Jouthe Joseph named new prime minister of Haiti

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti — President Jovenel Moïse said he has named Environment Minister Jouthe Joseph as the new prime minister, replacing Jean Michel Lapin.

“Following consultations I had with different sectors of the country, I chose Citizen Jouthe Joseph as new Prime Minister,” Moise said in a brief statement on Monday, adding that Joseph is being called upon “to form, as soon as possible, a Government of openness and consensus, capable of responding to the emergencies of the day”.

Jouthe Joseph

“I want to thank the former Prime Minister Jean Michel Lapin and his government for the services rendered to the nation. I especially want to congratulate Mr Lapin for his commitment, his loyalty, his patriotism and his spirit of sacrifice after a year spent at the Prime Minister’s office,” Moise said.

Lapin, the former culture and communications minister, was named acting prime minister on March 21 last year, three days after the Chamber of Deputies voted to censure the government of former Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly voted for Ceant’s resignation, saying he had failed to improve conditions in the six months since he took over at the head of government.

Lapin was the third head of government under president Moise who has led the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country since February 2017.

Since coming to office, opposition parties have been staging widespread demonstrations accusing Moise of corruption.