For over half a century, Haiti has been the stage of internal struggles where factions, obsessed with power, have relentlessly clashed, with no regard for the dramatic consequences of their rivalries. This destructive cycle has shattered the foundations of governance, undermined the people’s trust in their leaders, and prevented any form of patriotic solidarity focused on the common good.
Taking advantage of this chronic division, foreign interference has crept in like poison, weakening national sovereignty. Far too often, major decisions about — and against — Haiti have been made beyond our borders, in diplomatic offices where the interests of the Haitian people are but a secondary concern. Certain international actors operate based on their own agendas, at times even blatantly contradicting the aspirations of our nation. It is time to open our eyes, to shake off our stupor and say ENOUGH! Enough of sterile divisions. The time has come to act TOGETHER, with determination and clarity, to reverse course.
We must rise above our differences and build a collective surge grounded in the transcendence of individual interests in favor of a shared vision: Haiti first, Haiti always! The time has come for the Haitian elite, across all political spectrums, to form a united front, one that carries a national project inclusive of all. Only by jointly assuming our historic responsibility can we forge a future worthy of our country.
This patriotic unity does not demand uniformity, nor the erasure of political, social, and ideological diversity. It demands a sincere commitment to a common cause — to make our voice heard, loud and coherent, capable of defending our fundamental interests and restoring hope to every citizen. It is late, very late — but not too late. The ship is listing, drifting, but must not sink. We must set it back on course.
Haiti is our only homeland. The time has come to sing once more, not out of nostalgia, but out of conviction:
“… Unity is strength…”
The time has come to fully assume our roles as leaders, diverse in our ideas but united in the pursuit of harmony in the face of looming dangers. We must close ranks. The time for bold decisions has arrived. The time to wield the weapon of speech, of frank dialogue, of mutual respect, and of the revaluation of the Haitian spirit. With humility, but with firmness, we must mobilize our forces, unify our values, our dreams, our sensibilities.
National sovereignty must not be an empty word. It is a sacred legacy that we have too long neglected — squandered out of carelessness, division, and cowardice. From now on, we can no longer afford indifference. Haitians, of all backgrounds, of all colors, of all social classes: we must choose the path of mutual understanding, of shared will, of reconstruction. It is a matter of survival.
We must create, together, the mechanisms for a true national dialogue — capable of reconciling differences and aligning ambitions around a collective societal project. If we fail to do so, disunity will continue to drag us into the abyss of stagnation, instability, and collapse.
Faced with the magnitude of the suffering that overwhelms us, I issue a sincere and solemn appeal to all sectors of national life: political parties, civil society, organized groups. The hour calls for patriotic sacrifice for national salvation. We must no longer allow division to reduce us to nothing. Only a strong and sincere alliance between the sons and daughters of this land can enable us to overcome the challenges, whether internal or externally imposed.
History, for our survival, demands that we forge a genuine Pact of Governance — inclusive, visionary, and ambitious. Not as a symbolic event, but as a true founding moment, crafted with care, around a new, genuinely consensual political agreement that carries hope and change. A pact in which the country’s interest finally prevails over personal ambition.
The April 3rd Agreement has shown its limits. It has tacitly become obsolete!
The time for awakening and unity has come.
Me Jean Henry Céant
Citizen of Haiti
Former Prime Minister of Haiti
