Laurent Saint-Cyr sworn in as Haiti’s Presidential Council leader

Fritz Alphonse Jean passed on Thursday the torch of the rotating presidency of the presidential Transitional Council to Laurent Saint-Cyr.

This transfer of power ceremony took place in the presence of the other members of the Presidential Transitional Council, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, and members of his ministerial cabinet.

“Our country is going through one of the greatest crises in all its history,” Saint-Cyr said at a ceremony attended by ambassadors of several countries. 

“It’s not the time for beautiful speeches. It’s time to act. “We must restore state authority,” he said. 

“The challenges we face are certainly linked to insecurity, but they also are the result of our lack of courage, a lack of vision and our irresponsibility.”

Hours before the swearing-in, a powerful gang federation threatened to overthrow the government.

In a video posted on social media, Viv Ansanm gang leader Jimmy Chérizier  warns residents to give his armed group free passage through several neighborhoods to reach the council's office.