Haiti Report, January 10, 2025
A compilation of news about Haiti from the past week.
Military police & soldiers from Guatemala & El Salvador join MSS in Haiti
The first fighting contingents of soldiers and policemen from Latin America arrived in Port-au-Prince on Friday to join the armed international security mission in the country’s fight against terrorizing gangs.
The 83 security personnel included an advance team of eight soldiers from El Salvador and the first 75 of 150 military police officers from Guatemala. While the Salvadorans will be providing casualty and medical evacuations in support of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission, the Guatemalans will be joining operations to take down Haiti’s gangs.
The group was greeted at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport by Haitian authorities including the head of the Presidential Transitional Council, Leslie Voltaire, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and police chief Rameau Normil. Also present was U.S. Ambassador Dennis Hankins as well as the commander of the force, Godfrey Otunge, and deputy commander Colonel Kevron Henry of the Jamaica Defense Force. Otunge told the Guatemalans and Salvadorans that they were joining “a family that is welcoming.”
In preparation for the additional boots on the ground, the Biden administration has flown at least 22 flights into Haiti in the past month with much needed equipment for the Haitian police and the Kenyan mission including armored vehicles. The group’s arrival has been long awaited and comes at a critical moment for Haiti, which is seeing an alarming rise in armed attacks in the metropolitan area. The Central Americans will now join 416 police officers and military soldiers from Kenya, Jamaica, The Bahamas and Belize. They are expected to be joined by other personnel in the coming days, including the remaining 75 Guatemalans who have been deployed to join the U.N. authorized and heavily U.S. financed security mission. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article297452643.html#storylink=cpy
Port-au-Prince port suspends activities due to gang pressure
Caribbean Port Services (CPS), the main operator of the Port of Port-au-Prince, was forced to suspend its activities under pressure from the Wharf Jérémie gang leader, Micanor, Le Nouvelliste learned from a well-informed source on Thursday, January 9, 2025. Operations had resumed in November 2024 after being halted for over a month following the kidnapping of two crew members from a ship in the Bay of Port-au-Prince in October and gunfire targeting port facilities. Gang leader Micanor, who controls the area surrounding the country’s largest port facilities, is back in the spotlight following the Wharf Jérémie massacre at the end of 2024. He ordered the execution of more than 200 people living near the port.
https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/252410/gang-leader-micanor-shuts-down-port-of-port-au-prince
Thousands of displaced people in Port-au-Prince still under threat from armed gangs in Haiti
Thousands of people, displaced by violence from armed gangs, continue to live in appalling conditions in the various reception centers where they have taken refuge in the metropolitan area of the capital, Port-au-Prince, without any assistance from the State, according to testimonies collected by the online agency AlterPresse. No institutional arrangements have been made to restore security and encourage the return of displaced families to their neighbourhoods, which are under the control of terrorist gangs.
On the contrary, without being disturbed at all, the criminals have gained more spaces and territories until the end of 2024. The armed bandits continue their exactions with impunity in many places in the metropolitan area of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Among their crimes, criminal gangs claim the right to siphon gasoline from motorcycle taxis, whose drivers, fathers of families, seek to meet their daily needs, many victims report.
In this context, more than 2,800 displaced people, who have taken refuge in a reception center housed in the premises of the political party Fusion of Social Democrats (Fusion), in Christ-Roi, in the city center of the capital, Port-au-Prince, remain exposed to attacks by armed gangs, several of them report to AlterPresse.
Coming from Solino, Nazon, Fort National and Poste Marchand, these people displaced in this site had to flee the violence of armed gangs in their neighborhoods. Several people continue to be shot in the areas surrounding the reception center, reports a displaced person from this camp, during an intervention on the Fwote Lide program , broadcast on AlterRadio 106.1 fm, and followed by AlterPresse. Every day, more displaced people arrive in the camp, fleeing gang violence in the neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince.
Among these displaced people are young children and newborns. The committee of the reception center for these displaced persons calls on the central State to take measures to facilitate their return to their homes. A committee member reported a lack of toilets and a lack of showers available for displaced people.
