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In a tale that sounds like it was conjured up by the most audacious of novelists, the Caribbean island nation of Haiti finds itself in the throes of a crisis so surreal that it might just make the history books for its sheer audacity. Picture this: a place where the law of the land is dictated not by elected officials or public servants but by a gangster known as “Barbecue.” Yes, you read that correctly. Not the kind of barbecue you’d find sizzling on a grill on a sunny day, but a man whose moniker evokes images far more sinister than a family cookout.

Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier (47) is the new strong man in the Caribbean.

Jimmy Chérizier, aka “Barbecue,” a former police officer turned gang leader of the notorious “G9” militia, now finds himself as the de facto ruler of Haiti. At 47, armed with a submachine gun and bulletproof vest, surrounded by masked acolytes wielding their arsenal, Chérizier’s rise to power reads like a dark comic book plotline. Haiti, no stranger to adversity with its history of political turmoil and natural disasters, faces its most bizarre chapter yet.

At a press conference, the heavily armed crime boss demanded the Prime Minister's resignation.

The stage was set for this unprecedented takeover when Prime Minister Ariel Henry, seemingly overwhelmed by the escalating violence and anarchy, tendered his resignation. With the prime minister out of the picture, Chérizier and his gangland associates saw an opportunity to unleash chaos, burning down police stations, freeing prisoners en masse, and laying siege to governmental buildings with a ferocity that shuttered Port-au-Prince airport and forced Henry to seek refuge in Puerto Rico, unable to return.

Barbecue” (r.) with members of his gang.

What sets “Barbecue” apart, aside from his terrifying moniker and even more fearsome reputation is his peculiar stance as a self-proclaimed humanitarian and champion of people with low incomes. Despite allegations linking him to horrific acts of violence, including massacres and arson, Chérizier styles himself as a modern-day Robin Hood, albeit one who doesn’t shy away from armed struggle. His audacious claim of fighting against the corrupt elite for the sake of the downtrodden adds a layer of irony to the already thick plot, especially considering his admiration for Haiti’s tyrannical dictator, François “Papa Doc” Duvalier, and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. — an odd pair of role models if there ever was one.

Barricades have been burning in the streets of the capital for months.

With the police incapacitated and government buildings under siege, the situation in Haiti descends into what can only be described as an apocalyptic farce. Eyewitness accounts paint a dire picture: a hospital devoid of medical staff, with the sick and injured lying beside decomposing bodies; embassies evacuated amidst a backdrop of smoldering ruins; a population on the brink of a humanitarian disaster, with food and medicine supplies dwindling.

As the world watches, aghast, “Barbecue” ponders his political ambitions, hinting at a potential bid for the presidency, a move that would transition his role from gang leader to head of state, blurring the lines between criminality and legitimacy. With Prime Minister Henry stepping down and a transitional council scrambling to prepare for elections, the future of Haiti hangs in the balance, teetering on the edge of anarchy and absurdity.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned on Tuesday.

And so, the story of “Barbecue” and his unlikely ascent from gangster to power broker unfolds, a bizarre saga of power, ambition, and a desperate cry for order in a land where the absurd becomes the norm. It’s a dramatic narrative, rife with bold characters and dark humor, that captures the essence of a nation caught in a seemingly endless cycle of turmoil. In Haiti, the unbelievable has become every day, and “Barbecue” stands at the center of it all, a villain to some, a hero to others, and a symbol of the chaos that now rules the Caribbean.