Patrick Michel Boivert, the Minister of Economy and Finance who is taking action replaces Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry currently outside the country, taking into account the deterioration of the security situation, particularly in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, characterized by increasingly violent criminal acts perpetrated by armed gangs, causing massive population displacements and consisting in particular of kidnappings and assassinations of peaceful citizens, violence against women and children, ransacking and looting public and private goods;

Taking into account the attacks perpetrated on the night of March 2nd, 2024 by armed gangs against the two largest penitentiary centers in the country, namely the National Penitentiary and the Croix-des-Bouquets Prison, causing deaths and injuries in the ranks of the Police and prison staff, the escape of dangerous prisoners and the vandalization of these places;

Considering that these actions endanger national security, the Government of the Republic, referring to the decree of March 3rd, 2024 declaring a state of emergency throughout the West department for a period of sixty-twelve hours renewable, and in order to restore order and take appropriate measures to regain control of the situation, decree a curfew throughout this territory Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday March 6, from 8:00 p.m. at 5:00 a.m.

This measure does not apply to law enforcement officers on duty, firefighters, ambulance drivers, health personnel and duly identified journalists.

Consequently, the police were ordered to use all legal means at their disposal to enforce the curfew and apprehend all offenders.

HL/ HaitiLibre