From Saturday 7 to Tuesday 17 December 2024, approximately 11,000 people were forced to flee Poste Marchand and its surroundings due to violence by armed gangs, according to a report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). 95% of these people have taken refuge in 18 sites, including 4 newly created and 14 that existed before these attacks by armed gangs, the IOM said.
Furthermore, an unknown number of families were also forced to abandon their homes in Pernier, following attacks by armed gangs, to move to a reception centre on the road from Frères to Pétionville (eastern outskirts of Port-au-Prince). There are 780 people, or 156 families, who have been living in subhuman conditions in this reception center since Monday, December 9, 2024, one of the displaced people from the Pernier community testified on AlterRadio. These victims, from Pernier 12, 17, 24, 26 and Kago, are calling on state authorities to come to their aid.
https://www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article31298
The year 2024 was marked by the massive exodus of peaceful citizens who, in an attempt to escape gang terror, were forced to abandon their homes, businesses, and belongings to seek refuge with host families or settle in refugee camps. The breakout from the country's two largest prisons at the end of February triggered a surge in gang attacks in the metropolitan area and certain provincial towns, as well as an increase in the number of lost territories, leaving many families homeless and destitute. During their attacks, these gangs looted, burned, and killed at will.
The attack on the National Penitentiary on February 29 led to the escape of several thousand inmates who had been imprisoned there. Since then, downtown Port-au-Prince, which was already seeing its population dwindle, has not been the same. Residents and merchants began fleeing the area out of fear of being victimized by the escaped prisoners. This fear intensified as gangs increased their activity by attacking several public buildings in the vicinity, including the State University Hospital of Haiti (HUEH) and the faculties of law, medicine, and sciences, among others. Several neighborhoods were not spared from the violence of armed gangs seeking to conquer more territory and expand their power. Between March and April, the gangs escalated their attacks in Bas Delmas, the stronghold of gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, alias "Barbecue." Numerous businesses and homes were set ablaze by these criminal groups, and incidents of looting were reported. Many lives were lost during these attacks.
In October, Solino became the target of attacks by gangs grouped under the coalition "Viv Ansanm." Despite the efforts of the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the MMAS, these criminals gained the upper hand and now reign supreme in the area. The gang takeover of Solino prompted further attacks in nearby neighborhoods, including Poste-Marchand, Nazon, Christ-Roi, Carrefour de l'Aéroport, and Delmas 24, where residents were forced to flee. These areas are now deserted and subject to repeated gang assaults.
This insecurity caused by gang attacks in several neighborhoods led to the forced displacement of numerous citizens in 2024. Many people had to abandon their homes, losing months of prepaid rent, and leave their businesses behind to join host families or relocate to shelters. According to recent UN reports, there are over 700,000 displaced people in Haiti. In Bois-Verna, no fewer than three public establishments were converted into shelters after the events of February 29: the Faculty of Applied Linguistics, the Ministry of Communication, and Lycée Marie Jeanne. These sites are now home to individuals displaced from streets such as Rue de la Réunion, Rue Saint-Honoré, Rue Capois, and Rue Mgr Guilloux, driven out by armed groups.
The gang takeover of Solino forced many to seek refuge at the OPC headquarters in Bourdon, which was converted into a shelter. Panicked by the presence of gangsters in Solino, Nazon residents evacuated their homes before the criminals even arrived. Videos circulating on social media showed families leaving their homes with only a few essential belongings, often without a clear destination, to escape gang violence. Most of these displaced individuals were leading peaceful lives in their neighborhoods. Suddenly, they became refugees in their own country. While some displaced individuals found refuge at the OPC, others headed to other camps in Delmas, specifically in Delmas 31 and 41, to save their lives. The École Nationale République de l’Équateur, located in Delmas 41, was transformed into a displacement camp housing people fleeing from Solino, Nazon, Christ-Roi, Delmas 24, Carrefour de l'Aéroport, and surrounding areas. This site currently shelters 459 families, or 2,278 people.
Among the displaced are merchants who had to abandon their usual places of business and relocate to other areas. Several markets have ceased to exist, leading to the creation of numerous small markets scattered across various parts of the capital. Vendors who previously operated downtown have dispersed to locations such as Lalue, Gérald-Bataille, Pétion-Ville, Tabarre, and Carrefour de l'Aéroport.
