while a powerful gang leader underscored the ongoing challenges by vowing to overthrow the government. Laurent Saint-Cyr’s appointment, announced at the council’s guarded Port-au-Prince office—where criminal gangs control large swaths of the capital—marks the first time a private-sector figure will hold both the rotating presidency and work alongside the prime minister, roles that share executive duties.

“Our country is going through one of the greatest crises in all its history,” Saint-Cyr said at a ceremony attended by ambassadors from several nations. “It’s not the time for beautiful speeches. It’s time to act.” Hours earlier, a gang federation that has long denounced Haiti’s oligarchs threatened to topple the government, and gunfire erupted in parts of the capital as many residents avoided the usual traffic. In a video posted on social media, Jimmy Chérizier, leader of the Viv Ansanm gang known as “Barbecue,” urged residents to grant his armed group free passage through several neighborhoods to reach the council’s office.

“A U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police said officers thwarted potential attacks by around-the-clock patrols and by increasing the number of armed forces in certain neighborhoods and around critical infrastructure,” the statement noted. At the council’s office, Saint-Cyr thanked national and international actors who aided Haiti, and the private sector, which he called the engine of the economy. He stressed that security is the council’s top priority and urged the armed forces to intensify operations, with international partners providing more troops, training, and resources.

“We must restore state authority,” he said. “The challenges we face are linked to insecurity, but also to a lack of courage, vision, and responsibility.”

Saint-Cyr, who previously led the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will work with Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, a former internet entrepreneur and ex-president of the chamber. While some Haitians have criticized private-sector leadership, dozens gathered outside the council in white shirts to show support for Saint-Cyr. (Jamaica Gleaner)