While the city of Cap-Haïtien continues to bear the weight of destroyed roads and a blatant abandonment of public services, Emmanuel Vertilaire reappears on the public scene, not to give accounts, but to issue demands.
In a note dated April 30, 2026, the former presidential advisor adopts a grave, almost paternalistic tone to denounce state inaction regarding popular demands. He calls for the tracking of public funds, demands accountability, and challenges various ministries. A stance that, at first glance, might seem like that of a statesman concerned with the common good. However, this attitude raises a simple question: where was this same rigor when he was in power?
The document itself implicitly recalls this: during his time at the TPC, funds had been released for the rehabilitation of several strategic routes in Cap-Haïtien. Yet, to this day, these roads remain in critical condition, fueling residents’ outrage and street mobilizations.
It is thus difficult to ignore the gap between yesterday’s promises and today’s indignation. More disturbing still, Emmanuel Vertilaire seems to have discovered, once out of power, the virtues of transparency and public responsibility, as if these fundamental requirements should only apply to others.
This media appearance occurs in a very specific context: the former presidential advisor is currently working on structuring a new political project. This ambition gives his speech a tone that is less civic and more strategic. It is hard not to see this as a repositioning attempt at a time when distrust of the political class is reaching historic levels.
The problem is that collective memory does not fade so easily. The citizens of Cap-Haïtien, facing the deterioration of their infrastructure every day, expect more than just statements. They expect explanations. In a country where impunity remains the norm, political credibility cannot be rebuilt solely through indignant press releases. It begins, above all, with a simple yet all too rare exercise: accounting for one’s own management. Otherwise, calls for responsibility ring hollow. And political ambitions seem premature.