In the displacement camps, conditions are equally dire for the families taking shelter there. There is a lack of everything: space, comfort, potable water, food, and hygiene kits. According to testimonies from those displaced, life in the camps is far from ideal—they are simply trying to survive. No assistance has been provided by the central government to aid the victims. If those in these camps manage to find something to eat, it is thanks to the sporadic support of NGOs, which sometimes distribute hot meals, though often insufficient to meet the needs of the many families in the shelters. The makeshift shelters in these camps cannot withstand rain. When it rains, it is a true ordeal, especially for those who sleep on the ground and must wait for the rain to stop before they can lie down. Unsanitary conditions are evident throughout the camps. Trash accumulates for days without any efforts to remove it. Among the camp residents are individuals with reduced mobility, children, and the elderly.
Escaping gang attacks to find refuge with friends, in displacement camps, or by affording the luxury of a decent rental has been a constant struggle for the internally displaced in 2024. These are peaceful citizens who, to their great dismay, have become refugees in their own country. As gangs continue to multiply their attacks, no one knows how many new neighborhoods will fall into the hands of these criminals or how many additional displaced persons will join the camps. No one can predict what lies ahead for 2025.
https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/252284/the-sad-dance-of-internally-displaced-persons-in-2024
Housing scarce in PAP with whole neighborhoods emptied and abandoned
Haiti is no longer primarily a rural country. Multiple crises, climate change, and the search for employment have driven many rural residents to large cities in search of a "better life." Unfortunately, in a country like Haiti, major cities are essentially limited to the West department, particularly the capital, which serves as the hub of national structures and infrastructure. This department, with its 4,983 km², is the most populated in the country. The pervasive insecurity in Haiti, especially in the capital, has resulted in over 80% of the territory being controlled by armed gangs. This widespread insecurity has emptied once-vibrant neighborhoods, creating an ever-growing list of "lost territories." Cité Soleil, Carrefour-Feuilles, Bel-Air, Croix-des-Bouquets, Martissant, Bas Delmas, and Solino are now abandoned, emptied overnight without any significant state intervention.
Unable to reunite with their families in rural provinces, internally displaced persons (IDPs) flock to municipalities and neighborhoods deemed safer, such as Pétion-Ville, Upper Delmas, and Canapé-Vert. These areas are now the most sought after. "If the national roads weren’t controlled by gangs, I would have returned to my hometown with my family a long time ago," a father from Jérémie told Le Nouvelliste in December 2024. After abandoning homes often built over many years, these displaced persons turn to unsanitary camps, rely on the solidarity of relatives, or are forced to pay exorbitant rents.
Finding housing in Port-au-Prince is no longer within reach for most. Overcrowded "safe" zones are struggling to meet demand. This high demand, combined with limited supply, has caused rents to skyrocket. "An average of $3,000 USD for modest housing, which is still inadequate for my entire family," shared a single mother of six. Affordable housing in neighborhoods like Solino or Christ-Roi is now out of reach for low-income families. In "secure" zones, the cost of even basic housing often exceeds $3,000 USD, an astronomical sum in a country where most people survive on less than $2 a day. Amid rising unemployment and runaway inflation, even basic necessities like housing have become a luxury.
https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/252394/housing-in-port-au-prince-a-growing-luxury
UN Reports over 5,600 killed by armed groups last year
At least 5,601 people were killed and more than 2,000 injured by armed gangs in Haiti last year, the United Nations human-rights office said Tuesday, calling for the restoration of the rule of law to be made a priority. The death toll by gangs who have taken over Haiti’s capital was an increase of more than 1,000 over the previous year, Elizabeth Throssell, a representative of the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said during a press conference in Geneva. “A further 2,212 people had been injured and 1,494 kidnapped,” she said.
“These figures alone cannot capture the absolute horrors being perpetrated in Haiti, but they show the unremitting violence to which people are being subjected,” said U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. In addition to the deaths carried out by armed gangs, hundreds died at the hands of the population because they were suspected of being gang members, or were accused of being complicit with criminal groups. OHCHR said it documented 315 such lynchings last year, including some that were reportedly facilitated by Haitian police officers. In addition, there had been 281 cases of alleged summary executions involving specialized police units.
