The Port-au-Prince Bar Association Presents Analytical Work on the Ongoing Constitutional Process

In the Jeanne room, the Council of the Port-au-Prince Bar Association organized, this Friday, August 29, 2025, a public session to present the work of the special commission established by the Bar Association to analyze the ongoing constitutional process, particularly the draft Constitution document. This initiative is part of a collective reflection process on the country's institutional future, in a context of persistent political crisis and heated debates surrounding constitutional reform. The stated objective was to provide a critical and professional reading of the process, highlighting the democratic stakes, risks, and prospects of a potential overhaul of the Haitian Constitution. According to the shared conclusions, several grey areas remain regarding the legitimacy of the steps undertaken by certain national bodies. The lawyers reiterated that any constitutional reform should take place within an inclusive, transparent framework that respects democratic norms, to prevent the country's future fundamental law from being perceived as the product of a political camp or a particular interest group. Furthermore, a significant moment of this presentation was the intervention of several lawyers who called for coherence and responsibility among the actors involved in the process. A Controversial Double Game The name of Bar President Patrick Pierre-Louis was particularly mentioned in the debates. Indeed, he was a member of the Working Group on the Constitution, a body created under the supervision of the National Conference Steering Committee. He had therefore participated, in his time, in the initial discussions and reflections aimed at guiding the constitutional process. Today, however, he presents himself as one of the most virulent critics of this same Steering Committee, which he accuses of opaque maneuvers and partiality. This stance raises questions about a possible double game, revealing the contradictions between his initial commitment and his current discourse. For some, this reflects a desire to adjust his position according to the evolving political context; for others, it is a lack of consistency that undermines the credibility of the Bar Association in a debate already marked by mistrust and polarization.