PORT-AU-PRINCE, July 6 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The Haitian police will receive new armored vehicles following a four-million-dollar contract signed by a foreign supplier, the newspaper Le Nouvelliste revealed.
The vehicles are expected to arrive in the coming weeks to help the National Police fight gangs and recover areas under the control of armed groups.
The change of supplier comes after the Canadian company Inkas was criticized by non-governmental organizations and political figures who questioned the defects of their devices, after images went viral of the cars advancing with difficulty while emitting a large column of smoke during operations carried out by the police in the vicinity of the Varreux terminal.
Former Senate President Joseph Lambert demanded explanations and the coordinator of the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights, Pierre Espérance, assured that the armored vehicles have difficulties in the braking system and some areas are not well protected against bullets. Added to these is the delay in their delivery, after the production company promised to have them at the disposal of authorities in a few weeks.
Nearly a year after the contract was penned, the order has still not been completed, despite being paid, according to local media.
The remaining six vehicles are expected to arrive in Haiti soon, as Eugene Gerstein, one of Inkas’ managers, told reporters that they were in the process of finalizing the administrative procedures for delivery. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA
