Above: Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe (FP)
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe held high-level talks with members of the Haitian National Police Friday aimed at seeking new avenues for cooperation and leadership.
The meeting included members of government, parliament and the UN’s MINUSTAH peacekeeping force in Haiti.
Lamothe said he pledged to support any initiative that looks to strengthen the capacity of Haiti’s national police as its seeks to perform its mission.
He also passed on formal instructions to the police’s Superior Council to ensure that the force does “everything” to improve Haiti’s security.
The talks also yielded a proposal to create a joint commission to monitor the council.
The Prime Minister said he and President Michel Martelly wish to “revitalize” the police force on the country’s path to “efficiency and autonomy.”
A strengthened Haitian National Police has been a priority for Martelly and the United Nations Security Council.
The eventual departure of MINUSTAH from Haiti will likely leave a security vacuum, something Martelly has previously said should be filled by both a new Haitian Army and a strengthened police force.
The United Nations, along with several international parties, are urging only a strengthened police force, and not the establishment of a new army.
The presence of former soldiers of Haiti’s now-disbanded army marching in areas of the country has led to some turmoil.