Joseph Innocent, Chief of Staff to Pythagore Dumas, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Civic Action (MJSAC), held an important working session with the directors of the Ministry's various departments.

On the agenda :

- Preparation for the national festivities of May 18, 2026 (Flag Day);

- Preparation of our senior men's national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the U-17 men's national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qatar;

- Ministry support for the other national football teams currently participating in the World Cup qualifiers for their respective categories: senior women's, U-17 (Morocco 2026), senior women's (Brazil 2027), and U-20 men's (Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan 2027).

- Establishing a favorable environment for the organization of the general elections in the country, scheduled for the end of the year.

This meeting provided an opportunity to take stock of the celebrations organized in 2025, which were marked by several logistical and organizational difficulties.

The main objective was to draw the necessary lessons to implement effective mechanisms to avoid such problems while ensuring, even more so this year, festivities worthy of the occasion.

During the discussions, the officials agreed to develop a structured project document, which will serve as the basis for preparing a detailed budget to be submitted to the Prime Minister. This document must also include all the necessary supporting documents to ensure that the procurement process for goods and services complies with applicable standards.

For the Chief of Staff, speaking on behalf of Minister Dumas, the success of the May 18th celebrations must transcend mere symbolism to become a truly unifying national event, mobilizing young people and all institutions around civic values ​​and national unity. This mobilization also takes place within a specific context for the country. Indeed, beyond the security, economic, and social challenges facing Haiti, 2026 represents a pivotal moment, requiring the creation of a peaceful national climate conducive to holding elections.

Furthermore, participants emphasized the historic and unprecedented nature of this year for Haiti in the sporting world. For the first time, the country is preparing to participate in two World Cups in different categories and is vying for qualification for three other World Cups in three other categories. This performance was described as phenomenal and achieved against all odds, despite the deteriorating climate the country is experiencing.

In this context, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civic Action (MJSAC) intends to make the May 18, 2026 celebrations a symbol of resilience, hope, and national mobilization, highlighting Haitian youth, sports, and civic engagement as pillars of national renewal.

HL/ HaitiLibre