Haiti Deserves Better Than an Endless Transition: Former President Privert's Sharp Analyses
By La Rédaction · Port-au-Prince
· 2 min read · Updated 24 April 2026
Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy
PORT-AU-PRINCE.— Not all former high-ranking public officials remain silent during the country's multidimensional crisis. Such is the case of Jocelerme Privert, with over forty years of career behind him. He meets with young people, students, diplomats, politicians, leaders of social organizations, etc. Sometimes he is invited for training sessions in universities on taxation, on local authorities (his preferred fields), public administration, among others. In short, the native of Nippes is very active.
Consternation over the country's situation
Expressing his opinions during an exclusive interview with HLIVE TV, the former senator conveyed his distress at the suffering of the Haitian people. Despite everything, the former President of the Republic remains very optimistic about Haiti's future.
He states he is ready to assume any responsibility that could help his country. “I am a public servant who has been called to several levels of political responsibility,” Privert emphasized. “I still live in Haiti, because I left the presidency on February 7, 2016, with the feeling of having done what was in my power and what was permitted by law,” the former senator added. Relations with the current government Regarding the management of the CPT administration, Jocelerme Privert remains very cautious, but believes that the current government is not dynamic enough to face the challenges of the hour. “No one hoped to see Haiti in an endless transition,” he said, inviting leaders to show political intelligence. Perspective on the constitution Regarding the change of the constitution, Jocelerme Privert believes that the CPT is ill-suited for such an undertaking. “They do not have the necessary legitimacy to change the constitution,” he stated, acknowledging that there is still a need to make some updates to the 1987 text. “To depart from the constitution is to open the way to anarchy and chaos,” asserts the former high-ranking state official who climbed all levels of public administration. Nevertheless, the new constitution does not resolve the issue of harmonizing the terms of elected officials, the problem of diaspora exclusion, or threats to national integrity, said the former senator, who nevertheless acknowledged that the language problem is a false debate. For some time, Jocelerme Privert has shown strong interest in the country's situation. Having himself faced two major challenges during his transitional mandate—the realization of general elections without international support and the consequences of Hurricane Matthew—Privert is always at the forefront to offer advice or take a public stance alongside the Haitian population. Jean Mapou
He states he is ready to assume any responsibility that could help his country. “I am a public servant who has been called to several levels of political responsibility,” Privert emphasized. “I still live in Haiti, because I left the presidency on February 7, 2016, with the feeling of having done what was in my power and what was permitted by law,” the former senator added. Relations with the current government Regarding the management of the CPT administration, Jocelerme Privert remains very cautious, but believes that the current government is not dynamic enough to face the challenges of the hour. “No one hoped to see Haiti in an endless transition,” he said, inviting leaders to show political intelligence. Perspective on the constitution Regarding the change of the constitution, Jocelerme Privert believes that the CPT is ill-suited for such an undertaking. “They do not have the necessary legitimacy to change the constitution,” he stated, acknowledging that there is still a need to make some updates to the 1987 text. “To depart from the constitution is to open the way to anarchy and chaos,” asserts the former high-ranking state official who climbed all levels of public administration. Nevertheless, the new constitution does not resolve the issue of harmonizing the terms of elected officials, the problem of diaspora exclusion, or threats to national integrity, said the former senator, who nevertheless acknowledged that the language problem is a false debate. For some time, Jocelerme Privert has shown strong interest in the country's situation. Having himself faced two major challenges during his transitional mandate—the realization of general elections without international support and the consequences of Hurricane Matthew—Privert is always at the forefront to offer advice or take a public stance alongside the Haitian population. Jean Mapou
