Yesterday John Babcock, spokesman for the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, Diane Ablonczy, stated in an email sent to AP that the decision of Haiti to create a second security force is a sovereign right, but that its formation "seems premature" because of the difficult living conditions that still face many Haitians after January 12, 2010.

"Canada fears that creating a second security force will significantly reduce resources available for Haiti's other important priorities", including that of strengthen the National Police of Haiti (PNH), Babcock wrote.

John Babcock also said that Canada would not help to pay for a second security force, echoing the feelings of many diplomats who said to the President Martelly at a meeting https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4110-haiti-security-martelly-met-some-diplomats-about-the-national-security.html that they will not fund the force.

Canada, like the United States, said it would focus its support on the police force instead of a second security force. The PNH has only 8,000 officers in a country of 10 million people and Canada has long been involved at various levels with this institution.

For his part, Garry Conille, Prime Minister of Haiti, said he was aware of the concerns raised by Canada, but the government still intended to restore the army, because the force is always in the country's constitution.

In Cuba the President Martelly told reporters that the military theme is "very important" but "not the number one priority," while indicating the interest of Haiti to strengthen the police and to "work on the plan to reinstate the armed forces."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4203-haiti-security-the-president-martelly-talks-about-recruiting-thousands-of-young-police-officers.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4184-haiti-flash-denial-of-the-presidency-on-the-remobilization-of-fad-h.html

PI/ HaitiLibre