Faced with the deterioration of security in Haiti, a new local defense strategy is developing in the North-West. In Port-de-Paix, the Government Commissioner, Jéir Pierre, created and leads an [illegal] armed security militia. This initiative, characterized by regular night patrols, is strongly reminiscent of the actions of the Commissioner of Miragoâne, Jean Ernest Muscadin.

A muscular response to insecurity in the North-West :

Since the end of December, Port-de-Paix has been facing an unprecedented wave of crime : armed robberies, violent assaults and sexual assaults. Faced with the emergency, prosecutor Jéir Pierre decided to no longer confine himself to his judicial duties and go into the field.

He now personally leads a special militia (locally called "brigade") for night patrol. According to Pierre, "the brigade" operates in coordination with the units of the Haitian National Police (PNH), but this unit is placed under his direct authority and not under that of the PNH.

This security model, both reassuring and questioning, is based on a militia made up of members of the local population, selected for their in-depth knowledge of the terrain and suspicious individuals. Although it collaborates with the PNH to "lighten its workload," this unit remains attached to the prosecution. Its financing comes from donations from residents and members of the diaspora, a system comparable to that put in place by Commissioner Muscadin in Miragône. "The people who believe in this project did not want to leave me alone [...] They help cover the basic costs so that the agents can carry out their functions", explained Pierre.

First results and armed confrontations :

The impact of these patrols is beginning to be felt. In certain areas of the city center, nighttime commerce is slowly resuming and residents report relative calm.

SL/ HaitiLibre