Thursday at a press conference, Mario Dupuy, the Minister of Communication, the Secretaries of State, of Interior, Patrick Sully Wilfrid Joseph, to the Public Security, Cyril Work Hadrian and the Inspector Gary Derosier, Deputy Spokesman of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), provided an update on the situation of panic caused by rumors suggesting that armed individuals, coming including of the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac, were operating against the population in several other neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince including Delmas, Petion-Ville, Frères and Tabarre.

According to the Secretary of State Hadrian "Government condemns with the utmost rigor and takes very seriously this approach of intimidation that seriously harms peace and public safety. He also regrets the attempt to intoxication of public opinion through rumors and misuse of social networks in order to terrorize the population, particularly in the electoral context [...]"

Inspector Gary Desrosiers reassured and promised that all measures have been taken by the police force to ensure the safety of the population. Recalling that no fewer than 300 police officers and 40 vehicles were deployed on the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac and the area of the Croix-des-Bouquets since Tuesday evening under specific provisions of the PNH. Deployment that was the starting point of these unfounded rumors.

He recalled that to date, "no complaint has been filed following the rumors circulating at a frantic pace on social networks." He took the opportunity to launch an appeal for calm and promised that the individuals behind these manipulations and negative intoxication against the population, are actively sought.

He also stressed that the neighborhood brigades are strongly discouraged since, infiltrated by malicious individuals, they may pose a public safety issue stressing that "people should not give in to rumors and prevent acts of mob justice."

"The Haitian families need peace and quiet to continue to go about their activities [...] What could be the motivation of an individual deliberately deciding to sow panic in a population ?" wondered the Minister Dupuy... Before reiterate its call for calm and to invite the population to collaborate with the authorities concerned to work towards the restoration of a climate of peace in the capital.

HL/ HaitiLibre