The release of the 2024 death toll came as deaths continue to rise in the new year. On Sunday, a Haiti National Police officer was shot to death. Jean Roudy Vilmond’s killing came hours after an entrepreneur, Robenson Rendel, was gunned down by three gunmen on motorcycles in the courtyard of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in a section of Pétion-Ville.
Türk said Haitian authorities, who have been struggling to restore security amid a rocky political transition, have to work to end the impunity gangs enjoy. “It has long been clear that impunity for human rights violations and abuses, as well as corruption, remain prevalent in Haiti, constituting some of the main drivers of the multi-dimensional crisis the country faces, along with entrenched economic and social inequalities,” he said. “Additional efforts from the authorities, with the support of the international community, are needed to address these root causes.” Türk also called for a strengthening of oversight within the Haiti National Haitian Police to hold police officers involved in human-rights violations accountable.
Last week, a contingent of military police from Guatemala and an advanced team of eight aviation specialists from El Salvador arrived in Port-au-Prince to reinforce the U.N.-authorized Multinational Security Support mission. The Central Americans are the first security personnel from Latin America, and includes the first women, numbering 19, to join the Kenya-led mission.
While the Salvadorans will be tasked with carrying out casualty and medical evacuations, Guatemala’s military in a post on X said its military police will be engaged in providing security to military installations and doing traffic control.
Godfrey Otunge, the multinational force commander, said the new contingent “will strengthen our fighting power against the gangs.” He urged countries that have committed personnel but have yet to deploy them to do so. “Haiti urgently needs your support,” he said. Türk restated the U.N.’s calls for financial support for the struggling security mission, which despite receiving more than $600 million in funds and supplies from the United States continues to be short on cash and equipment.
Assassination at Sunday mass in Delmas; officer killed that evening
Robenson Rendel, a 37-year-old entrepreneur, was fatally shot multiple times on Sunday, January 5, 2024, in the courtyard of Notre-Dame du Perpétuel Secours Church in Delmas 75. Lionel Lazarre, the deputy spokesperson for the police, confirmed that the victim had been deliberately executed. “Armed individuals were waiting for the victim in the church courtyard and at the entrance. Robenson Rendel was struck by no fewer than seven bullets: four in the head, one in the neck, and two under his arms. We are treating this as an execution,” Lazarre stated. “The judicial police have already taken up the case. A justice of the peace conducted the legal assessment before ordering the removal of the body,” he added.
Monseigneur Leroy Mésidor, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, condemned the act in a separate note, calling it “a barbaric crime that shows certain individuals, thirsty for blood, have no respect for human life or sacred spaces such as churches and hospitals.”
That same Sunday evening, Le Nouvelliste learned that a police officer was also killed. According to Lionel Lazarre, the victim was Jean Roudy Vilmont, a member of the 28th police promotion. “He worked at the DCPJ within the Bureau of Financial and Economic Affairs (BAFE). He was fatally shot by unidentified individuals on Sunday night around 11 p.m. in Delmas 39,” Lazarre revealed, adding that an investigation has already been launched by the judicial police. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/252342/entrepreneur-and-police-officer-killed-in-2025s-first-weekend
PNH Stops “Viv Ansanm” Coalition New Offensive at Tara’s, Says Deputy Spokesperson
The Haitian National Police (PNH) successfully thwarted an attempt by the "Viv Ansanm" gang coalition to establish control in the heights of Tara’s. Lionel Lazarre, Deputy Spokesperson for the PNH, revealed on Magik 9 on Thursday, January 9, 2025, that these criminal groups had been trying since the beginning of the year to take control of this strategic area to install a local leader known as "Didi." According to the Deputy Spokesperson, clashes reached their peak on Tuesday, January 7, in the Saint-Rock area, where law enforcement neutralized several members of the coalition and seized a vehicle. "We were able to repel these assaults thanks to the support of officers from the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission," Lazarre stated during the Panel Magik program. This operation, Lazarre assured, not only prevented the gangsters from establishing themselves but also reinforced security in the Maccaco area, which had recently been targeted by two attacks. "Measures have been taken to prevent the return of criminals to Maccaco," added Lazarre, noting that ongoing efforts aim to sustainably secure the area.
