Wednesday, December 14, 2011

ARTICLE - 'TIS THE SEASON TO BE THIEVING

INCREASE IN BANDITRY ON EVE OF CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Banditry and crime are increasing in Haiti just before the holiday season, a situation which could have serious impact on the various activities planned for the month of December.

A prominent businessman and a female physician were kidnapped and released Saturday after paying a large ransom.

The end of the week was especially marked by the kidnapping in Port-au-Prince of a prominent banker (Edouard Baussan) and a nutritionist. After three days of captivity, this double kidnapping had a happy ending with the release Saturday of two hostages whose kidnappers had been paid a large sum of money. In Haiti, there is silence around this case, according to AHP.

The murder of the policeman shot Saturday St. Peter Moses in the town of Santo (north of the capital), the 30th police officer killed since the beginning of the year, helped increase the anxiety of the population already facing serious social problems, less than 15 days before Christmas.

In fact, for many, the economic gloom contributes greatly to increasing acts of insecurity. At street movements, recorded in recent days, citizens denounced the lack of a project-intensive workforce, to enable the poor to earn some money.

"There is no circulation of money. Everything is concentrated in the hands of only a small group. People feed off of promises only so far," shouted a young man at a demonstration of the Platform for unfair dismissal of Employees of Public Companies (PEVEP).

The members of this organization who were revoked under the administration of interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, claim compensation of 36 months pay and they promise to intensify their movement if the government Martelly/Conille decide to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor.

In Les Cayes, in the South, many organizations who claim to having propelled the candidate Martelly to power are now demanding their integration into power, warning that they will not give up.

Last week in Cite Soleil, many people have organized demonstrations to demand jobs.

In St. Mark (North), over a thousand people protested in front of the UN Mission (MINUSTAH) to demand justice for more than 7,000 dead from cholera transmitted according experts, by peacekeepers.

The atmosphere of insecurity prevailing in the country is not an encouragement for the investment promoted by president Martelly.

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