Haiti – Public Governance: The Report of the RTNH Restructuring Commission Still Without Effect

PORT-AU-PRINCE.— Several months after the establishment of the National Radio and Television of Haiti (RTNH) restructuring commission, the announced work indeed resulted in the drafting of a final report. However, no institutional decision has yet been made public regarding the implementation of the recommendations, reigniting the debate on the follow-up of reforms within public administration.

The document, which we have reviewed, was transmitted to the supervisory authorities in accordance with procedures. This observation confirms a continuity with a previous publication dedicated to the creation of the commission and the expectations placed on its work, after several years of criticism regarding the functioning and governance of the public media.

The report thoroughly analyzes RTNH in its administrative, financial, organizational, and editorial dimensions. It highlights an internal structure deemed fragile, high operational costs, and a lack of a clear strategic vision for a state media outlet intended to play a central role in the national audiovisual landscape.

The commissioners formulate a series of recommendations focusing on governance and institutional modernization, financial rationalization, the redefinition of the public service mission, and editorial repositioning at the national level.

The stated objective is to enable RTNH to become a modern, high-performing public media outlet capable of effectively fulfilling its public information service function.

Despite the formal submission of the report, the authorities have not communicated any timeline or announced concrete measures regarding the adoption or application of the recommendations.

«The work was submitted within the established deadlines,» a commission member stated, specifying that no official position has been made public by the relevant authorities. This lack of communication maintains uncertainty about the continuation of the process, even as the question of the public media's future has been debated for several years.

This case recalls a frequent institutional practice in Haiti: the proliferation of technical or administrative commissions whose conclusions do not systematically lead to concrete actions. In a context marked by institutional crisis, resource scarcity, and political priority instability, the question of the effectiveness of these mechanisms is increasingly raised.

The restructuring of RTNH, a central but weakened player in the media landscape, is awaited by several sectors, including information and cultural professionals. For now, the report exists but remains without political or administrative translation.

The future of the matter now depends on the willingness of public authorities to transform technical recommendations into enforceable decisions. Otherwise, this report, like others before it, could remain a dead letter, without real effect on the institution's performance.