When questioned about the absence of precise casualty figures, Lionel Lazarre explained that the nature of the clashes sometimes makes it difficult to establish exact numbers. "Very often, gangs use associates to retrieve the bodies and weapons of their deceased members. This complicates the task of providing accurate reports," he clarified. In the meantime, residents of Tara’s and surrounding areas remain on high alert. They hope that the joint efforts of the PNH and its international partners will restore peace and security to the region.
Three Sectors Represented in CPT Suggest Multiple Crisis Remedies to CARICOM
While the nine sectors that signed the April 3 Accord, which led to the establishment of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT), were expected to jointly propose crisis resolution solutions to CARICOM, only three of them—RED, the December 21 Accord, and the January 30 Collective of Parties—submitted their recommendations on Wednesday. The leaders of these political party groupings are proposing to CARICOM three frameworks for a solution to the crisis undermining the CPT. Firstly, a three-member collegiate presidency, with one member drawn from the Court of Cassation, one from civil society and the third from the political sector. Secondly, they are proposing a streamlined CPT reconfigured with three new personalities, and thirdly a new arrangement for the current CPT by confirming or overturning the seven members voting by their mandate, Le Nouvelliste noted in the document sent to CARICOM.
“The objective is to build, with the facilitation of CARICOM, before January 20, 2025, an adult, pragmatic consensus between the representative political and social forces around a shared formula capable of guaranteeing the viability, stability and effectiveness of the transition process initiated by the April 3, 2024 Accord and the March 11, 2024 Final Declaration”, write RED, the December 21 Accord and the January 30 Collective of Parties to CARICOM. According to these political organizations, “the diagnosis that the CPT's current formula has failed in the eight months it has been in office means that you can't want one thing and its opposite at the same time.
If the current formula doesn't work, we need to find a new formula that is both effective and efficient.
“The CPT is an institution whose life is independent of that of its members. A decree created the former, while a subsequent order appointed the latter. The members leave; the institution remains”, they maintain. In any event, they call for the removal of the three presidential advisors (Louis Gérald Gilles, Smith Augustin and Emmanuel Vertilaire) indicted in the BNC corruption case. In their proposals to CARICOM, RED, the December 21 Accord and the January 30 Collectif des partis assert that the following criteria should be taken into account when marking the break between the old and new CPTs
the old and the new CPT: to be made up of honest, qualified and competent personalities; to break with the old formula in terms of the number of participants, undue privileges and the need for austerity; to keep to the same timetable, which must put in place new elected officials in February 2026; to respect international agreements signed and/or ratified by the Haitian State and to commit to putting in place a government of national unity integrating the signatories and non-signatories of the April 3, 2024 Accord.
“It will then be necessary to amend the April 3, 2023 Accord, not only to adjust it to the new realities, but also to reduce the size of the activities previously planned, as the focus must be on security, justice and elections as a matter of priority”, say the document's signatories. They point out that “after the voluntary or forced resignation of CPT members, the Prime Minister and his government remain in place to expedite current affairs, pending the inauguration of the new CPT”.
Patrick Pélissier presents the projects of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security
The Minister of Justice and Public Security, Patrick Pélissier, answered questions from Le Nouvelliste on his "mission to identify and acquire equipment to strengthen the capacities of the country's security forces" in Colombia at the end of 2024, the arrival of reinforcements for the MMAS, and the actions planned to restore police stations and courts ransacked by armed gangs. https://lenouvelliste.com/article/252291/patrick-pelissier-presente-les-chantiers-du-ministere-de-la-justice-et-de-la-securite-publique
Transfers to Haiti reach $3.63 billion in 2024
The 10.7% growth in private transfers, amounting to $3.63 billion as of September 30, 2024, contributed to the appreciation of the gourde against the US dollar, according to the monetary policy note for the fourth quarter of the 2023-2024 fiscal year. "Private transfers received from abroad grew by 10.7% during the fiscal year, reaching $3.63 billion as of September 30, 2024. The resulting increase in dollar supply, combined with macroprudential and administrative measures adopted by the BRH, supported the gourde's appreciation during the 2024 fiscal year," the note states. "Consequently, the BRH reference rate, set at 131.4767 gourdes per US dollar on September 30, 2024, decreased by 0.44% quarterly and 2.07% annually," the BRH indicated.
