Last Updated on November 6, 2020, 6:22 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Hundreds of protesters marched, many dressed in school uniforms through the streets of the capital of Haiti for demanding answers about the kidnapping and killing of a young woman which shook the nation.
It is noteworthy that the body of a high school named senior Evelyne Sincere was found in a dumpster on Sunday after her relatives said that they were unable to pay a large amount of ransom demanded by her captors.
Human rights groups say that the incident highlights the worsening security crisis in Haiti.
19-year-old Katy Jean-Joseph, who was marching with the protestors while carrying a photo of Sincere, said that she was scared as what happened to Eveline could have happened to her.
Haiti was rocked by street protests demanding President Jovenel Moise’s ouster on allegations that he failed to hold accountable the persons who siphoned billions in international aid into bank accounts overseas and mismanaged the economy.
Now Haiti is also grappling with growing concern over Moise’s decision of delaying legislative elections and insisting first on a constitutional referendum instead.
International leaders, including the Organization of the American States and the Trump administration, have pressured Moise to set a date for elections.
Meanwhile, the UN and rights groups in Haiti are concerned about a rising tide of violence by armed gangs in Haiti whose crimes are going unpunished.
The UN envoy for Haiti painted a grim picture to the UN Security Council last month, by saying that Haiti is once again struggling to avert the condition of instability.
Helen La Lime added that the Haitian National Police needs at least 10,000 well trained and equipped officers for meeting international standards.
She said that gangs continue to challenge the authority of the state, especially in the more populous neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince.
Around 2,000 protesters gathered in a neighbourhood known as a hotspot for kidnappings and marched to the Ministry of Justice on Thursday.
The protest ended after police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
