Laurent Saint-Cyr
Laurent Saint-Cyr | |
|---|---|
Saint-Cyr in 2025 | |
| 4th Chairman of the Transitional Presidential Council | |
| In office 7 August 2025 – 7 February 2026 | |
| Prime Minister | Alix Didier Fils-Aimé (acting) |
| Preceded by | Fritz Jean |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Member of the Transitional Presidential Council | |
| In office 25 April 2024 – 7 February 2026 | |
| Prime Minister | Michel Patrick Boisvert (acting) Garry Conille (acting) Alix Didier Fils-Aimé (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Independent |
| Education | Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs |
Laurent Saint-Cyr (French pronunciation: [lɔʁɑ̃ sɛ̃ siʁ]) is a Haitian politician and businessman who served as the 4th and final Chairman of the Transitional Presidential Council of Haiti from 7 August 2025 to 7 February 2026. He was a member of the council representing the private sector and has previously worked in the insurance industry.
Biography
Saint-Cyr is a member of Haiti's Mulatto minority.[1] Saint-Cyr is a wealthy businessman and has served in the insurance industry in Haiti for many years.[2][3] He also served as the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti and as president of the Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.[2]
Saint-Cyr served on the High Council of Transition, which aimed to promote national dialogue and the organization of elections, from 2023 to 2024.[2] In April 2024, he was named a member of the Transitional Presidential Council, the body temporarily acting as head of state, representing the private sector.[4][5] In September, he became the inaugural peace fellow at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs.[4] On 7 August 2025, Saint-Cyr succeeded Fritz Jean as chairman of the Transitional Council, marking the first time that both the head of council and the head of government of Haiti were led by members of the private sector.[3] He was inaugurated at the Villa d'Accueil in Port-au-Prince amidst threats from gang leader Jimmy Chérizier to overthrow the government.[5] A United Nations-supported force reported the thwarting of several plots to "disrupt national stability and render the country ungovernable" on the day of his inauguration, while "bursts of gunfire" were heard during his transition to office.[5] On 23 January 2026, Saint-Cyr refused to sign and publish the motion on Le Moniteur that would have removed acting Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé after a majority of the council voted in favor of the resolution.[6] His term expired on 7 February 2026, and powers were handed over to Fils-Aimé.[7]
References
- ^ "New leadership appointed in Haiti as gangs threaten to overthrow government". CNN. 2025-08-08. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
- ^ a b c "Haïti: Laurent Saint-Cyr prend la tête du Conseil présidentiel de transition" [Haiti: Laurent Saint-Cyr Takes Over as Head of the Presidential Transitional Council] (in French). Radio France Internationale. 6 August 2025 – via archive.today.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b Sanon, Evens; Coto, Dánica (7 August 2025). "New leadership appointed in Haiti as gangs threaten to overthrow government". Associated Press.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "International Leadership Center names inaugural Peace Fellow". Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Isaac, Harold (7 August 2025). "Haiti businessman takes over presidency as gangs threaten transition". Reuters.
- ^ Charles, Jacqueline (January 29, 2026). "U.S. imposes sanctions on more members of Haiti's presidential council". Miami Herald. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ^ "Haití queda este sábado sin autoridades electas tras fracasar el Consejo Presidencial de Transición". Sondeo Latino News (in Spanish). February 7, 2026. Retrieved February 7, 2026.