Justice Minister Patrick Pélissier launched a national training program in Les Cayes on Tuesday, November 3, to prepare judges, prosecutors, lawyers, court clerks and police officers for Haiti's new penal code and code of criminal procedure, Vant Bèf Info reported.

The opening session was held at a hotel at the entrance of Gelée, the beach district of Les Cayes. The training aims to help participants learn the new provisions and understand how to apply them in courtrooms and police stations.

Both codes must take effect no later than January 1, 2027, less than two months from now. According to the outlet, the criminal law still in force rests on texts dating back nearly two centuries.

Pélissier outlined the main changes in his speech and thanked Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé for his support and the resources provided. Sabine Boucher, president of the commission in charge of putting the codes into effect, attended the ceremony.

The report did not say how many people will be trained, how long the program will last or which other departments it will reach.