Press Release
United States Donates USD Seven Million to Haitian National Police
September 21, 2006
No. 2006/61
United States Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson and Haitian Minister of Justice René Magloire signed an amendment to an existing Letter of Agreement between the two countries to support the Haitian National Police, to strengthen anti-drug trafficking efforts and to improve correctional facilities in Haiti.
The new amendment adds $7 million to the existing accord, and includes $5 million for rebuilding the Haitian National Police, $1.5 million for counternarcotics programs and $800,000 for correctional programs. Funding will be used to provide professional, human rights and anti-corruption training to HNP officers, members of the Haitian Coast Guard and prison personnel. In addition, the donation covers essential equipment, continues efforts to rebuild prisons and supports the 50 United States police officers working with the Government of Haiti as part of UNPOL.
To date this year, the United States has donated more than $20 million directly in support of the HNP, which includes donations of essential equipment, transportation (including 45 motorcycles and two armored trucks), ballistics training, human rights training, uniforms, office equipment such as computers, rebuilding prison facilities and refurbishing the Police Academy.
The United States is proud to support police and justice reform in Haiti. We have collaborated closely with the Government of Haiti, to identify priorities, conduct joint exercises with the Haitian Coast Guard and the HNP and invest in the essential equipment and training. We have also worked closely with the HNP and MINUSTAH to ensure our programs support efforts to implement the recently adopted police reform plan. We are confident that these collaborative efforts will assist the HNP in providing security and law and order to the Haitian people.
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