Haitian PM hospitalized days after taking office

Newly selected Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille was released from the hospital on Sunday, a day after admittance for an undisclosed illness. Video of his arrival obtained by The Associated Press shows an ambulance with emergency lights activated in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. At the time, his office characterized his malady as a slight malaise and said his condition had stabilized. Conille later said his hospitalization opened his eyes to the inaccessibility of health care to the general public. He blamed the problem on widespread violence in Port-au-Prince.

Didn’t he just take office? Haiti’s presidential transitional council last week appointed Conille to serve as prime minister, overseeing the country’s transitional government. The ceremony took place on Monday, June 3. The transitional government is expected to remain in place and prepare for presidential elections in early 2026.

What has he accomplished in the days since he took office? Shortly before his hospitalization on Saturday, Conille visited Haiti’s only major air hub, the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. The airport reopened on May 20 after gang violence shut it down for nearly three months. Conille hailed the reopening and return of air transportation to his country. He praised Haitian police and armed forces for their efforts in securing the airport, according to a statement by his office.

What about the aforementioned violence? In a statement on Monday, Conille expressed sympathy to the families of three Haitian police officers who were assassinated over the weekend. Four officers with the police’s anti-gang unit were on patrol in Port-au-Prince when they were ambushed by gang members who set fire to their vehicle, according to a Reuters news report that cited police sources. Three of the officers died as a result of the attack. The prime minister condemned the assault and promised the victims’ family members that the murders would be investigated.

Dig deeper: Read about American missionary Mark Stockeland, who maintains that Haiti is not a lost cause.