ARTICLE - DECENTRALIZATION

INTERIOR MINISTRY DECENTRALIZING AND NEW ENFORCEMENT MEASURES
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE – With most of the Haitian leadership out of the country, the Minister of the Interior, Thierry Mayard-Paul, keeps busy, meeting with human rights experts from the United Nations, opening new offices throughout the territory and communicating new measures to local authorities and communities.

On Wednesday, the independent United Nations expert on human rights, Michel Forst met with Minister Mayard-Paul and members of his cabinet in preparation for his report that will be presented to the Council of Human Rights and the UN General Assembly. The big step taken my parliament to ratify the international convention on socio-economic and cultural rights is a point of pride for the Haitian government, and the interior ministry plans to organize seminars around the subject for the community.

Transparency in government was a topic of interest as well. In a press note from the Ministry of the Interior, the government is also planning to modernize the management of public institutions to allow more sectors of national life to monitor public policies and actions.

Deportees are a major issue in Haiti with many returning to the country and being put into jail. Some who are freed fall back into crime, while others have a hard time assimilating back into Haitian life. The ministry report to Forst that is a collaboration with the University of Miami; a study that has been undertaken to see ways the issue can be addressed.

Immigration Office in Jeremie

On the far edges of the western coastal town of Jeremie, an immigration office opened on Thursday. The Ministry announced the opening of an office in Les Cayes and Cap Haitien also, as part of the decentralization efforts.

These offices will offer full services for getting passports, visas and other documents needed for migration.

Town Hall in Fond-des-Negres, Public Square in Port-a-Piment

In Nippes, construction began for a town hall for the village of Fond-des-Negres. This new building will permit local access to government services that citizens are rightfully entitled too. This is, of course, part of the decentralization initiative.

In Port-a-Piment, the construction of a public square, at the cost of 900,000 HTG ($21,700 [US]) is under construction. This public square is hoped to improve living conditions and recreation for the southern provincial town.

Warnings for the Population

There are warnings being put out by the ministry. Regarding the Carnival Season which is underway throughout the country, the ministry has cautioned citizens to take precaution to avoid accidents and abuses that are common during the celebrations. Gas stations present a hazard and the turning off of cell phones, engines, and not smoking in the vicinity are strongly urged.

Also, the ministry has warned against graffiti. The Interior Ministry reminds citizens that there must be respect for private property at all times. Vandalism, and graffiti, will not be tolerated by protesters or partiers. In a press note, the minister said that police were on the look out, and that infringing on these principles would be severely punished in accordance to what the law provides.