On the tragic stage that is our country, leaders must play their roles with greater wisdom and foresight. On the evening of March 1, 2025, a police contingent, branded as a task force, launched an assault on Jimmy Chérizier’s stronghold. On this occasion, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé displayed a carefree attitude. Unable to contain his nervous excitement, he prematurely assumed a triumphant stance. However, the high-profile operation ended in disappointment, as Barbecue ultimately evaded capture. For the sake of his credibility, the head of government must return to a more grounded assessment of reality. Far from quelling the murderous intent of gang leaders, Saturday night’s failed offensive triggered a surge of verbal violence from the spokesperson of the Viv Ansanm coalition, laced with threats of retaliation—with the most vulnerable segments of the population likely to suffer as collateral damage.

The chaos of our times demands not only a strong sense of priorities but also a more measured communication strategy. Publicly blaming PNH leadership for missteps in the fight against insecurity—without acknowledging his own share of responsibility as head of the CSPN, as the Prime Minister did a few weeks ago—is nothing more than an attempt to shift the burden of incompetence onto a scapegoat, masking repeated failures with an illusion of determination. When one lacks the power to dismiss, the first step is to sit at the table and negotiate with those who hold that authority—not to overturn the table altogether, at the risk of losing both prestige and legitimacy.