Study shows high number of police officers killed In Haiti
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Mar. 28, (CMC) – A new report, by the Defense National Network of Human Rights (RNDDH), shows that 35 members of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) were killed, during a 14 month period.
In its report, for the period January 3, 2015 to March 18 this year, the RNDDH said, that 34 police officers were shot and one died as a result of a knife attack. It said, five inspectors were among those killed, while 37 others were injured during the period.
The majority of police officers assassinated (33 of 35) were, in the metropolitan areas: Port-au-Prince, Delmas, Carrefour and Pétionville, or in remote communes, such as Croix-des-Bouquets, Arcahaie, Grand-Goâve, Petit-Goâve, Ganthier, Gressier.
The other two police officers were killed in the Artibonite and the North of the country.
In most cases, PNH officers have been victims of armed attacks, perpetrated by unidentified individuals aboard motorcycles, traveling without license plates, the report noted.
The 19-page report accuses the judicial authorities of not doing much to deal with “this phenomenon of insecurity, which is clearly increasing in the country.”
New Haitian tourism minister pledges to continue arrivals growth
The interim leader of Haiti’s new government has moved quickly to fill the country’s top tourism post. Enex Jean-Charles, the recently-named prime minister, appointed Guy Didier Hyppolite minister of tourism and creative industries this week, replacing Stephanie Villedrouin, Travel Pulse reported.
In his new post Hyppolite, a former vice president of Haiti’s Tourism Association, will serve in the administration of Jocelerme Privert, who was elected interim president in February. Privert will remain president pending a general election in no more than 120 days.
Hyppolite said under his leadership the Tourism Ministry would “continue to promote the beauty of our beloved country, to assist operators and put in place the solid structural foundations essential for sustainable development of this leading economic sector.”
Haiti Provisional Electoral Council re-established
The United States welcomes Parliament’s confirmation of Haitian Prime Minister Enex J. Jean-Charles and his Cabinet, the State Department said in a release. We are encouraged by the re-establishment of the new nine-member Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). The CEP is responsible for organizing the second round of presidential elections, remaining parliamentary elections, and local elections in Haiti to complete the electoral process begun in 2015.
As called for in the February 5 accord, we encourage the CEP to quickly implement the technical recommendations of the Independent Electoral Evaluation Commission, designed to improve the transparency and fairness of the final round. Such action will enhance public confidence in the election process.
The United States looks forward to all provisions of the Accord being implemented — and a new democratically-elected president seated — as quickly as possible, so that the government can work together with Haiti’s partners to rapidly address the challenges facing the country.