More than 90 percent of Haitian prisoners have never been brought before a judge and many lack access to lawyers, a phenomenon made worse by prolonged periods of crisis in the judicial system, strikes by workers and social unrest.
Faced with this scenario, Lafontant called for a truce of at least 20 days from the protests that have rocked the country since late August over fuel shortages and the subsequent rise in its prices, criticizing inflation, insecurity and the high cost of fuel, essential services and services.
During this time, the prosecutor agreed to work with the Dean of the Civil Court of First Instance in Port-au-Prince, Bernard Saint-Vil, to organize civil and correctional hearings and investigate prisoners’ cases in lengthy preliminary inquiries. pre-trial detention.
He also called on the Bar Association of this capital to liquidate the pending cases so that the rights of the detainees are respected.
The country’s prisons are facing a serious crisis, accentuated by overcrowding, poor conditions and lack of access to food and water, which has resulted in hundreds of deaths so far this year, according to a report by the United Nations Integrated Office.
Deaths in prisons have increased in recent months due to starvation and limited medical supplies.
The latest case was reported by the state’s Citizen Protection Agency, which criticized the deaths of 12 inmates between August 23 and September 27 at Les Cayes, Saint Marc, Jeremie, Fort Liberté, Jacmel, Petit-Goâve and Prince Port prisons.
The organization estimated that overcrowding is one of the main reasons for this “chaotic” situation, along with the use of extended preventive detention coupled with the inability of the judicial authorities to shoulder their responsibilities and meet the deadlines set.
ode/anne