2025-12-27

REHABILITATION The Prime Minister's Office announced on December 26 that the Champ de Mars is undergoing rehabilitation and beautification work for end-of-year holidays. The government framed the project as part of urban revitalization to reclaim symbolic public spaces. The Primature stated the work creates a favorable environment for organization of free and democratic elections in the near future and promotes unity collective responsibility and respect for institutions. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime also held meetings with community organization leaders regarding return of residents to Solino and Delmas 30 areas previously under gang control. The rehabilitation coincides with the revised electoral calendar published on Christmas Day and the December 29 MORN sit-in announcement indicating strategic communications to project stability and control over Port-au-Prince center. The Champ de Mars has been largely abandoned due to insecurity making its rehabilitation symbolically significant. The government messaging links the work to December 27, 2025 electoral preparation despite the 365-day constitutional gap between February 7 2026 and February 7 2027 that remains unaddressed in the revised calendar. However the stability narrative conflicts with operational reality on the ground. The December 24 Minoterie drone strike killed dozens of gang members while the December 25-26 Tabarre market foiled attack demonstrates ongoing asymmetric warfare and terrorist threats. The government is conducting lethal drone operations while gangs attempt mass casualty economic attacks creating fundamental contradiction between messaging and security environment. The Return to Neighborhood program initiated with December 20 Solino visit by CPT President Leslie Voltaire and other officials has not yet produced verifiable resident returns to formerly gang-controlled areas.