Haiti lawmakers approve second nominee for post of prime minister

Haiti senate approves Enex Jean-Charles for Prime Minister post

It was second time lucky for interim President Jocelerme Privert after Parliament Friday approved his choice for prime minister less than a week after rejecting United States-trained economist Fritz Jean.

Lawmakers in this French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country gave the nod to Professor of Administrative Law, Enex Jean-Charles, who has also served as an advisor to several heads of state.

The Senate had unanimously ratified his policy statement late Thursday.The Lower House Chamber of Deputies voted in favour of Jean-Charles serving as a transitional government’s prime minister by a 78-1 vote with two deputies abstained.

Well known in politics since 1988 as “the friend of everyone”, the new interim prime minister is a graduate of the University of Missouri in Columbia, as well as the University of Brussels.

Since 1991, the 55 year old is Professor of Administrative Law at the Faculty of Law and Economics (FDSE) of the State University of Haiti and has published numerous articles and research reports on the administrative policy development, local participation and decision-making in administrative matters. He is the author of the Haitian Administrative Law Manual.

- Advertisement -

On Sunday, Privert watched as legislators voted down Jean and the Provisional Electoral Commission (CEP) that is needed to organise the twice-postponed presidential runoff vote following President Michel Martelly’s departure from office on February 7 without any successor being elected.

Last week, Sandra Honore, the top U.N. envoy for Haiti, told the United Nations Security Council that Haiti was at a “critical juncture” in consolidating its democracy and the next few weeks would be decisive.

“It is with a feeling of a heavy load in an extremely difficult situation that I accepted the post of prime minister,” Jean-Charles had said after his nomination was announced on Tuesday.

Privert, who had earlier said he will wait for Jean-Charles to get the nod from parliament before naming members of the CEP, will now seek to move ahead with plans for development as well as fresh presidential elections scheduled for April 24.

Before his nomination was approved Jean-Charles said his government would apply the “technical recommendations” of a special electoral commission that examined the disputed October 25 first round presidential vote and made various proposals to improve polling and overall transparency.

More Stories

Antigua Barbuda aerial

Antigua and Barbuda’s economy surpasses pre-pandemic levels, driven by tourism

Antigua and Barbuda’s economy continues its post-pandemic rebound, with real output surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2024. Growth was estimated at 4.3%, fueled by a strong...
Guyana to begin Construction on seven new hospitals

Guyana aims to become regional pharmaceutical, vaccine manufacturing hub

The future of Guyana’s healthcare system is taking shape with ambitious plans to build six new hospitals, modernize outdated regulations, and establish the country...
Doctors Without Borders suspends operations again in Haiti

Doctors Without Borders suspends operations again in Haiti

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has once again suspended operations at its Turgeau Emergency Centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, following an alarming escalation of...
Grenada’s Opposition leader Dr Keith Mitchell says he will not be seeking re-election

Former Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell collapses during political meeting

Former Grenadian Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell collapsed on Monday evening while addressing supporters of the New National Party (NNP) at a political meeting...
Suriname Joins World Bank's International Development Association as Newest Member

Local World Bank employees in Jamaica now exempt from income tax

In a move that reinforces Jamaica’s relationship with the World Bank, the Senate passed legislation on March 14 exempting locally recruited World Bank employees...
Vishnu Dhanpaul Trinidad cabinet

New Trinidad PM Stuart Young announces new cabinet appointments

Newly-appointed Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Stuart Young has unveiled his Cabinet, introducing several new appointments while retaining many key ministers. The official announcement...
Bahamas Health Minister

Bahamas Health Minister defends Cuban health workers amid US criticism

Health Minister Dr. Michael Darville has defended the presence of Cuban health workers in The Bahamas, emphasizing their crucial role in the country’s optometry...
Trinidad Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley

Dr. Keith Rowley calls for Trinidad to leave Privy Council in final address as PM

Former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley used his final address in office to make a passionate case for Trinidad and Tobago’s exit from the...
Stuart Young

Stuart Young sworn in as Trinidad and Tobago’s 8th Prime Minister

In a historic ceremony at the President's House this morning, Stuart Young was sworn in as the 8th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago,...
Horace Chang Jamaica

Jamaica on track for historic low murder rate, says Minister Chang

Jamaica could be on track to record fewer than 1,000 murders in a single year for the first time in recent history, as the...

Latest Articles

Skip to content