Haiti - Justice : RNDDH worries of appointments to OPC at the end of mandate
The National Network for the Defence of Human Rights (RNDDH) notes the installation of former Chief Inspector General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), Fritz Jean, as Deputy Protector of Citizen https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-17966-icihaiti-politic-investiture-ceremony-of-the-deputy-protector-of-citizens.html "At a time when the Office of Citizen Protection (OPC) seems wanting to fill positions that should have been occupied for a long time," RNDDH stresses.
The Network recalls that the current Protective Florence Elie, appointed by presidential decree, on 9 September 2009, for a term of 7 years and stresses that "[...] it is only now, two months before the expiration of its mandate, she is installing the Deputy Citizen Protector."
The network precise that Article 18 of the Law on Organization and Operation of Citizen Protection, published in Le Moniteurr of July 20, 2012, stipulates in alienated 2 that "Subject to Article 19, it [the Deputy Citizen Protector] is appointed by order of the President of the Republic on Ombudsman proposal within ninety (90 days) after the inauguration of the Ombudsman."
Today, the policy to fill at all costs the vacancies at OPC challenges the RNDDH "especially since OPC seems to believe they can find competent people only in the ranks of the PNH [the DG of the OPC installed there two months is a former executive of the Directorate of Penitentiary Administration]. Therefore, RNDDH invites the OPC to caution, because to want to do too much before the expiration of the current mandate of the Protector, the agency risk of be politicized and lose its bearings [...]"
