pnh - Haiti Observer Blog

As per the news report, on March 5th, Blas Peralta, the President of the National Federation of Dominican Transportation (Fenatrado), confirmed that a total of 27 trucks loaded with cement, rebars and food, were seized at the border after registering with the Haitian customs authority. Out of these, 24 trucks were blocked in the customs area of Ouanaminthe and 3, at the exit of Cap-Haitien because of planned protests and threats of retaliation against Dominicans drivers. The Haitian authority, fearing the security of the Dominican drivers due to the reason of aggravating tensed situation between the two countries, asked them to return to their country, but, however, refused to return their merchandise as those had already been registered with their customs department.

Read more →  

The political unrest continues to escalate after, on Friday October 24, 2014, armed guards of the Specialized Unit of the Guard of the National Palace (USGPN) were compelled to use force to break up a group gathered to protest against the government. The supporters of the opposition tried to block the way of the presidential motorcade as it made its way through the public roads on its way to the event for the "Gouvènman an Lakay Ou" program set for the following day in the city.

The scene in Côtes-de-Fer became potentially deadly as shots rang out, amidst the throwing of stones. The confusion caused a massive fleeing of the scene by demonstrators, even as the vehicles in the motorcade sped away quickly. The Côtes-de-Fer incident yielded no reports of casualties. However, following the fleeing of the agents of the USGPN, strategic sections of Petit Goâve were occupied by the Department Unit for Maintenance of Order (UDMO). It was during this incident, along the National Road, that shots were fired and tear gas cannisters deployed by the security forces in an attempt to keep the protesting group from resuming their demonstration.

Read more →  

Haiti's Stability depends on Stronger National Police Force. Canada has reneged on its commitment, made six years ago, to construct a new national police academy near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The $18 million police academy would have included classrooms and equipment to instruct 300 mid-level police; among them commissioners and inspectors (the Haitian National Police operates without either higher-ranking officers).

The UN Security Council commented the Haitian National Police needs bolstering and it has become a "most critical task". The government of Haiti (GOH) must assume complete responsibility for its security needs pivotal to the country's general stability and economic growth. The UN peacekeeping mission, in Haiti for over 10 years, has renewed its stay until 2016.

Read more →  

Had the project of the National Police Academy in Ganthier been completed as per schedule, it could have played a significant role in the public security and peace building in the country. The project was initiated by Canada in 2008 and it was included in the five year program (2006-2011) of the Canadian International Development Agency or CIDA. The Honorable Beverley J. Oda, the Minister of International Cooperation at the time, announced that the Canadian International Development Agency will contribute a maximum amount of US$ 16,949,038 (CAN$ 18,100,000) to the construction project. Alongside the construction project, on April 8, 2010, Canada also committed CAN$16.5 million to the initial training and professional development of the Haitian National Police (HNP) senior officers so that they become more capable of ensuring the safety of the Haitian people.

Read more →  

Investigative Judge Belizaire, frustrated in his attempts to indict ex-President Aristide on corruption charges from his time in office, has called Chief of Police Orelus to Belizaire's office, asking why Orelus has not executed an arrest warrant on Aristide. Belizaire does not have a good answer why he has failed to arrest Aristide, which leads to the conclusion Orelus's department is being defiant. But an officer of the Haitian National Police (HNP) reports Orelus has sworn to Belizaire he will ensure the arrest warrant is served on Aristide. The officer has said the arrest would occur soon since Orelus cannot go against the orders of Belizaire to arrest Aristide. To save face the informant said specifics were being hashed out to get the warrant executed.

Read more →  

As a step toward securing Haiti's borders and managing large scale domestic clashes--including attacks on the National Place--the Haiti National Police (PNH) now has access to three new armories.

The three arsenals have been made possible by the tripartite partnership of United Mines Action Service (UNMAS); United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MUNUSTAH); and the PNH, with the support of the government of Haiti (GOH). The launching ceremony took place at the Haitian Police Academy.

Funded to the tune of $900,000 and administered by UNMAS, the armories are constructed of reinforced concrete, accomplished by the erection of iron columns (rebar) that become the support the cement is built around. It offers an impenetrable barrier that makes impossible theft and weapons loss. The project took four months to complete.

Read more →  

The Haitian National Police (HNP) was established in 1995, and since then has developed a reputation for brutality and class bias. Delmas, a Port-au-Prince neighborhood, is an example of police brutality residents complain about. One of the places where tent cities still house 2010 earthquake survivors, local police earlier this year clubbed two men, causing the death of one, in an encampment.

In response to the growing problem of police mistrust by Haitians, the U.S. State Department has initiated a community policing program. The goal is to engender trust between the community and police. The reason is to raise the apprehension rate and decrease crime.

Read more →  

Here is the video for the official ceremony of the graduation ceremony for the 24th promotion of the National Police of Haiti (PNH). The ceremony took place at the Police Academy in Frères

A total of 1,058 new police officers were part of the 24th Promotion. The new graduates include 114 women

Present at the ceremony was: President Michel Martelly, the Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Me Jean Renel Sanon, the President of the Senate, Simon Dieuseul Desras, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Me Jean Tholbert Alexis, the Director General of the National Police of Haiti, Godson Orélus and the Divisional Commissioner Francène Moreau.

Read more →  

As per the announcement of Emmanuel Corvil, the Inspector of Police and the Chief of Service Staff from the National Police Academy, in accordance with the guidelines for recruitment that became effective from 1999, the Haitian government will recruit 1000 new police officers in the 2013-14 academic year. This appointment is a part of the planned program under the 'National Development Plan of Police (2012-2016)' to recruit 1000 new police officers every year.

Any aspiring candidate, regardless of gender, may submit own application for the post of "Police Officer" to any of the 16 commissariats within the country or at the departmental directorates of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) excepting the Department of Northwest in Port-de-Paix and Mole Saint-Nicolas.

Read more →  

After a commencement ceremony scheduled to be held at the end of June 2013, 40 new community law enforcement officers will be unleashed in Delmas, Port-au-Prince. This comes after the weeding out of 150 hopefuls after a 2012 recruitment process to find potential members of the Haitian National Police's (PNH) first Community Policing Unit.

Community policing exists on the belief that collaboration between the police, individuals and organizations within a community can lead to the eventual, if not immediate, controlling of issues of social disorder, crime and the fear of crime. In Haiti, the particular wish is to bring the population, at least for now that of Delmas, closer to the PNH and create a more trusting relationship.

Read more →