Haiti’s New Prime Minister Hospitalized Shortly After Selection
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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Just days after being chosen to lead Haiti, the newly selected prime minister, Garry Conille, was hospitalized late Saturday in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The reasons for his hospitalization remain unknown at this time.
Conille, who had been feeling slightly unwell after a week of intense activities, was reported to be in stable condition. The office of the prime minister released a statement expressing Conille’s gratitude towards those who visited him during his time in the hospital.
Louis Gérald Gilles, a member of the transitional presidential council responsible for appointing Conille, was present at the hospital but refrained from providing additional details regarding the situation. A close associate of Conille, who preferred to remain anonymous, mentioned that Conille, who suffers from asthma, seemed to have difficulty breathing, prompting the decision to seek medical attention.
Numerous high-ranking officials, including Frantz Elbé from Haiti’s National Police and Bruno Maes, UNICEF’s representative in Haiti, were seen entering the hospital. Curious bystanders gathered outside as authorities blocked the street with vehicles.
Conille’s appointment as prime minister came after a complex selection process. He is faced with the challenging task of addressing widespread gang violence in Haiti as the country awaits the deployment of a Kenyan police force. The delay in this deployment was in part due to the absence of a prime minister following Ariel Henry’s resignation on April 25.
Conille, who returned to Haiti on June 1 after working as UNICEF’s regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, has been actively engaging with officials and communities in Port-au-Prince. His recent activities included touring the international airport, which had been closed for several months due to gang-related violence, and holding meetings with key stakeholders in the private sector and telecommunications industry.
Despite the unexpected hospitalization, Conille’s commitment to his new role as Haiti’s prime minister remains unwavering. The transitional council is continuing discussions on the formation of the country’s new Cabinet as they navigate the challenges ahead.