PORT-AU-PRINCE — Another violent attack by armed gangs in the populous neighborhood of Solino on Aug. 15 resulted in several casualties, including the killing of police officer James Dorsainvil, who was part of the 24th promotion of the Haitian National Police (PNH). Michel-Ange Louis Jeune, the police spokesperson, confirmed Dorsainvil’s murder during a press conference and stated that reinforcements were deployed to restore calm in the area.
Solino, a well-known slum in northeast Port-au-Prince, has long been targeted by gangs seeking control. Located just about two miles from the National Palace in Champs-de-Mars, the area lacks a police station and does not benefit from regular police patrols. According to a police union official, this absence of law enforcement presence has heightened the area’s vulnerability since December 2022 as gangs exerted greater control.
“No, there isn’t; there never was,” police officer Barthelemy Valmont told The Haitian Times about the lack of police presence in Solino. “Those in charge are not making the right decisions so that most people can relieve themselves a little.”
The spokesperson for the PNH confirmed that the slain officer, Dorsainvil, was a resident of the area. He was shot during the assaults by the violent gangs, resulting in several other residents being injured and multiple homes being set ablaze by the assailants.
The violence in Solino is mainly attributed to residents’ refusal to allow the Bel-Air gang adjacent to the area to cross the neighborhood with kidnapped individuals. In early 2022, police officers residing in Solino fired upon a Bel-Air gang vehicle involved in a kidnapping as that vehicle was traveling through.
According to Valmont, who is currently the coordinator of the National Police Union of Haiti (SYNAPOHA), the gang’s leader, Kempès Sanon, perceived this as an act of defiance and has since targeted Solino.
Valmont added that the conflict escalated further in December 2022, with the gang aiming to gain total control by stoking fear in the residents and driving them out of the Bastia Corridor, a prominent Solino corner. He said the Bel-Air bandits had already taken over areas such as Anglade, Kay Mè, St Michel, and Carrefour Peyant, all of which are part of Solino.
From December 2022 to August 2024, the Bel-Air gang has persistently attacked Solino. While precise casualty figures are unavailable, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) reported that 128 people were killed or injured in Delmas 24 and Solino during gang attacks last quarter.
Solino can’t be left under total control of gangs, Valmont said
Despite Solino’s proximity to crucial security installations, including the West 1 Departmental Directorate of the PNH’s Law Enforcement Unit (UDMO) and the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAD’H) headquarters, the Bel-Air gang continues its criminal activities.
“The authorities must act swiftly to prevent Solino from falling completely under gang control,” Valmont said. “Rapid measures are needed to establish a 24-hour security system in Solino to thwart the gang’s plans and protect what remains there.”
Barthelemy Valmont, Coordinator of the National Police Union of Haiti (SYNAPOHA)
Valmont criticized the authorities for failing to take decisive action to prevent the escalation of gang violence. He emphasized that the leader of the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN) should have acted sooner to protect vulnerable communities. Valmont argued that, in all fairness, managers should resign if they cannot achieve the primary expected results.
Some areas in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan region lack police presence due to being chased, overrun, outnumbered, and outgunned by powerful gangs. However, others like Solino have never had a police force. The Carrefour de l’Aéroport police station remains unmanned despite rehabilitation efforts, leaving areas like Portail Léogâne, St Joseph, Delmas 3, Bon Repos, and Drouillard vulnerable to gang control.
“SYNAPOHA and members of the civilian population demand answers to the transition government about the issues,” said the police union coordinator, stressing the need for the police to be better equipped to serve the Haitian people. “These problems have persisted for over six years. We demand firm responses, the reopening of police stations, and the restoration of security so everyone can move around freely.”
Solino is a strategic location for gangs, providing a route to escape police pursuit and return to Bel-Air. If the Bel-Air gang establishes a base in Solino, it could expand control over areas like Delmas 18, Delmas 24, Caravelle, Poupelard, Nazon, Christ-Roi, and Lalue. These areas contain a significant portion of the Port-au-Prince population and critical facilities, such as schools, churches, medical centers, banks, and gas stations.
“The authorities must act swiftly to prevent Solino from falling completely under gang control,” Valmont said. “Rapid measures are needed to establish a 24-hour security system in Solino to thwart the gang’s plans and protect what remains there.”
“If the country’s authorities do not make the right decisions, the Haitian people will face darker days,” he said.
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