February 17, 2026
Less than a month before the end of the mandate of the Presidential Transitional Council, CARICOM is raising its tone in the face of persistent political uncertainties in Haiti. In a statement dated January 9, 2026, the Group of Eminent Persons recalls that the February 7 deadline represents a major turning point.
The regional organization states that it continues to place “its good offices at the service of Haitian actors” confronted with multiple political, security, and institutional challenges. It insists that these efforts are part of a process that must be led and owned by Haitians themselves.
Despite the constant involvement of CARICOM and the international community, the Group says it is “deeply concerned by the slowness of stakeholders” in reaching agreement. It deplores the inability of actors to rally around “a consensual agreement on an alternative transition process,” even though several proposals show points of convergence.
Faced with this impasse, the Group of Eminent Persons calls for a collective awakening. It urges political actors to demonstrate “patriotism above all other considerations” in order to allow the Haitian people to freely decide their future. CARICOM finally warns that the absence of consensus before February 7, 2026, could lead to “undesirable consequences” for the country. In this tense context, the message is unambiguous: “time is running out.”
