Haiti imposes temporary ban on weapons amid planned street protests

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – Haiti has announced a temporary ban on carrying firearms throughout the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country until Thursday as citizens commemorate the 212th anniversary of the assassination of Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines on Wednesday.

“All licences to carry a firearm are considered, in this circumstance, to be a license to possess firearms within the boundaries of the domicile of the citizen who is the holder, in accordance with Articles 268-1 and 268-2 of the Constitution,” Justice and Public Security Minister, Jean Roody Aly said, adding that the ban would remain in effect until Thursday, October 19 at midnight.

He said law enforcement and judicial authorities are the only ones allowed to travel during this period with their regulatory and service weapons.

The authorities also called for private security agencies to adopt the temporary ban in order to prevent their staff from travelling with service weapons.

The move comes as Haitians take to the streets Wednesday to protest several issues such as the PetroCaribe funds, the cost of living, the minimum wage, the reform of the Constitution as well as the frequent overseas visits of President Jovenel Moise.

Aly said the National Police of Haiti and the Public Prosecutor’s Offices of the Republic have been instructed to crack down with the utmost rigor against anyone violating the laws.

But one of the organisers of the protest Michel André said that the “decision of the Minister of Justice to suspend the carrying of arms throughout the territory is illegal.

“Only the DGPNH can make such a decision. It is a strategy to facilitate the task to the armed groups close to the power. No question of obeying an illegal order,” he added.

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