minustah - Haiti Observer Blog

A Brazilian Air Force plane crashes at Toussaint Louverture International airport in Port-au-Prince on Sunday, May 26, 2013. The airplane involved in the accident is marked Força Aérea Brasileira and is part of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)

Boeing B707 was carrying the fifth rotation of the 17th Brazilian contingent.

According to Haitian authorities, the Brazilian military plane Força Aérea Brasileira veered onto the grass next to the runway after one engine caught fire as the aircraft was taking off. As the engine was caught on fire, the landing gear became disabled. Fire crews were able to put out the fire.

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Sandra Honore, a diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago will be spearheading the United Nations' Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti. This announcement was made by Secretary General of United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. This announcement from the Secretary General of United Nations came on the first weekend of June.

Sandra Honore is the successor of Mariano Fernandez, the previous head of United Nations' Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti. Since the departure of Mariano Fernandez, the position of Acting Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti has been served by Nigel Fisher.

Sandra Honore has a respectable diplomatic career since 1979 and has severed in various diplomatic posts including positions in Costa Rica, Brazil and United States of America. Along with the announcement of the new head of MINUSTAH, United Nations' Secretary General Ban Ki-moon once again thanked previous head of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, Mariano Fernandez for leadership and sheer determination during the critical days of Haiti. He also praised Mariano's role in smooth government transition in Haiti and the role he played for dealing with the challenging situations of national security of the Republic of Haiti.

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Former student of the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras (AMAN), the School of Command and General Staff Army and the School of Cavalry Squadron Officer where he earned first place in his classes, Lieutenant General Edson Leal Pujol has made a career out of receiving important titles. As of March 27, 2013, he has added yet another to his already impressive list.

He has succeeded his countryman, Major General Fernando Rodriquez Goulart as the second successive Brazilian Force Commander of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The announcement was made by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, who went on to thank former Force Commander Goulart and express the UN's gratitude for his service in the post. In his tenure, Goulart's leadership, professionalism, and his dedication to the UN's mission of stabilizing Haiti proved to be great and necessary contributions. His legacy has left a tall order for the new Force Commander to fill.

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After a widely criticized decision made by the United Nations to invoke its immunity after a suit filed in the wake of the 2010 Cholera outbreak in Haiti, that has caused the deaths of over 8,000 Haitians, some say the most disappointing thing is the brevity of the official dismissal. The invocation of the UN's right to legal protection within a country in which it operates was a one-sentence cap to three years of illness and death, including the 15-month effort to gain compensation for those affected by the outbreak said to have been caused by UN peacekeepers from Nepal who entered the country after the January 2010 earthquake to offer aid to victims.

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Regardless of what angle you are looking at it, we all can agree there has been great injustice done to the Haitian population with the introduction of the Cholera epidemic in Haiti by the UN. May be some are still ensure on whether or not this illness was a gift from the UN to us. In this case let's analyze the facts. Several independent studies support this claim. The only group so far who would not admit to that is the United Nations themselves.

Suspecting that their claim of not being involved "Ni De Pres or Ni de Loin" with the Cholera outbreak in Haiti, last week, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, rejected a legal claim for compensation filed in 2011 on behalf of cholera victims in Haiti, stating that they were "not receivable" because of the United Nations' has diplomatic immunity.

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The United Nations has formally declared that that they will not compensate any victim of the cholera outbreak in Haiti. The UN has invoked its legal immunity to rebuff claims from attorneys for over 8,000 people killed by the Cholera outbreak, under section 29 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN.

Not even" "Yon Goud Lescot"

The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon contacted the Haitian President Michel Martelly to inform him that the UN was not willing to compensate any of the claimants. He issued a diplomatic statement where he did not either accept or deny liability for the Cholera epidemic. However, he was direct in rejecting any possible compensation to any of the victims or families of the victims.

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Ban Ki-moon the United Nations Secretary General has announced Carl Alexandre's name as his Deputy Special Representative for United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

Kevin Kennedy Replaced

Kevin Kennedy has been replaced by Carl Alexandre. Kevin had served in that position with dedication from April 2010 to December 2012, for which the Secretary General was very grateful.

After the 2010 earthquake, Kevin had made valuable contribution to Haiti. On March 1st, Carl is expected to take on the functions of Kevin. From January 14th, the interim period, Ross Mountain of New Zealand has been appointed by the Secretary General.

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Almost 80 national police officers in Haiti are up for dismissal for being involved in various controversies and issues. This is a process called Vetting. This was confirmed by a report submitted by the United Nations Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH), recommending the dismissal of certain police officers. The report was given to Justice Minister Jean Renel Sanon and Chief of Police Godson Orelus.

Haiti National Police spokesman Frantz Lerebours said that the police officers will be fired for various offences such as corruption, dereliction of duty, human rights violations and insubordination, among others. The vetting report said that some police officers are accused of corruption because of the fact that they live a lifestyle that is unreasonable for the amount of salary they get.

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On Friday, September 21, 2012, thousands of people took to streets in the second city of Haiti, Cap-Haitian, to demonstrate against Martelly - Lamothe government. Barricades made of tires, stones and garbage were erected in several areas of the city. Traffic was difficult in many areas and in the neighborhood of La Fossettete and Cite Lescot where the tires were burning, impossible.

The people demonstrating were throwing slogans to show their dissatisfaction with the current policy of the government. They chanted against recent increase in food price and government corruption. Some of the people in the crowd were asking for Martelly to leave the government.

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Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, just recommends the renewal of the Minustah mandate for one year. He recommended that the Security Council extend its mandate of yet another, which is until October 15, 2013.

Le'ts face it folks, MINUSTAH is here for good.

Based on my analysis, the decision on whether these people stay or leave does not depend on us.

If we have to put up with them, shouldn't they at least protect the population?

According to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, "the security situation remained relatively stable although punctuated by sporadic civil unrest due mainly to socio-economic demands and to the instability caused by members of the former armed forces". The General Assembly is expected to spend nearly $650 million to finance the operation of the Minustah in Haiti for the period from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013

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