Wednesday, Jean Rodolphe Joazile, Defense Minister provided an update on the implementation of the new national defense force, including the role of the 41 young people who recently returned from Ecuador [11 officer-engineers nd 30 Haitian soldier-technicians, graduated of schools of Ecuador "Eloy Alfaro" and "los Vencedores del CENEPA"], urrently in training at the base of the Ecuadorian military engineering contingent of the Minustah [Petite Rivière] in the department of Artibonite, in order to take over peacekeepers scheduled for December 17, 2013.

The Ministry of Defence clarified that was not the embryo of a new army, but the first elements of a Civil Defence Force. Concerning the legal framework of this first group, the Minister Joazile said that his ministry was finalizing a document to this effect. 40 other young Haitians should leave the country by December for military training in civil engineering.

"There has indeed the necessity of a new force in the country," affirmed the Minister Joazile "but the government's priority is to organize civil defense first. The Haitian state does not have the means, for the moment, to establish an army force with all its components." Ultimately, this civil defense force would also be responsible for providing coastal protection, surveillance of border areas and would assist forest agents responsible for protecting the environment.

"A 3-year plan for the implementation of the Civil Defence Force has been designed [...] once well established in the country, then we will set up a Defence Force, which will be armed and equipped as stated in the 2013-2016 three-year plan."

A civic service is also planned reminded the Minister, noting that the new 2013-2014 budget, still not voted in the same terms by both Houses is indispensabe to implement this civic service.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9372-haiti-security-first-elements-of-the-armed-forces-of-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6848-haiti-army-young-will-undergo-military-training-in-ecuador.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6822-haiti-security-haitian-students-in-the-ecuadorian-military-schools.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6613-haiti-security-the-army-is-a-complex-legacy-dixit-joazile-speech.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6509-haiti-security-first-step-of-the-army-a-corps-of-engineers.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6217-haiti-security-the-minister-of-defense-on-tour-in-south-america.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6148-haiti-security-statement-of-martelly-on-the-future-national-security-force.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6115-haiti-politic-in-ecuador-the-president-martelly-speaks-of-a-modern-armed-force-for-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3898-haiti-security-all-the-details-on-the-project-of-the-new-national-force.html

SL/ HaïtiLibre