Haiti - FLASH : The National Palace deploys its special unit equipped with weapons of war
Since Sunday, hooded men in black uniforms mostly carrying some weapons of war (M60) and circulating in the capital aboard pickups belonging to the National Palace covered with camouflage paint, equipped with machine gun have caused fear and various interpretations in the population.
Michel-Ange Gédéon, the Director General of the PNH confirmed that this was not a new unit of the PNH, but the Specialized Unit of the National Palace Guard (USGPN), noting that this unit had not been deployed on his order.
Gédéon condemned the presence in the streets, of USGPN agents carrying weapons of war and traveling in pick-up trucks equipped with heavy machine guns (M50). He mentioned having discussed of that at the last meeting of the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN) and notified that there was no question of interventions in the streets of units having nothing to do with the units of policing of the PNH.
For his part, Mario Andrésol, the former Director General of the PNH also deplored the use by USGPN agents of weapons of war, intended to intimidate the population.
Jude Charles Faustin, President Jovenel Moïse's Special Adviser, justified the presence of USGPN members on the streets and the armaments they have because of the threats and the conjuncture, specifying about the equipment of this unit "There is nothing new, since it has always been the General Secretariat of the National Palace that deals with the acquisition of weapons, equipment and materials for the USGPN" a unit that is remembered is responsible for providing presidential security.
