A motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle handover ceremony was held this week at the Police Academy in the presence among others of Haiti National Police Director General, Michel-Ange Gédéon; Director of Haiti’s Border Police, Marc Justin; U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Robin Diallo; IOM Chief of Mission in Haiti, Fabien Sambussy and Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Director, Nicholas Hilgert to give 10 motorcycles and 3 quads to the Border Police.

"The United States is proud to partner with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to support the establishment of Haiti’s Border Police. We have also identified other areas of cooperation with IOM to ensure key services in the operation of the Haitian National Police Academy continue," said U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Robin Diallo.

This contribution of US $ 644,943 from INL (International Narcotics and Law Enforcement) will allow the purchase of vehicles and other logistical needs for the Border Police. "The Border Police will prevent and respond to transnational organized crime. We start at the Northeast region with the goal of having a presence on the entire border line, "said Border Police Director Marc Justin.

IOM with additional support from INL will undertake other activities to support the Haiti National Police Academy and training efforts.

The US contribution will also support the National Police Academy in training police students and will complete the procedures necessary to select 1,300 officers from the 29th and 30th promotion.

"IOM sees the border through the (human) migratory prism but does not forget that the human prism is intimately linked to all types of trafficking, whether it be drug trafficking, arms, smuggling or trafficking in persons. The presence of a police unit at the boundary trained and in number, is also a source of optimization of the incomes of the State while being a guarantee of security for the migrant populations or living in border areas. Better management of the border is also an optimization of customs revenues, "said Fabien Sambussy, Chief of Mission at IOM in Haiti. He added: "Despite the departure of MINUSTAH, the United Nations remains present in Haiti and IOM will continue to support the efforts of the police. It is today a first step in the deployment of the Border Police and I hope that with the support of our current and future partners, we will be able to complete the Border Police strategic plan."

HL/ HaitiLibre