ARTICLE - COAST GUARD EQUIPPED

THE COAST GUARD WILL NOW BE ABLE TO FIGHT AGAINST IMPUNITY
(Haiti Libre) -

President Michel Martelly, proceeded, on Thursday, May 17, with the official inauguration of a mechanical workshop at the Admiral Killick Naval Base, in Carrefour. On this occasion, the keys to five patrol boats 40 feet long, donated by the Government of Canada through the Working Group for the stabilization and reconstruction (START), were delivered to the Directorate of the Coast Guard, the Marine Unit of the National Police of Haiti (PNH).

The ceremony was held in the presence, among others of: Jean Renelle Sanon, the new Minister of Justice and Public Safety, the Mayor of Carrefour, Mr. Yvon Jérôme, the Ambassador of Canada to Haiti, Mr. Henri-Paul Normandin, the Director of Civil Protection, and Mario Andresol, the Director of the National Police of Haiti (PNH).

In his remarks for the occasion, the Head of State thanked the Government of Canada for this gesture and every effort in favor to Haiti.

"...I have great pleasure to inaugurate this mechanical workshop with you today, and to commission these five patrol boats that the START of the Canadian Embassy has kindly made available to the PNH. This is, a tangible sign of respect for their given word, symbolizing the health of our cooperation with Canada.

I reiterate today, Canadian cooperation plays a major role in the process of the reconstruction of the country and we intend to maintain the traditional cordiality in our relations with this great friend. You all know, my determination to provide the country with all the instruments necessary for its development...

In this sense, the opening of the mechanical workshop at the Admiral Killick naval base, strengthens my will .... to provide the Haitian Coast Guard with resources for its professionalization.

I want to tell my Canadian friends, that the action you just made, by giving us these five patrol boats, it is more important than just a simple gift or cooperative action, [...] you give us a way to put more security in our territorial waters, and give us more reason to be proud as a Haitian [...] it is because a friendly nation wanted to show solidarity with the Haitian people, and its desire to contribute to our growth, that it is permitted to us today, to achieve this important step in our efforts to raise the Marine Unit of the PNH, in the dimension of their duties. These new assets, added to the capabilities to address the security needs available to the PNH, infuses a new impetus to the advent of the rule of law, that I aspire to establish in Haiti.

I can not conclude without reminding, that the naval base bears the name of Admiral Killick, this hero of the Haitian Navy, who in a memorable gesture, preferred to sacrifice himself instead of surrender to the enemy. I remain convinced, that we still have these brave citizens, who in gestures of construction, of solidarity and civic actions are able to give themselves fully to this cause and, to transpose the civic duty on another domain, that of national reconstruction.

To this friendly country, thank you, thank you for always being there for Haiti, and thank you for coming today. To the Haitian State I demand to recover; Mr. Minister you see in what condition is the building here. Mr. Director General of the Police, present us with your projects. We are pleased to receive this donation from a great friend, but we also have much work to do. I have committed to put everything we have to the disposal of the National Police [...]"

Ambassador Henri-Paul Normandin also expressed his satisfaction at having offered these boats that will strengthen the operational capacities of agents of the Coast Guard, determined to ensure better control of Haitian territorial waters. Mr. Normandin took the opportunity to advocate for the strengthening of the police institution.

"...as an international partner, Canada's role is to provide support, but what will make a difference, is the will, commitment and work of political leaders, partners and institutions in Haiti. The Haitian government must continue to invest in this police by allocating budgets and necessary resources.

The Statement of General Policy, issued recently by the new Government, led by Prime Minister Lamothe, insists on the strengthening of security through the development of the national police. The same statement, in line with the President's 5E's, also focuses on the development of the rule of law and justice. We anticipate the achievement of orientations that are set out, including the establishment of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power, as well as the concrete measures put into practice, to ensure the independence of the judiciary, and at the same time, continue the struggle against the impunity and in particular, to return to the theme of the day, the impunity of those who engage in criminal activities along the coast and border of Haiti..."

For his part, Mario Andresol, the Director General of the PNH, announced a development plan of the police institution for next year. For him, this Thursday is a clear signal that the PNH will not always be an institution that suffers from a lack of resources. Aware of the challenges, he ensures that if the tools and adequate resources are made ​​available to the police institution, effective work will be done in national security.

The city inspector, Pierre Jonathan Jean-Jacques stressed that President Martelly, was the first Head of State, in over 25 years to visit the Directorate of the Coast Guard, and he congratulated the President of the Republic for this.