Former Haitian PM opposes Bishop’s role as mediator ahead of CPT mandate expiry

Former Haitian Prime Minister Jean Henry Céant has publicly rejected the plan by Mgr Pierre André Dumas, Bishop of the Diocese of Anse-à-Veau and Miragoâne, to act as a mediator as the mandate of Haiti’s Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) comes to an end on February 7.

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Céant, who served as prime minister from September 2018 to March 2019 before his government lost a vote of no confidence, expressed his disapproval in a January 11 letter to Mgr Dumas, also Vice-President of the Haitian Episcopal Conference. He said he learned of the bishop’s decision “with profound astonishment, mixed with sadness and dismay.”

“By offering yourself as a mediator, you are entering a highly political arena,” Céant wrote, stressing concerns over the credibility, neutrality, and detachment required for effective mediation in Haiti’s volatile political environment.

The Bishop had informed Laurent Saint-Cyr, President pro tempore and Coordinator of the CPT, that at least 15 political, economic, and civil society coalitions had asked him to lead efforts to establish a consensual executive government by February 7. In his letter, Mgr Dumas acknowledged the gravity of the task but said he accepted the role to prevent the country from descending into chaos.

Céant argued that the bishop’s past political involvement and prior actions, including co-signing a 2024 statement condemning certain citizens before trial, undermine his neutrality. He appealed to the CPT to reject the mediation proposal, calling it exclusionary and unlikely to contribute to a just and peaceful resolution of the crisis.

“Today, by offering yourself as a mediator, you are entering a highly political arena, even though your past position places you, in effect, among the stakeholders,” Céant wrote. He added that Mgr Dumas still has an essential pastoral role, which could unite the faithful through prayer, humility, and reconciliation rather than political engagement.

Last week, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Eminent Persons Group (EPG) urged all Haitian stakeholders to prioritize patriotism over personal interest to allow Haitians to determine their own future. The EPG expressed concern over delays in reaching consensus despite multiple proposals for a transitional process.

Céant concluded his letter by stressing that his stance was motivated by the need to protect institutional credibility and public faith, while acknowledging the bishop’s office with respect and without hatred.