Speaking on Monday, July 8, on the program “Le rendez-vous avec Volcy ASSAD”, the Executive Director of the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH), Pierre Espérance, strongly criticized the political activist Magalie Habitant, who has recently been on the streets as part of a sanitation program. He accuses Ms. Habitant of being an “ally of the gangs.”
For several days, social networks have been ablaze with the presence of Magalie, who lives in Port-au-Prince, where she supervises cleaning operations in the metropolitan region.
On the show “Le rendez-vous” on Gazette Haïti on Monday, July 8, Pierre Espérance, Executive Director of RNDDH was not at all kind to the former general director of the Metropolitan Service for the Collection and Pick-up of Solid Waste (SMCRS).
“This is not cleaning up. It is a cover to facilitate kidnapping operations by gangs,” accused Pierre Espérance, stating that Magalie Habitant has relations with practically all the gangs. He recalled in passing that she was sanctioned by a debit order from the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes for mismanagement at the head of the SMCRS.
“Magalie Habitant is the subject of damning reports from UCREF concerning financial crimes and money laundering, which are currently in the hands of the justice system,” said Pierre Espérance, calling on the authorities to dismiss the official who tasked her with this mission, while the person concerned is talking about a private initiative.
“Magalie Habitant symbolizes kidnapping, criminality, gangsterism, money laundering and financial crimes. She has always ensured the liaison between the gangs and the PHTK,” argued Espérance, believing that the presence of Magalie Habitant in the surroundings of Port-au-Prince reinforces the confidence of the gangs.
“Magalie Habitant’s movement is enough to increase kidnapping and insecurity,” Espérance continued, citing recent cases of kidnapping reported in the Haitian press. “Given everything the population has experienced, Magalie Habitant’s return means the perpetuation of insecurity,” the human rights activist said.
In his eyes, Magalie Habitant should have been imprisoned. “She benefited a lot from the funds from the kidnappings,” Pierre Espérance said.
Invited in turn to the same program on Wednesday, the political activist close to the PHTK denied being hired by the government. It is, she says, a private initiative. She rejected the accusations of the head of the RNDDH concerning links that she would have with the gang leaders.
By: Daniel Zephyr
