By Louis Chadrac, Le Nouvelliste, Nov. 7, 2024
The October 3rd Collective, composed of several civic organizations from the Pont Sondé community, mobilized over a thousand protesters along National Route 1, demanding the radical dismantling of the two main armed groups in the department.
The demonstrators, who walked about fifteen kilometers from the Pont Sondé intersection to downtown Saint-Marc, carried signs and tree branches, chanting and shouting, "If Pont Sondé falls, Saint-Marc won't be spared." This slogan was a reminder to the residents of Nissage Saget that their locality lies at the northern entrance to the city.
René Altidort, president of the October 3rd Collective, told the newspaper that "the people of Pont Sondé are forced to spend the night in the mountains when they cannot afford to return to Saint-Marc each afternoon to rest, more or less, in peace." Alitidort, a well-known sports journalist, expressed his disappointment that "the high command of the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Conille government had no serious plans when they sent 11 armored vehicles and police from various specialized units to Pont Sondé after the massacre."
Contrary to public official reports, the collective's president stated that "nothing has been done in the Artibonite to address chronic insecurity," adding that "the people were expecting large police operations in the strongholds of the criminals." On behalf of all the citizens of Pont Sondé, the collective leader called on the central authorities of the country "to do everything in their power to destroy the gangs of Savien and La Croix-Périsse so that the residents of Pont Sondé can live in peace."
A notable figure from Pont Sondé, lawyer Gélor Fleuradin, emphasized that "more than a month after the Gran Grif gang of Savien massacred the people of Pont Sondé, the agents of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) and the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMAS) have done nothing concrete to counter the criminals." He also revealed that "every evening, new bottles of rum and crates of beer arrive at the Pat Chwal police station, where the national and international forces are based, to celebrate, without ever troubling the killers."
In front of the courthouse in the jurisdiction, Fleurandin, who is deeply involved in the movement, declared that "the legal forces present in the Artibonite Valley are much more concerned with pleasure than with the need for security for the people of Artibonite." In his view, the armored vehicles sent to Artibonite "seem to be carnival tanks for making the gangsters dance," as they "simply parade continuously through the streets while the same crimes happen day and night as they did before."
Jameson Cadet, a local citizen, stated in front of the Saint-Marc police station: "It is normal for us to choose to live in our country. The state must guarantee us security and the protection of our property. Above all, we have the right to move freely." He believes that "it is the irresponsibility of the state authorities that our brothers and sisters are humiliated in foreign countries, especially in the Dominican Republic." He added: "We, the people of Artibonite, do not need the charity of the government or non-governmental organizations (NGOs). All we need is security to work our land freely."
Massed in front of the town hall, the protesters voiced strong criticisms against the head of the interim executive commission, Myriam Fièvre, and the vice-delegate of the Saint-Marc district, Walter Montas, whom they accused of "being big eaters" due to the "mismanagement" and "corruption" that characterized the administration of food and financial aid meant for the victims of the massacre.
Entrepreneur Jean Edner Eugene Estiverne, a member of the interim executive commission, told Le Nouvelliste that "our leaders are too cruel to this population. They have done nothing to relieve the suffering of the Artibonite population, deprived of everything, mired in misfortune and misery."
"Give Artibonite a chance," "State, take responsibility," "We can’t take it anymore," "Too much bloodshed," these were the main slogans that fueled the November 7, 2024 demonstration by the people of Pont Sondé, who threaten to move to a second phase of action by the end of the month if the government authorities in Port-au-Prince continue to ignore their demands.
Translated by CHIP editors
Posted Nov. 12, 2024