The President Michel Martelly, was yesterday Sunday in Gonaïves, accompanied by Mario Andresol, the Director General of Police Nationale d'Haiti (PNH), to inquire personally of the situation, forty-eight hours after the fire that destroyed the municipal market of the City of Independence.

The Head of State who was, on this occasion, accompanied by Edo Zenny, the Senator of South-East Department, was greeted at the Departmental Directorate of Police by Jean Claude Jeune, the Divisional Commissioner and the Senator of the Artibonite Youri Latortue. The President Martelly has made understand to the police and judicial authorities of the department that the investigation of this case should succeed. He urged everyone to play its role in the judicial machinery to punish the responsible of the fire and invites those who have informations to provide them to the officials. Insisting that a safety climate should be established in the country, the Head of State said that this issue should serve as a signal to deter the criminals "The state does not have means to recapitalize each disaster, everyone must take its responsibilities to prevent the bandits to act with impunity."

The Departmental Director of the Police who support the thesis of arson, has promised on behalf of the the police institution, that the justice will be done. Me Mesack Philogène, the Government Commissioner, said for his part, that individuals have been auditioned in connection with this case and that justice is holding some sure tracks, that can help it to conduct a successful investigation.

Then the Head of State has walked up to the place of market completely destroyed by fire. On the road, hundreds of people demanding justice for victims.

The President Martelly has take advantage of his visit in Gonaïves to participate, to the premises of the departmental delegation, to an important meeting with all local and departmental authorities and representatives of the Minustah. he meeting, attended by members of the Civil Protection and Regional Directors of several public institutions, aimed to take stock of provisions to be taken in preparation of the the rainy season. The President wanted to ensure that the city of Gonaïves was ready to tackle this tumultuous period of the year.

The regional leaders present at the meeting, have explained the functioning of the Risk/Disaster Management Communal and Departmental Committees (CDGRD) and other structures such as the municipal contingency plan, the departmental contingency plan, the plan of evacuation of Gonaives towards temporary shelters and the early warning system. They have in particular expressed their fears about the spread of Cholera. Gérarda Elysée, the departmental Coordinator of the Civil Protection, has put a particular emphasis on the difficulties confronted by its structure as part of its mission.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3008-haiti-politic-michel-martelly-in-gonaives-this-sunday.html

HL/ HaitiLibre