh so noble and arduous, is to lead our armed forces with the rigour, integrity and wisdom that have always characterized great leaders.
“In these troubled times, when our homeland is facing unprecedented perils, your role will be crucial to protect the nation, restore order and guarantee our independence,” Conille said.
He told the ceremony that the history of the FAD’H is not that of a simple military institution, but that of a national epic, forged in blood, sacrifice and determination.
“Under the flags of Toussaint Louverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henri Christophe, our ancestors rose up to break the chains of oppression and found a free and sovereign Nation. This army, direct heir to these heroes, embodies the very spirit of our independence, the living flame of our will for freedom.
”Today, as you take command of this historic institution, you follow in the footsteps of these giants, these titanic figures who gave their lives so that we could live free. It is up to you now, Lieutenant General, to continue this legacy, to hold high the torch of freedom, and to restore the people’s confidence in their Armed Forces.”
He told Guerrier that his mission is “clear and imperative, to restore discipline, to strengthen the operational capacity of our units, and to make each soldier a model of professionalism and dedication to the Republic.
”But let’s never forget that in a democracy, the strength of the army must always be subordinate to the strength of the law. The army of a free nation is a bulwark against chaos, but it must always remain at the service of the law and the will of the people.”
Conille said that it is by respecting this primacy of law that the army becomes the guardian of freedom and not its gravedigger.
“Your duty, Lieutenant General, will therefore be to ensure that the Armed Forces of Haiti reflect our democratic values, and that they act in close collaboration with the civil authorities for the good of our homeland.”
He said that faced with the colossal challenges, including the fight against the forces of evil that sow terror and violence, it is imperative that the Armed Forces join forces with the Haitian National Police.
“This synergy, this work in perfect harmony, is the key to our success against the threats weighing on our territory. Together, and only together, will we be able to bring peace, restore order, and offer our people the security they deserve.”
Prime Minister Conille said that to make this mission possible, the government is committed to taking concrete measures to support and strengthen the Armed Forces of Haiti during this period of crisis.
He said the government will allocate additional funds to modernize the equipment of the Armed Forces, in particular surveillance and communication technologies, adding “we must equip our soldiers with the most efficient tools so that they can carry out their mission effectively”.
He said he was counting on the new head of the army to put in place an intensive training programme, not only for new recruits, but also for current officers.
“This training will emphasize modern military tactics, crisis management, and respect for human rights. Our forces must be ready to respond to all situations with skill and discernment,” he said, adding “we are already strengthening our partnerships with allied nations to benefit from international expertise in security and defense”.
Conille said that joint training missions and exchanges of best practices will be organized to raise the operational level of the Armed Forces and that he was counting on the Lieutenant General to ensure that the well-being of soldiers is a priority.
“In the coming months, we will improve military infrastructure, housing, and health care for our soldiers and their families. A soldier who knows that his family is safe and well cared for is a soldier more determined and focused.
“We will establish collaboration programs between the army and local communities. These initiatives aim to strengthen mutual trust, develop reconstruction and local development projects and show that the army is there to protect and serve the people.”
Prime Minister Conille reiterated that the future of the country rests on the ability to guarantee security and stability.
“On this historic day, I reiterate my government’s total commitment to supporting our Armed Forces and strengthening their cooperation with the National Police. It is our duty, our sacred responsibility, to build a country where every citizen can live in peace, where our children can grow up without fear, and where the sovereignty of our nation is respected and preserved.
”Lieutenant General Guerrier, at this solemn moment, I extend to you my warmest congratulations. I am convinced that under your leadership, the Armed Forces of Haiti will regain their former glory and their rightful place at the heart of our society and in the defense of our Republic,” Prime Minister Conille added.
