PORT U PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — Haiti’s new executive authorities have affirmed their commitment to creating a climate of peace and security, in the prospect of  holding a constitutional reform and general elections in time to hand over power to a new elected leader and other officials by February 2026, the head of the presidential transitional council (CPT) has said.

Edgar Leblanc Fils, 68, a veteran politician and former president of Haiti’s national assembly, said signs of progress in the security situation will be visible in a near future.

Fils said the governing body has had meetings with all the stakeholders in charge of the security apparatus, including the army and the police high command, as well as those in charge of security at the presidential palace.

“According to our discussions and agreements we’ve reached in terms of their need in equipment, numbers, and in terms of moral support for the men and women on the ground as they have promised, we believe in the coming days and weeks, there will already be some signs that the security situation is being addressed,” Fils said.

“There are big decisions to be taken, first and foremost, in the field of security: free the country from the actions of people who are inflicting so much suffering to so many people and making so many victims,” Fils said.

The CPT expressed sympathy to “all those who have been displaced; all the women who have been sexually abused; all those whose houses have been burned”.

He described the appointment of the council and their commitment to working together in a consensual manner as “a solid step that should contribute to the process leading to an end to the crisis”.

“We are taking all the necessary measures to appoint a new government then important security measures will be taken,” Fils insisted.

While those political steps have been taken, many continue to wonder what the new authorities will actually do to get armed criminal gangs calling the shots in the troubled Caribbean nation to lay down their weapons.

Many political observers believe it remains a hit-or-miss situation.