On Thursday, January 1st, 2026, as part of the celebrations for Haiti's National Independence Day, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé participated in the ceremony at the Villa d'Accueil. He was accompanied by Laurent Saint Cyr, President pro tempore and Coordinator of the Transitional Council (CPT), as well as Presidential Advisors.

This ceremony, of profound symbolic, historical, and national significance, brought together the highest authorities of the State around a shared duty of remembrance and responsibility. The ceremony took place in the presence of members of the Government, Lieutenant General Derby Guerrier, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H), members of the High Command, the Acting Director General of the Haitian National Police, Vladimir Paraison, the President of the Court of Cassation, Jean-Joseph Lebrun, as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps and other high-ranking state officials.

The Prime Minister recalled with emotion and pride that on January 1st, 1804, "[...] our ancestors triumphed over the system of slavery, putting an end to centuries of oppression and affirming, for the first time in history, the dignity and freedom of an oppressed people. This historic day remains a universal symbol of courage, determination, and resilience [...]

Today, as then, we are called upon to draw inspiration from this bravery to build a united, just, and strong country. Security, peace, stability, and the organization of democratic elections are our essential paths toward a better future.

Despite the challenges and trials facing our Nation, let's remember that unity and solidarity are our most precious strengths. Let's have the courage to come together and continue, with faith and responsibility, the work of our ancestors, so that their legacy continues to guide our shared destiny.

According to the Head of Government, this historical legacy compels us today more than ever. It calls us to national unity, to transcend divisions, to a sense of the State, and to a renewed collective responsibility. It commits the institutions of the Republic to work tirelessly for the security of citizens, the restoration of public peace, institutional stability, and the rebuilding of national trust. Fils-Aimé called upon every Haitian, both in Haiti and in the diaspora, to rally around the founding values ​​of the Nation : 'liberty, unity, security, stability, and hope'"

In his address, President Laurent Saint-Cyr recalled that the celebration of the 222nd anniversary of Independence is a powerful reminder of the Haitian people’s historic efforts to break the chains of slavery. He paid special tribute to the Father of the Nation, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, as well as to all the heroes and heroines of Independence, for the freedom and dignity they bequeathed to the Nation.

He made a solemn appeal for unity, dialogue, serenity, and a sense of responsibility from all the nation’s vital forces, emphasizing that political dialogue is a tool for accountability. This is the best way to prevent the country from descending into chaos, especially as we approach February 7, 2026, the end of the CPT's mandate.

SL/ HaitiLibre