ARTICLE - MAYOR RELOCATES 561 FAMILIES

MAYOR OF P-AU-P SUCCESSFULLY RELOCATES 561 FAMILIES FROM SYLVIO CATOR
(Defend Haiti) - By John Smith Sanon

PORT-AU-PRINCE - The process of relocating internally displaced persons from the Sylvio Cator Stadium came to an end on Tuesday and is being regarded as a great success.

The points made by the Mayor of Port-au-Prince, Jean-Yves Jason at the start of the operation were to conduct it with dignity and respect for the families.

Citizens living in tents on the property of the stadium were notified several days in advance of the beginning of the removals.

The mayor, who took the privilege to talk to some of these people, focused on the fact that they have received some compensation in the sum of $250 [US] without any difficulty.

The Mayor of Port-au-Prince took the opportunity to present his thanks to the families who remained in the stadium for 18 months and still agreed to move peacefully.

Jean-Yves Jason also presented his thanks to the stadium staff, the national police the direction of the Municipal Emergency Preparedness department, the President, the Ministry of Public Works, the media and employees of the Municipality of Port-au-Prince who helped make this work.

Mayor Jason especially praised the stadium management, who trusted him in the steps leading up to this project, inviting television networks to visit the areas to assess themselves the "success".

The space of the Sylvio Cator Stadium, is now under development. This gives hope for Haiti to be present at the World Cup in 2014.

"The National Police has deployed police at the entrance of the building," said Jason who, ironically thanked the various NGOs fighting for the failure of his approach, recalling that he had received several threats from hostile individuals.

"An action that shows that Haitians can work together in the interest of the country," he said. Some people even traveled to the town hall to attack the judge, saying "Fe rol ou", "as if my role was not to work to promote the dignity of citizens, so that the country is presented differently in the eyes of the international community," said Jason.

As part of this activity, 561 families were relocated according to Mr. Jason. 458 families have returned home or to relatives and 103 others who had nowhere to go, have been relocated to a new camp.