"The continued stability of the exchange rate, driven by the dynamism of private transfers from the diaspora and regulatory adjustments by the Central Bank amid a downturn in US dollar demand, facilitated further net interventions by the BRH in the foreign exchange market. These totaled $161 million in the last quarter and a cumulative $470.4 million for the fiscal year, enabling the BRH to further strengthen its international reserves cushion and expand its room for maneuver in anticipation of an economic recovery," according to the BRH monetary policy note. The IMF estimates that the BRH holds nearly $1 billion in reserves. The monetary policy note for the fourth quarter of the 2023-2024 fiscal year also provided information on the trade balance and import volumes, largely supported by remittances from the diaspora.
"Regarding external trade, data from the 2023-2024 fiscal year indicate a 6.9% improvement in the trade balance compared to the previous year, resulting from a simultaneous decrease in imports and exports. Specifically, from October 2023 to September 2024, imports reached $4.27 billion, representing a 9.53% year-over-year decline. Similarly, exports totaled $766.88 million, marking a 19.76% annual decline," the monetary policy note states. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/252344/private-transfers-to-haiti-total-363-billion-in-2024
Cap-Haitien at critical moment after weeks of heavy rain
The city of Cap-Haïtien, the capital of the Nord department, is experiencing a critical moment. Weeks of heavy rain have worsened an already precarious environmental situation. Flooded streets, layers of mud, and piles of garbage blocking major arteries have made daily life unbearable for residents. In this context, the lack of resources and equipment at the Northern Directorate of the MTPTC exacerbates the crisis. Engineer Raoul Lecompte, recently appointed as the Northern Directorate's head, expressed frustration at the magnitude of the challenges in an exclusive interview with Le Nouvelliste: “Since I took office, it hasn’t stopped raining in the department. But the real issue is the glaring lack of equipment. We have a few pieces, but they are either broken down or insufficient to deal with this situation.” The facts are alarming: seven dump trucks are out of service, two graders are operational but limited in capability, and a loader is unusable due to a lack of tires. According to Lecompte, the assessment conducted upon his arrival revealed an almost nonexistent technical infrastructure. He lamented the disappearance of excavators, loaders, and trucks that once formed the department’s fleet, as well as the lack of support from the MTPTC's central administration and the inability to make expenditures due to unvalidated signature specimens.
The struggles of the Northern Directorate are part of a broader issue. Poor rainwater drainage, combined with inadequate solid waste management, has turned Cap-Haïtien’s streets into veritable swamps. The accumulation of trash exacerbates health risks as residents struggle to navigate an increasingly unlivable environment. The situation in Cap-Haïtien underscores the need for a coordinated response between the central government and local institutions. Without prompt action to equip the Northern Directorate, repair infrastructure, and improve waste management, the current challenges could worsen, with devastating consequences for the population.
Increase in cases of lynching in Artibonite
The phenomenon of lynchings is experiencing a worrying resurgence in the Bas-Artibonite. The government commissioner of Saint-Marc, Venson François, reported that several bandits on the run, originally from Savien, were captured and killed by locals in recent days. In Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye, at least 11 cases of lynching have been recorded since the beginning of the year. Human rights organizations such as Défenseurs Plus are sounding the alarm. According to Anthonal Mortimé, coordinator of the organization, among the victims of Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye, four were innocent.
