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On Thursday, May 29, Counselor-President Leslie Voltaire departed Port-au-Prince for Colombia to attend the summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Accompanied by Foreign Affairs and Worship Minister Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste, this is just another trip in a long list. The event marks the 30th anniversary of the Cartagena Convention, a founding act of the ACS.

Following the summit, Mr. Voltaire will continue his journey to San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, on Saturday, May 31. The purpose of this leg is to seek support from El Salvador for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, led by Kenya.

Mr. Voltaire’s return is scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, 2025, and it is hoped the trip will help strengthen diplomatic efforts toward national stability and security. However, this initiative raises concerns.

If traveling were the key to solving Haiti’s problems, the pilgrim-architect would be a national hero. Yet frequent foreign travel cannot substitute the urgent need for action on the ground.

Insecurity remains high, and internally displaced Haitians continue to live in uncertainty, unable to return home. Diplomacy must lead to tangible results.

A government’s credibility lies in its ability to meet its people’s expectations. Voltaire’s trips risk being seen as a misuse of public funds. Diplomacy, though vital, cannot replace effective governance and decisive action in service of the Haitian people.