Above: Martelly on the visit with CIMO Chief Bornelus Jean Bazelaire (left) (Photo: OP)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haitian President Michel Martelly visited Monday with members of the Corps d’Intervention et de Maintien de l’Ordre, the specialized anti-riot unit of the Haitian National Police.

The President said he had a “fruitful” meeting with Bornelus Jean Bazelaire, the commander of the unit.

“You must have your morale high,” Martelly told officers.

Martelly also said he would continue talks with other countries to find funding for new facilities for the police.

The President will make another visit with CIMO later this week, joined by the French and Canadian Ambassadors to Haiti. Both countries support strengthening Haiti’s national police, something which has become a major priority for Martelly.

While Martelly supports the creation of a new Haitian Army, something which has met opposition from the international community, he also supports a strengthened police force in the country.

He has said that an army, together with a strengthened national police force, will be necessary to fill the security vacuum in the country upon the eventual departure of MINUSTAH.

Security has remained a major issue in Haiti, particularly in recent weeks, both following the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille and given recent incidents where former members of the disbanded Haitian army occupied certain government sites.

Martelly has other visits planned with units of the police force later this week.