As part of the implementation of the decentralization plan of the Office for the Protection of Citizens (OPC), a project funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aimed at bring closer OPC services to the population, this week took place the appointment of Mr Samuel Francis, as a new agent specializing of the OPC in Jacmel.

The nomination ceremony was held this week at the parquet of Jacmel, in the presence of several personalities, including the judiciary, representatives of the human rights section of MINUSTAH, UNDP representatives and Mrs. Florence Elie, Director of the OPC.

Master Dougé Adeline Francis, Dean of the Court of First Instance of Jacmel, which chaired the ceremony, said in his opening speech that "this action, undertaken by the OPC, only reinforces the achievement of the overriding objective Ministry of Justice and Public Safety, consisting of a wide distribution of equal justice for all citizens of all social classes". Master Dougé Adeline Francis promised a open collaboration with the new Agent of the OPC.

For her part, Mrs. Florence, director of the OPC, said that the OPC "is not a police or a judge, but rather an institution, making approaches of mediation and negotiation. The OPC also serves as a bridge between the public administrations, to protect the citizens of the country without discrimination of age or sex". Mrs. Florence reminded the new agent that its responsibility is to spend its competence and its time with the service of the jurisdiction of Jacmel in order to arrive at a real change of the Haitian legal system.

Samuel Francis, thanked the direction of the OPC for this post "This work will not be easy, I count on the cooperation of everyone, your support, your trust in order to materialize the objectives set by the OPC" seeking the cooperation of all entities within the jurisdiction of Jacmel and members of civil society to do its job more effectively.

Learn more about the OPC:

The Office of Citizen Protection (OPC) is the Ombudsman of citizens in Haiti. Created in 1987 by the Constitution, the OPC is an independent institution whose mission is to protect all individuals against all forms of abuse of public administration. This mission is closely related to a capacity of handling complaints of citizens and litigants in order to improve public services.

HL/ Claudy Bélizaire