At the same time, armed groups in the Savien region are strengthening their positions in the face of law enforcement interventions. Traps, previously dismantled in Palmis and Savien, have been reinstalled by the criminals. The interventions of the security forces in the region seem to have slowed down. A machine assigned to demolish bandits' houses broke down in a ravine, halting the ongoing operations. In addition, an armoured vehicle of the Multinational Mission for Security Support (MMSS) was set on fire after being abandoned by the joint Haitian and Kenyan forces. Civil society leaders are calling for an urgent resumption of operations to restore order and security in the region. https://metropole.ht/multiplication-des-cas-de-lynchage-dans-lartibonite/
Health and psychiatric care suffering during this crisis
Healthcare in Haiti is going through one of its darkest periods. Socio-political turbulence has impacted every aspect of an already fragile healthcare system like never before. To make matters worse, political instability throughout 2024 further undermined the technocratic façade of the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP). The outcome is clear: four ministers in a single year. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/252334/health-sector-in-crisis-four-ministers-in-just-one-year
Psychiatric patients are victims of violence in Port-au-Prince due to lack of medication: "Most of the medicines we use come from abroad, and we don't have a lot of storage capacity," Rommel Cajuste told AyiboPost. https://ayibopost.com/des-patients-en-psychiatrie-victimes-de-violences-a-port-au-prince-faute-de-medicaments/
Haiti HOPE/HELP Act expires in September 2025
These are uncertain times for Haiti’s textile sector and the economy in general. The Hope Help Act, which allows Haiti to benefit from reduced tariffs from the United States, is set to expire in September 2025. Despite intensified efforts to renew it, the U.S. Congress has yet to extend the legislation. In this uncertain context, Pierre-Marie Boisson spoke on Magik 9 to address the impact of this situation on the textile industry in Haiti. According to him, the issue is not limited to the renewal of the Hope Help law, but requires a more comprehensive approach. The first part of this approach is to "convince the American authorities that if they agree to extend this law, there will be a revival in the textile industry." Through this law, Haiti benefits from an exemption from customs duties for more than 1,000 products, which has a direct impact on the competitiveness of the sector.
However, the renewal of the law is not enough to solve all the problems of the Haitian textile sector. Pierre-Marie Boisson points out that "the various problems within the industry may not motivate the authorities concerned to make a favorable decision." This observation leads us to consider other factors that directly influence the current situation. Insecurity, the closure of ports and airports, and the general economic crisis have seriously affected the textile sector. This sector, which generated more than 60,000 jobs, had only 36,858 employees in December 2023, according to the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH). The economist specifies that "we cannot, simply with the signing of the Hope Help law, revive the subcontracting industry." Indeed, although this law has existed for several years, the industry has not experienced any real boom. However, it is important to note that the situation of 60,000 jobs in 2022 was much better than the current 30,000, which demonstrates the negative impact of the crisis on employment in the sector.
Transportation Sector Struggles amid Rising Insecurity
Since June 1, 2021, when Martissant—a neighborhood at the exit of Port-au-Prince—fell into the hands of gangs, toll stations have proliferated along the few remaining operational roads. To travel south or north of Port-au-Prince, one must pay up. Ultimately, it’s the passengers who bear the cost, as drivers adjust their fares to cover the steep tolls demanded by armed gangs. To avoid toll stations, new routes are constantly being explored. For travel to the South, those wishing to avoid routes controlled by armed gangs take alternative paths through Kenscoff, Séguin, Kay Jacques, or Ti Muska. Others still go through Martissant but, to bypass Gressier—taken over by gangs mid-year—travelers must detour through Morne Degan. To head north, National Highway #3 serves as an alternative, though it is both challenging and dangerous due to the obstacles posed by Morne Grand Gilles for drivers and passengers. Stories and testimonies published weekly in Le Nouvelliste by those who have taken these routes capture the full extent of the difficulties.
Even within the capital, viable transport routes have been drastically reduced. Following attacks on Solino and Nazon, the map of operational routes in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince has been redrawn. Carrefour de l’Aéroport has become a "VAR". Once the largest bus terminal after drivers abandoned the Portail-Léogâne terminal, Carrefour de l’Aéroport is now a shadow of its former self. Drivers no longer venture there, limiting their routes to Delmas 19 or Delmas 30. Meanwhile, the roads through Nazon and Delmas 30 are no longer operational. To reach Port-au-Prince from the commune of Delmas, travelers must pass through Delmas 32, Christ-Roi, or Delmas 40 B. This situation has created significant traffic congestion on the few remaining functional roads, except for officials who navigate them with the aid of sirens.
