More than 60% of police officers assigned to protecting officials, union says

The Haitian National Police Union (SPNH-17) has denounced an unequal distribution of police personnel, saying that more than 60% of staff are assigned to close protection of officials and prominent figures in the private sector. According to the SPNH-17 coordinator, Inspector Garry Jean-Baptiste, this leaves remote areas short of officers, with barely any police presence.

In Marchand-Dessalines, for example, only six officers are responsible for the security of a population of one hundred fifty thousand. On Gonâve Island and in communes such as Chardonnières, Tiburon, Roche-à-Bateau and Mole Saint-Nicolas, there are likewise too few officers to provide adequate security.

In Port-au-Prince, by contrast, most of the police force is deployed around Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and other influential figures. These specialized units are supposed to be devoted to fighting gangs and maintaining public order, but they are often diverted to close protection duties.

The situation is creating internal tension within the Haitian National Police (PNH), which is facing a loss of authority and a lack of control over how personnel are assigned. Newly trained officers often prefer jobs in private security to frontline posts.

Repeated calls for a better distribution of personnel have been ignored, according to the SPNH-17. The situation is seen as a major problem for the PNH's effectiveness and its ability to protect the civilian population.

Union's reaction

The union stressed that this allocation of resources was unacceptable, highlighting the urgent need for internal reform to set things right. Officers are often forced to choose between thankless posts and more comfortable jobs in the entourage of influential figures.

Consequences

The SPNH-17 denounced the misuse of police personnel, who are diverted from their essential duties to serve private interests. The situation highlights the crisis of authority within the police institution and its inability to distribute its resources effectively.