Twenty-nine Tactical Officers of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), from the specialized SWAT, UTAG, CAT, BRID and BRI units, were graduated after the sixth training session organized at the Training Centre of Morne Casse, located in the commune of Fort-Liberté, department of the north-east of the country. Funded by the Government of Canada, this new cohort brings the total number of officers already trained in this centre to 175. Ottawa stated that this support is intended to strengthen the operational capacity of the HNP in the fight against gang violence.
This new promotion is part of a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Haitian National Police, including the P4000+ programme, which provides for an increase in the staff of the institution through the recruitment and training of new police officers. The authorities also rely on the Gang Repression Force (GRF) and the support of the private military company Academi, led by Erik Prince, to support operations against armed groups.
However, this succession of training, recruitment and security arrangements has not yet led to significant change in the field. Much of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince remains under the control of illegal armed men, several strategic roads remain inaccessible, while the violence continues to cause many victims almost daily. This reality continues to fuel questions about the effectiveness of measures deployed to restore the security and authority of the State in a sustainable manner.
