Overview:
Inspector Normal André Jonas Vladimir Paraison was appointed interim director normal of the Haitian Nationwide Police (PNH) on Aug. 8, changing Normil Rameau after simply over a yr within the submit. The choice, introduced throughout a Council of Ministers assembly and formalized at a ceremony on the Villa d’Accueil, is the primary main motion by newly put in Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) President Laurent Saint-Cyr.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Inspector Normal André Jonas Vladimir Paraison was appointed interim director normal of the Haitian Nationwide Police (PNH) on Aug. 8, changing Normil Rameau after simply over a yr within the submit. The choice, introduced throughout a Council of Ministers assembly and formalized at a ceremony on the Villa d’Accueil, is the primary main motion by the newly put in president of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), Laurent Saint-Cyr.
Paraison, who most not too long ago served as the top of safety on the Nationwide Palace, has many years of policing expertise and was on obligation in the course of the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse. Authorized points and scandals have additionally overshadowed his profession.
In November 2018, Saint-Marc investigating decide Dieunel Luméran issued an arrest warrant accusing him of involvement in a September 2016 arms trafficking case, however the fees by no means resulted in prosecution.
The indictment filed in opposition to Paraison and different high-level officers, together with former PNH director normal Godson Orélus and former Minister of the Inside Réginald Delva, alleged their involvement in arms trafficking, forgery, cash laundering and conspiracy. Nevertheless, in Could 2019, the Courtroom of Enchantment of Gonaïves ordered the charges to be dropped attributable to a scarcity of stable and constant proof, citing abuse of energy and misapplication of associated Haiti Penal Code articles.
In his first speech as police chief, Paraison vowed to accentuate operations in opposition to gangs, pledging arrests “whereas respecting the legislation and human dignity.” He cited pressing wants for extra personnel, field-adapted coaching, stronger intelligence operations, and higher logistics.
“We’ll arrest them and convey them to justice, whereas respecting the legislation and human dignity,” Paraison stated forcefully.
“I really feel able to contribute to the battle in opposition to insecurity in my nation. At the moment, I’m able to relentlessly assault this scourge, with the help of the federal government and the Presidential Transitional Council,” the brand new police chief stated. “We gained’t sleep in order that the folks can sleep nicely, in order that faculties can reopen and kids can obtain the bread of training.”
Normil leaves PNH management with a heavy toll
Rameau’s second tenure as PNH chief — following his 2019–2020 time period below then President Jovenel Moïse — ended below related criticism for failing to rein in gang violence. Since his June 2024 appointment by the CPT, gangs have tightened management over greater than 90% of Port-au-Prince, in addition to a number of provincial cities. The violence has displaced 1.3 million folks, compelled greater than 40 medical facilities to close down and left a minimum of 33 officers lifeless. Eighteen police stations have been destroyed.
The outgoing police chief typically cited persistent underfunding as a key impediment, noting that the Ministry of Financial system and Finance launched solely about 65% of the police’s requested operational funds, with no funds disbursed by mid-July.
In line with a PNH report, a funds of 272,323,800 gourdes, roughly $2.1 million, was submitted to the Ministry of Financial system and Finance (MEF), however solely 177,130,000 gourdes—lower than $1.4 million—had been permitted as of July 18, 2025, with no checks issued but, leaving the funds pending disbursement.
This funds shortfall affected a number of communes within the West division which are below heavy gang stress, together with Kenscoff, Torcel, Pernier, and Gressier. The Artibonite area, the place 4 law enforcement officials had been not too long ago killed, and Mirebalais within the Centre Division additionally confronted underfunding.
As for Paraison, he takes over as Haiti faces deep insecurity, the deployment of a global police mission, and mounting stress to carry elections by Feb. 7, 2026. Saint-Cyr, representing the personal sector within the CPT, stated the time for “nice speeches” is over.
“An excessive amount of blood has been shed and an excessive amount of time misplaced,” Saint-Cyr stated in his inaugural speech. “We should restore safety, revive the financial system, and stroll collectively towards stability and growth.”