Ariel Henry, alongside Patrick Michel Boisvert, has – would have (administrative opacity) – released more than 500 million dollars from the public treasury to repay the Petro Caribe debt squandered by the PHTK party, to which he belonged as minister of Michel Martelly in 2015. Today, a disbursement of 60 million for the purchase of weapons and ammunition to fight against gangs, pro-power PHTK and allies, seems to be a godsend for Haiti, prey to “planned” violence terrorist gangs “G9 or Viv Ansanm”.
The Biden administration approved a $60 million military aid package to help Haiti crack down on violent gangs wreaking havoc in the country, according to documents obtained by POLITICO.
This program, the second approved by the United States for the Haitian crisis this year, mainly includes small arms, but also some armored vehicles. The notification lists at least 80 Humvees, 35 MaxxPro infantry vehicles, sniper rifles, riot gear, firearms, ammunition and surveillance drones.
This measure would send weapons and equipment to the Haitian National Police as well as countries that support the multinational security mission aimed at suppressing violence in Haiti: Kenya, Jamaica and Bahamas, among others, according to the memorandum of competence for removal.
This latest package brings the total U.S. stockpile contribution to the Haiti crisis to $70 million, after the Biden administration approved a $10 million package earlier this year. The ceiling for this authorization is $75 million and expires at the end of the fiscal year.
Spokespeople for the State Department, Defense Department and National Security Council did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Last month, POLITICO reported that the Biden administration planned to use its drawdown authority to expedite the shipment of $60 million in weapons, ammunition and other equipment to countries deploying to Haiti. The move is seen as an apparent attempt to circumvent Republican oversight efforts, reflecting growing pressure on the administration to take action.
Since the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, armed gangs have largely taken control of the country, killing thousands of people and displacing hundreds of thousands more. Due to the thorny history of Western intervention in Haiti, Kenya agreed to lead a multinational UN security mission in the country.
However, the U.S.-backed plan, which would support the deployment of thousands of security forces to Haiti to bolster the country’s police, has come under scrutiny from critics who say it provides little detail on how it will achieve success.
