ARTICLE - PRES. SECURITY CHIEF DISMISSED

PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY CHIEF, CAREL ALEXANDRE DISMISSED
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Pierre Leon St-Remy Junior was appointed coordinator of the Presidential Security Unit (USP) to replace Alexandre Carel, said Wednesday a source close to the Presidency.

Pierre Leon St-Remy Junior, a relative of the First Lady, replaced Carel Alexandre through a change that would have been imposed by Washington determined to bring down several former police officers close to Michel Martelly, who are considered human rights offenders involved in drug-trafficking.

Officially, no reason has been advanced to justify this change. However, according to some reliable sources, it would be the result of intense pressure from representatives of the international community, particularly the United States, insisting that President Michel Martelly gets rid of some former police officers who have a bad reputation.

The new head of the USP Unit - close security of the Head of State- is a relative of the First Lady, Sophia Saint-Remy.

The sidelining of Carel Alexander, former head of the company to maintain order (CIMO), has not pleased others responsible for presidential security, the sources said.

A few months ago, the National Network of Human rights (RNDDH) expressed serious concerns to President Martelly, facing the reintegration into his security team or the National Police of several former commissioners returned for many years and particularly suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and human rights violations. The human rights organization had specifically named Carel Alexandre, Godwork Noel, Gilbert Dragon, Jacky Nau and Will Dimanche.

Will Dimanche became the meantime the head of the central management of the traffic police (DCPR).