University students confront Haitian PM Conille over campus conditions

By Onz Chéry and Edxon Francisque

FORT-LIBERTÉ — Students from  Université Roi Henri Christophe, a public university in Limonade—an eastern suburb of Cap-Haïtien on the Atlantic coast—halted Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille’s vehicle on Friday, insisting he visit their campus to address their frustrations regarding the dire conditions they face.

When the students stopped him, Conille’s convoy was returning to Cap-Haïtien from Caracol, a commune in the Northeast Department. He was in the department for a comprehensive tour, including visits to the newly built irrigation canal on the Massacre River, the free zones of CODEVI Industrial Park, and the Caracol Industrial Park. The tour aimed to assess the region’s economic and tourist potential, particularly in light of the armed gang violence affecting Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas.

While the Haitian prime minister’s vehicle successfully navigated through the northeast to inspect several economic and tourist sites, a group of students from various academic departments at the Limande-based state university campus later blocked the road upon his return to Cap-Haïtien, demanding that he listen to their grievances.

Conille was forced to listen and make promises to the students

The unscheduled stop at the university was not included in the prime minister’s planned itinerary. As he was heading back to Cap-Haïtien before flying out to Port-au-Prince, the students refused to allow him to enter the city without first addressing their concerns. 

Armed with placards displaying various slogans, the students staged a spontaneous demonstration to urge Conille to visit their university. They raised issues such as lack of maintenance, the absence of a cafeteria, the suspension of various departments, and the administration-authorized use of the institution’s campus for non-educational purposes. They also pointed out the dire physical condition of the university’s walls, which had yet to be repainted.

“The campus should not be neglected; it is not a hotel,” the students declared. This protest followed the university administration’s decision to suspend classes in favor of hosting Adventist mission activities.

Consequently, after more than thirty minutes of negotiations, Prime Minister Conille, accompanied by his Minister of Education Augustin Antoine, was compelled to disembark and meet with a delegation of  10 students. 

The Haitian prime minister acknowledged the situation and promised to form a commission to address all the students’ demands promptly.

 Conille’s tour included visits to Ouanaminthe and Caracol and was part of broader efforts to address the country’s multifaceted crisis. He emphasized the importance of integrating local communities into solutions for the nation’s security challenges and highlighted Haiti’s untapped potential in tourism, agriculture, and investment.

During his visit to the CODEVI Industrial Park, Conille met with union representatives who presented demands on pension loans, social affairs office operations, minimum wage adjustments, and escalating inflation, making living costs untenable. The workers called for the implementation of Article 466 of the Haitian labor code on workers’ transportation and wage adjustments.

 “They [the people] want to have information, they want to have details. The Minister of Justice [Carlos Hercule] needs to ask his friend. Please share the documents with me; send me the information you have so I can understand what happened.”

Garry Conille, Prime Minister of Haiti

In response, Conille pledged to collaborate with his team on these concerns and even planted a mango tree at the CODEVI park as a gesture of goodwill.

Reporters were allowed to follow the government delegation while touring the Northeast Department. However, the prime minister did not answer questions on a range of issues, including the government’s strategies for regaining control of gang-occupied roads, reconnecting Port-au-Prince with the rest of the country, the status of the Kenya-led Multinational Security and Support (MSS) tasked to assist the Haitian police, and overall international support and commitment to Haiti. Questions about the government’s plans for displaced families and working relations with the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) also went unanswered.

During his visit, Conille met with members of the Ouanaminthe Irrigation Canal Managing Committee, including the chairman, Moise Joseph, spokesperson, Wideline Pierre, and other key figures involved in the project. “Today, I came to see, listen, and understand,” said the prime minister at the canal’s edge in Ouanaminthe.

Conille calls for information on Martelly’s alleged drug trafficking

Before he toured the Northeast Department, Conille was in Cap-Haïtien, where he faced questions regarding the U.S. government sanctions against former President Michel Martelly for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking and connection to gangs during his time in office.

During a press conference on Aug. 22, Conille called on individuals with knowledge of the matter to provide information to the transition government. 

“They [the Haitian people] want to have information; they want to have details,” Conille said. “The Minister of Justice [Carlos Hercule] needs to ask his friend. Please share the documents with me; send me the information you have so I can understand what happened,” the Haitian PM urged Hercule and anyone from the public with knowledge of the matter.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Martelly on Aug. 20 under Executive Order 14059 for allegedly being involved in the illicit drug trade and supporting gang violence in Haiti. Conille’s comments marked a government official’s first public acknowledgment of the sanctions, while Martelly has yet to react publicly to the accusations.

Responding to why Haiti continues to leave it up to the international community, particularly the United States and Canada, to hold those abusing their offices, engaging in corruption and illicit trade, and supporting gang-fueled insecurity accountable, Conille explained that it’s because Haiti’s justice system is currently non-functional. “If our justice system were functioning, if we took responsibility, we wouldn’t need our friends to hold people accountable for us,” he stated.

Conille’s delegation in Cap-Haïtien included the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique Dupuy and diplomats from Spain, the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the United Nations. 

The delegation’s visit was prompted by the city’s struggles with the impact of gang violence, as many individuals fleeing Port-au-Prince have relocated to Cap-Haïtien, putting pressure on already insufficient resources and complicating investment opportunities.

“In my agenda, I want to take care of all the people affected by the crises even if they’re not in the metropolitan area [Port-au-Prince],” Conille said in the press conference.

Conille wants to learn from northern Haiti

He also expressed interest in learning from the northern region, which has been implementing initiatives to alleviate the country’s crises. One notable aspect is the community’s cooperation with the police force, which has been crucial in maintaining safety in Cap-Haïtien.

Conille emphasized the importance of collective action among Haitians, stating, “When Haitians are looking for hope, for an example of resiliency, they can find it up north. That’s where they find it and understand that when Haitians put their heads together, there is nothing they cannot do.”

On a busy Thursday, Conille visited various service facilities, including l’Hôpital Justinien and the Cap-Haïtien’s electrical center. He also engaged in discussions with the managers of the National Airport Authority (AAN) and the National Civil Aviation Office (OFNAC), furthering his commitment to addressing the needs of Haitians amid ongoing crises.

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University students confront Haitian PM Conille over campus conditions was first posted on August 25, 2024 at 11:51 am.