RE: Insecurite En Haiti

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Haiti's Gangs

"The Haitian government needs to focus on all activities that can promote the prevention of social disorder."

The gangs' problem in Haiti which is responsible for several kidnappings that result an increase of homicides throughout the capital is a stressful situation for both the Criminal Justice System and the people, meaning law abiding citizens.

The sad part is, the weak-System which is already unable to handle the crime crisis, now faces more trouble than expected.

Gangs in Haiti started at the end of 2001 and it cannot be resolved in one day. Too many mistakes have been made by the system and the nation is paying the consequences.

To avoid the worse of the worse, the population has the obligation to force the government to take their responsibilities toward its citizens.

Gang members are mostly young male and female adults associated in political groups or associations that provide them weapons to intimidate their opponents with the goal to gain power.

Usually, these political groups loose control of them after they have taught them all types of violent activities which cause harm to people.

There is also a relationship between drugs and smuggling of guns into Haiti.

Strange as it seems, there no legal stores that sell weapons and absolutely no firms either that produce weapons within the country.

Yet, there was never a structure or procedure for gun control, despite guns are always involved in almost all crimes commited for the last decade.

The circulation of guns on the streets comes with the destabilization of the Army force in 1991. More than 6000 military men were laid off without reliquinshing their service weapons.

Literally speaking, it could be riffles and other types of military weapons.

Even though, few of the destabilized-Army's members are law-abiding citizens, the fact they are living in a poor country without a descent job to proprely support their families, lead them to illegal activities such as selling weapons to any one in the community.

Considering that a 38 caliber special costs at least $1000.00 US on the Haitian market, this is equivalent to $8000.00 Haitian Dollars which represents one year's rent for a two bedroom apartment in a middle class residential area. Lack of control of the Haitian-Dominican borders makes it easy to smuggle guns into Haiti.

For example, the 2004 Rebellion, an armed group had used the borders to facilitate their efforts in munitions supplies to successfully achieve their goal i, e overthrow the government.

After the Rebellion, no count was made in term of restitution of the deadly weapons used by this armed group.

Those weapons are still out there, in the hands of criminals that are actually using them to terrorize the population.

Believe it or not, no one is exempt.

Anyone could be the victim.

It is a fact that poverty has an impact on crimes.

In Haiti' case the weakness of the Criminal Justice System encourages the anti-social behavior of certain citizens.

People who are in engaged in gang activities are well known by the system.

It's always the same group of people, meaning recidivists included violent offenders who have evaded from prison which happen at least twice a year in one or more correction facilities around the country.

In addition to, all criminals deported by United States, Canada, and France that roam freely on the streets to cause harm to the society.

To stop the violence especially kidnapping, the Justice System should target these individuals, publish their identity to the public by the internet, media and send their profile to INTERPOL in other words "label" them nationally and internationally.

To ensure that Haiti will never have to face this critical situation in the future, the Justice practitioners need to address the key elements cited: Balanced budget, provide proper training to the personnel, increase the amount of police officers on the streets, build a high security correction facility, build a rehabilitation facility, create an alternative confinement structure meaning probation-parole boards, fight corruption and establish strong relationship with the legislature in making tougher law and all other perspectives that can reduce crimes around the country etc

Dedicated to all Victims of kidnappings.

(December 2006. RC)

Réginald Clérié

(Dédié à tous les Policiers de la 3ième Promotion de la Police Nationale d'Haïti.)
(Reggie Clerie /
Security Specialist)

R Ginald Cl Ri, December 24 2009, 12:41 AM

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