Philippe Lahens, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), passed away on June 4, 2026. His funeral was held on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Sainte-Th\u00e9r\u00e8se Parish in P\u00e9tion-Ville. The day before, Wednesday, June 10, the family welcomed relatives, friends, and close ones at the Karibe Hotel to pay a final tribute to someone who had devoted part of his life to serving the Haitian economy and higher education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The death of Philippe Lahens brings sadness to his family, especially his wife, the internationally renowned writer Yanick Jean-Pierre Lahens, his children, his close ones, as well as many figures from Haiti’s economic and financial sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trained at the University of Paris-Dauphine, Philippe Lahens was known as a keen observer and a profound expert on Haitian economic realities. In March 2004, he was appointed Deputy Governor of the BRH under Governor Raymond Magloire’s administration. His expertise and professionalism earned him a continuation in his role when the Board of Directors was renewed in 2007, under Governor Charles Castel.During his seven years at the Central Bank from 2004 to 2011, Philippe Lahens helped shape the main directions of the country’s monetary and financial policy. He worked during a time full of big economic challenges, which called for stability, caution, and a clear strategic vision. He pitched in to strengthen the banking system, keep monetary stability, and push for stricter, more effective financial governance. Before joining the BRH Board of Directors, he made a name for himself in the private sector, especially as president of the Franco-Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, promoting a business outlook focused on openness, competitiveness, and the common good\u2014a vision that really contrasted with some of the usual practices in parts of the Haitian private sector, which often revolved around seeking special advantages.Philippe Lahens had published a review at the Franco-Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to fuel and promote strategic thinking. He continued this reflection in the guide document of the Center for Free Enterprise and Democracy (CLED) for the private sector. And then there was that business he set up, which was meant to make car parts more accessible to those with smaller budgets, but it didn\u2019t last long for various reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Philippe Lahens believed in the emergence of an economy based on free competition, clear rules of the game, innovation, and value creation. For him, a company\u2019s success couldn\u2019t be separated from collective progress, and the private sector has the responsibility to help build inclusive institutions, expand economic opportunities, and create a more prosperous and inclusive society.Convinced that sustainable economic development depended on a harmonious partnership between the state and the private sector, he encouraged initiatives that promoted investment, job creation, and strengthened international trade. His leadership, his knack for dialogue, and his deep understanding of economic issues earned him the respect of his peers and helped make him one of the most listened-to voices in Haiti’s business community. This experience naturally prepared him for the high responsibilities he would later take on at the Central Bank, where he put his expertise to work for the financial stability of the country.His career shows a deep expertise in several important areas, like monetary policy, the banking system, financial governance, private sector development, and international economic relations. Known for being intellectually sharp, responsible, and above all very discreet, he is part of that generation of professionals who quietly worked to strengthen Haiti’s economic institutions. According to his wife, these were the qualities that really defined Philippe Lahens: discretion, faith in the idea of a possible national community, the ability to rise above, and active empathy.Contribution to the Training of Young People<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Philippe Lahens was a professor at the National Institute of Administration, Management, and International Studies (INAGHEI), where he influenced several generations of students with the quality of his teaching and his intellectual rigor. He also helped design the framework for the National School of Technology (ENST), created in 1989 under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with support from French cooperation and the Haitian private sector.The goal was clear: to share his expertise with the younger generations. Yanick Lahens testifies: “You always wanted to pass on your solid knowledge, out of concern for the community, to the new generations in educational institutions like INAGHEI or ENST, where you even helped design the engineering program for the latter.” In public administration, he was just as committed to sharing his knowledge. But always with the same discretion, his wife acknowledges.His career is closely linked to a vision of development based on competence, institutional responsibility, and the belief that economic modernization is one of the key pillars of national progress. Through his work with the BRH, the State University of Haiti (UEH), the Franco-Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the main economic think tanks in the country, Philippe Lahens has built a reputation as a respected economist, known for his discretion, professionalism, and consistent commitment to the stability of the country’s institutions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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