ARTICLE - TABARRE FIRE - 6 SUSPECTS

TABARRE MARKET, 6 SUSPECTS ARRESTED
(Haiti Libre) -

President Michel Martelly, held yesterday Monday, February 27, at the National Palace, an important meeting to discuss with Government officials, actions to be taken following the fire which occurred in the Tabarre public market on the night of February 24 to 25.

Those who took part in this working meeting: Mr. Thierry Mayard Paul, Minister of the Interior, Local Authorities and National Defense, Mr. André Lemercier Georges, Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Wilson Laleau, Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms. Yanick Mézile, Minister for Women's Affairs and Women's Rights, Mr. Frantz Théodate, Mayor of Tabarre, Charles Castel, Governor of the BRH, Mr. Robert Pardo Vice President of the BNC, Mr. Hervé Denis, President of CCIH and several advisors of the Presidency.

Following this meeting, the following decisions were taken :

The Government is considering, in conjunction with the City of Tabarre, ways and means to alleviate the most vulnerable victims, and rebuild the market.

The Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) will hold a meeting tomorrow with microfinance institutions to encourage them to advance funds to their debtors who were affected.

The Government will take all necessary steps to prosecute and punish the perpetrators of the fire.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, Mario Beauvoir, the Government Commissioner of Croix des Bouquets stated "...last night at about eleven o'clock, there were explosions, gunshots were fired, and a mess ensued. The fire was started in four central points, and then in the center of the market...

Today [Saturday], I want to make clear to everyone, that there is a criminal hand that is behind this fire and the justice will take action against these malefactors, these criminals, with all the rigor that the law allows... [...] We, at the prosecution level, have already arrested 4 security agents, as well as the Director and the responsible for the security of the market [...] we will hear the mayors, we will invite them today, so that they can come and tell what they know about the market that burned [...]"