Haiti announces new government

Haiti's President Michel Martelly addresses the audience during a memorial held for the victims of the 2010 earthquake in Titanyen, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince January 12, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Haiti's president, Michel Martelly, announced the formation of a new government via Facebook late Sunday, in a bid to rescue the impoverished Caribbean nation from a political crisis.

On Friday Martelly promised to use his executive authority to form a consensus government after parliament was dissolved last week due to the failure to hold elections.

Despite promising a new government Martelly kept several current cabinet members in their posts including the ministers of health, tourism, education, foreign affairs, defense and public works.

The 18 ministers and 16 secretaries of state will be sworn in on Monday afternoon, Martelly said in an official statement on his Facebook page.

In a major speech on Friday Martelly urged anti-government demonstrators to maintain order as he seeks to steer the country toward new elections. He also swore in a new prime minister on Friday night, former Port-au-Prince mayor, Evans Paul.

Haiti has not held legislative or municipal elections for three years, leaving parliament without a quorum as terms expired and Martelly has ruled by executive authority.

Haiti is scheduled to hold presidential elections at the end of the year. Municipal and legislative elections could be held this summer, though Martelly has not announced a date yet and must first form an Electoral Council.