President and CEO Leslie Voltaire
Port-au-prince, 11 June 2025. In a firm statement, Councillor-President Leslie Voltaire rejected the idea of the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, to engage in a dialogue with armed gangs, which control most of the Haitian capital. Leslie Voltaire stressed that peace cannot be built by pacting with terrorists, while calling for defending the memory of the victims and building a better future based on justice and security.
In a context of persistent crisis in Haiti, OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin raised the controversy this Monday by suggesting the need for discussions with all stakeholders, including armed gangs. In an interview with Jack Quinn of the Latin American Council, Albert Ramdin said it was essential to explore different ways to manage the security environment.
However, Councillor-President Leslie Voltaire quickly reacted to this by saying that Haiti cannot consider dialogue with groups that he describes as terrorists. « Every day, police and soldiers fall, leaving broken families behind », he declared with energy, stressing the daily suffering of Haitian citizens. According to him, mothers flee their homes while children sleep on the street, a dark picture that cannot be ignored in discussions about the future of the country.
In the same vein, the former President of the CPT stressed that the construction of peace cannot operate by negotiating with those who spread violence. « Our duty is to defend the memory of the dead, the dignity of the living and the hope of the young », he added. He also reaffirmed that Haiti aspires to a future based on justice, security and strong institutions, and that it is imperative to follow this path with those who share this vision.
The words of Albert Ramdin, who took office on Monday 26 May for a five-year term, were seen by some as an attempt to find a pragmatic solution to a desperate situation. However, Leslie Voltaire has clearly established that engaging with gangs is not an option.
In this critical period for Haiti, the rejection of this dialogue with gangs underscores the growing tensions between the various international actors and Haitian leaders, as the country struggles to regain stability and security.
WA