The greatest tragedy for the transportation sector in 2024 has been the repeated attacks on drivers. As of December 20, 2024, no fewer than 30 drivers had been killed—including three burned alive—nine kidnapped, and four injured by gunfire, according to Changeux Méhu of the Association of Haitian Owners and Drivers (APCH). These attacks also extend to vehicles and infrastructure. "Nine cargo trucks have been hijacked, 12 vehicles hit by gunfire, 576 set on fire, 246 completely destroyed, and 167 stolen. In addition, 37 buildings housing transport companies or union offices have been vandalized," Méhu detailed. Passengers have not been spared either. During the same period, 198 passengers were kidnapped, 22 killed, and 46 injured by gunfire, according to the APCH representative.
Amid the difficulties in the transportation sector, the contribution of the Ministry of Public Works, Transport, and Communications (MTPTC) remains minimal or outright nonexistent. In August 2024, during an interview with Le Nouvelliste, the Minister of Public Works, Raphaël Hosty, announced small-scale repairs ahead of launching large-scale projects. To date, neither the small repairs nor the large projects have materialized. As of 2025, toll stations on land routes are still active, even as the condition of the roads continues to deteriorate. Toussaint Louverture International Airport and the Guy Malary terminal remain closed. To travel abroad, one must reach Cap-Haïtien either by helicopter or by road via National Highway #3. The state of maritime transport remains concerning, with patrol and coastal surveillance boats still an unfulfilled promise. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/252403/transportation-sector-struggles-amid-rising-insecurity
Haitian police officer arrested in FL on arms trafficking charges
Jean Robert Casimir, a Haitian police officer, was arrested in Florida last month on arms trafficking charges. Casimir is a naturalized US citizen and also runs a private security company in Haiti. Records indicate he purchased at least 87 firearms in the last couple of years. Phone records show Casimir communicating with individuals in Haiti about the purchase of arms. Who was he selling them to? Is the DOJ sharing this information with Haitian officials? Phone records further show Casimir communicating directly with "U.S. person 1" — who worked for "a major U.S.-based firearms manufacturer." Here is a link to the full court document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wiQK_nzik1fpGrX_slmFSVrriv_T_ZZ1/view (From Jake Johnston, X))
Council of Ministers Special Session Report
The Prime Minister's office informs the general public and the press in particular that the Council of Ministers met this Wednesday, January 8, 2025 in a special session, under the chairmanship of the President of the Presidential Transitional Council, His Excellency Mr. Leslie Voltaire, accompanied by the Prime Minister, Mr. Alix Didier Fils-Aimé. Several topics of national interest were discussed.
The issue of security remains a major priority for the government. The resurgence of gang violence poses a threat to the future of the nation. Due to their precarious situation, many children are attracted or forced to join these criminal groups, depriving them of their potential as builders of tomorrow.
The Council of Ministers discussed the necessary measures to rehabilitate the Rehabilitation House, commonly called the "Reception Center", in order to recover these children, reintegrate them into society and offer them a viable socio-professional trajectory. Furthermore, the Council members stressed the urgent need to strengthen the capacities of public security institutions. To this end, the adoption of the Decree on the National Security Support Fund (NSSF) is considered essential. Firm instructions were given so that the Haitian National Police and the Haitian Armed Forces receive appropriate support, enabling them to effectively combat insecurity.
The Council of Ministers examined the critical situation of food insecurity through alarming statistics and the evaluation of ongoing strategies. Several emergency measures will be implemented to respond to the humanitarian crisis and revive the agricultural sector. Recent flooding in Cap-Haïtien, Port-de-Paix, Les Cayes, Jérémie and other regions has led to a health crisis. The Council discussed monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to support victims, while planning resilience strategies in the face of severe weather.
The "Binational Council of Ministers Colombia-Haiti" was held in Colombia on December 18, 2024. It aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas such as peace, security, justice, migration, economy, education and culture. As a follow-up, a Colombian delegation will be welcomed in Jacmel this month to continue bilateral discussions begun in December.
The Council of Ministers defined the priorities of the Executive for the year 2025, among which are:
•The restoration of national security
•The organization of a constitutional referendum
•The holding of general elections, in accordance with the Political Agreement of April 3, 2024 for a Peaceful and Orderly Transition.