Monday, as announced last week by Jean Wilner Morin, the President of the National Association of Haitian Magistrates (ANAMAH), the Judges began a week-long strike in all jurisdictions of the country, a movement also supported by the Professional Association Magistrates (APM) and the Association of Judges of Peace (AJUP).

By this action the magistrates want to force the Government to satisfy their demands among others : the payment of salary arrears for the standing magistrates; the improvement of working conditions, the transfer of powers from the Ministry of Justice to the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) in accordance with the agreement of October 2017; the transfer to the CSPJ of the investment fund to be used to build, to repair the courts (currently under the control of the Ministry), the cessation of any form of interference of the Executive in the Judiciary which compromises the independence of Justice https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27746-haiti-news-zapping.html , a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the appointment of judges until their retirement and the amendment of the law of November 2007 so that prosecutors and magistrates remain irremovable.

Wando St Villiers President of the APM, who denounces the poor working conditions in which judges have been evolving for several years, recalls that several negotiations took place with the Ministry of Justice on this subject, but that the promises of the Executive have not been kept. He was delighted that the first day of strike was respected in the 18 jurisdictions of the country.

At the end of these five days of work stoppage, judges consider other strategies if they do not obtain satisfaction in order to force the executive to respond positively to their demands.

Moreover, we learn that the Associations and unions of clerks, announced a work stoppage on May 23 and 24.

So far, the central authorities have not yet reacted to this work stoppage, which could paralyze the judicial system indefinitely if nothing is done quickly.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27746-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27633-haiti-news-zapping.html

PI/ HaitiLibre