Haiti remains in chaos under the U.S.-backed Caricom-brokered Presidential Transitional Council (CPT), which has failed to stabilize the country amid rampant gang violence, political dysfunction, and corruption. The Biden administration and the UN pushed for this 9-member council, but it lacks legitimacy, popular support, and effectiveness. Now, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio visiting Jamaica to meet the Caricom and possibly the CPT President Fritz A. Jean, the Trump administration has a critical choice:
– Continue recognizing the failing CPT (despite Rubio previously calling it “illegitimate”)?
– Or support a more credible alternative—such as Haiti’s Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation) appointing an interim president to form a consensus government and organize elections by 2027?
Given the CPT’s inability to restore order and its looming February 2026 expiration, the Trump administration must act decisively to prevent further collapse.
Strong Arguments Against the CPT & Why a Supreme Court-Led Transition is the Best Path
1. The CPT is Illegitimate and Failing
– No Popular Mandate: The CPT was imposed by foreign powers (U.S., UN, Caricom) rather than emerging from Haitian consensus.
– Gang Violence Worsening: Since its installation, gangs have expanded control, kidnapping, and killing with impunity.
– Internal Divisions: The council is paralyzed by infighting, corruption allegations, and inability to appoint a functional government.
If the CPT was supposed to bring stability, why has violence only escalated under its watch?
2. Marco Rubio’s Contradictory Stance
– During his confirmation hearing, Rubio called the CPT “illegitimate”—yet now he is meeting its leader, Fritz Jean.
– This sends mixed signals: Is the Trump administration softening its stance despite the CPT’s failures?
Will Rubio use this meeting to pressure the CPT to step aside, or is he legitimizing a failed experiment?
3. The Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation) Alternative
Haiti’s jurisprudence (not just the constitution) allows for the Supreme Court to play a stabilizing role in crises. Past transitions (e.g., Boniface Alexandre in 2004) show this can work.
A better path forward:
– The Cour de Cassation selects an interim president (a respected judge or consensus figure).
– Forms a lean, technocratic government with one mission: security first, then elections by 2027.
– Excludes corrupt politicians and gang-linked actors—unlike the CPT, which includes questionable figures.
Why stick with a failing foreign-imposed council when Haiti’s own institutions offer a more credible solution?
4. The February 2026 Deadline is a Trap
The CPT’s mandate expires in less than a year, yet it has made zero progress toward elections or security. Extending its term would only prolong chaos.
A realistic timeline:
– November 2027 elections (as proposed) give enough time for stabilization.
– A Supreme Court-led transition avoids the CPT’s fatal flaws—lack of trust, inefficiency, and foreign interference.
What Should the Trump Administration Do?
1. Publicly withdraw support for the CPT and declare it a failed project.
2. Encourage the Cour de Cassation to appoint an interim leader with a clear mandate.
3. Support a multinational security force (not UN-led) to help dismantle gangs—but under strict oversight to avoid past abuses.
4. Pressure Caricom to abandon the CPT model and back a Haitian-led transition.
If the Trump administration truly believes in sovereignty and stability, why would it prop up an illegitimate, ineffective council instead of empowering Haiti’s own institutions to lead a transition?
The choice is clear: Dump the CPT. Back the Supreme Court. Save Haiti.
The post The Haiti Crisis: Why the Trump Administration Must Reject the Illegitimate CPT and Back a Supreme Court-Led Transition appeared first on Transparansmm.