Haiti’s 12-member cabinet was sworn into office on Wednesday with Prime Minister Garry Conille underscoring the importance of peace and security in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
Conille’s attorney, Carlos Hercules, will be the Minister for Justice and Public Security and Haiti’s ambassador to UNESCO, Dominique Dupuy, will be the Foreign Affairs Minister. Princeton-educated Ketleen Florestal takes over the Finance Ministry from Michel Patrick Boisvert, who also served as interim prime minister this year.
In addition, the 58-year-old Conille, a former United Nations senior official, said his administration would crackdown on corruption.
“The fight against corruption will be an absolute priority of my government,” Conille said, promising also regular audits of public resources.
“My government will work without rest to improve the conditions of each and every Haitian,” he said, telling the ceremony that “without security, no sustainable progress can be achieved..
“It is crucial our police and soldiers are ready to face today’s security challenges. And we will ensure that they have the tools they need to carry out their mission effectively and professionally.”
The ceremony comes less than 24 hours after a decree appointing members of the new cabinet was published in Haiti’s official gazette, two weeks after the presidential transitional council (PTC) named Conille as interim prime minister.
