Garry Conille, Haiti‘s new prime minister is reported to be in stable condition after being hospitalized with a mystery illness on Saturday.
It was reported that Conille began suffering breathing problems before being rushed to the hospital.
According to the Voice of America, Conille shared a video clip addressing the camera while standing, telling viewers: “I am posting this video to assure you that I am fine.”
A government source, speaking anonymously, had told AFP that the prime minister had suffered an asthma attack.
“‘Following a week of intense activities, the Prime Minister had a slight illness on the afternoon of Saturday June 8, 2024 and went to the hospital for treatment.” his office said in a statement.
“His situation is stable for the moment.”
Reuters published several images of ambulances and police officers outside a hospital in a suburb of the capital, Port-au-Prince, where Conille was receiving treatment.
Before he became the Haitian leader, Conille was most recently a former regional director at UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Agency.
“He was named interim prime minister on May 29 by a transition council with the mandate to restore stability and take back control from violent gangs.”
The last elected leader in Haiti, President Jovenel Moise, was assassinated in 2021.
In a YouTube video, Conille said that he didn’t feel well.
CBS News reported:
“In his video, Conille said: ‘The whole time I was at the hospital, I was thinking of something: People that need to go to the general hospital can’t get there (due to widespread violence). People who need health care can’t afford it.”
A transitional council selected Conille as the new PM this month.
“The new prime minister has an arduous task ahead of him, having to quell rampant gang violence while helping lift Haiti out of deep poverty, with inflation reaching a record 29%, according to the latest data available.”
The rebel gangs control at least 80% of the capital, forcing more than 360,000 people from their homes.
“The Haitian government is now awaiting the U.N.-backed deployment of a police force from Kenya and other countries.”
Conille was in good spirits in the video released yesterday.
“‘I hope that by early next week, we can have a government in place.” he said.
“I am doing everything we can so we can get out of this crisis.”
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