From: E Vedrine <evedrine@hotmail.com>
One blan friend from Saint Louis du Missouri who hasn't fled the kidnappers (like I did) says that >Charlito says he wants the occupation finished within three months and Preval says they need to >stay a long timeJd Lyall <j.david@lyalls.net
Haiti currently does not really have a strong police force that would be able to take control of the country if TOURISTA would have to leave 3 months. It's ELECTIONS times, candidates can say anything that would attract voters to vote for them, but people who really know Haiti's situation would not really believe Charlito (in terms of TRAINING and EQUIPMENTS that the small ill-trained police force needs).
There’s no way on earth that can happen in 3 months, and many Haitians would not hope it takes 3 YEARS either (too much $$ would be wasted for nothing when the country needs $$ to help its people by creating jobs and so many other things needed to be done).
Many bandits /gangs seem to be better equipped than the police officers themselves, and there are cases where these officers had to run away, fearing of losing their life. Haiti no longer needs an ARMY (in terms of million and million of $$ that would cost, and the problem it would create [going back again to coups] as they did in the past), but the incoming leaders must definitely support the creation of a JANDAMRI (national guard) to be deployed throughout the country and in many cases, to back up the police force (who would be mostly in urban areas).
Port-au-Prince, the capital and center of most activities, would absolutely need that type of back up to make it a secured place once for all. So, SECURITY will be THE FIRST CHALLENGE for the new government (how that will be handed in a wink of time for everyone’s safety. Bandits would absolutely give the new government a test to see how tough things will be for them to function) in order for any activity to take place. If the new government can handle that (security) in two months (maximum) while TOURISTA is still there, “bravo”! I will definitely start witnessing part of a bran new LEADERSHIP for the country to advance.
e. w. vedrine