By Louis Chardrac, Le Nouvelliste, Dec. 3, 2024
Over a thousand residents of Pont Sondé, Saint-Marc, gathered on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in front of the Pat Chwal substation to demand the dismantling of the "Grand Grif" gang base in Savien.
The mobilization was organized by the Commission for Dialogue, Reconciliation, and Awareness to Save Artibonite and the Federation of Peasant Organizations and Agricultural Entrepreneurs of the Artibonite Valley. The agitated crowd chanted slogans such as, “After two months, no more dialogue,” “Police, take action,” “Dismantle the Savien base,” and “We’ve had enough.”
Speaking on behalf of the organizing groups, Bertide Horace reminded those present: “It has been exactly two months since our brothers and sisters were massacred by the Savien terrorists. That is why the peasants are here to demand that law enforcement enter the gangs’ stronghold.”
Underscoring her belief that “a police-community partnership yields great results, ”Horace emphasized the importance of solidarity between the population and the police: “Just as the people have decided to support the police in Port-au-Prince and the Central Plateau, we are ready to support the police here in Artibonite.”
Commander Philippe Chimoatiya, head of the Kenyan troops stationed in Artibonite, addressed the residents of Pont Sondé, assuring them: “Do not worry; we will soon launch an attack on Savien.” He added, “We left our country to come here because we care about Haiti.” Philippe promised to “completely end the reign of the Savien gang,” while asking the people to grant the security forces “a little more time.”
Standing beside Philippe, Saint-Marc Police Commissioner Max Altis Vital echoed his remarks, stressing the need to give the specialized units of the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) the time required to provide lasting solutions to the problem of gang violence.
Two months after the massacre in Pont Sondé, analysts, legal experts, and journalists have offered critical reflections, questioning the government’s sincerity in addressing the armed gangs in Artibonite. Public skepticism remains high.
Translated by CHIP editors
Posted Dec. 18, 2023