As announced, the mayor of Port-au-Prince, as part of a concerted approach with the Presidency, for a voluntary return of IDPs to their old neighborhoods, began Friday, July 15, with the relocation of a little over 400 families who had settled in the parking lot around the stadium Sylvio Cator. Several days will be necessary to move all of the families.

Pierre-Richard Duplan, presidential adviser, said that the government paid $USD250 (10,000 gourds) to each family so that they leave the place. The mayor of the capital, Jean Yves Jason confirmed that the town hall had a budget of 6 million gourds for this purpose.

Urgent work of rehabilitation of National Stadium Sylvio Cator, including the incorporation of high-voltage lighting towers must be completed before August 4, 2011, date set for a meeting of the Concacaf champions League. In case of non compliance with planned developments, the FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) may impose sanctions up to suspension of the participation of Haiti in international football competitions.

"Our intention is not to evict people, but to protect them [...] while respecting their rights," said Mayor Jason, highlighting the risks which would face the displaced during the work. In addition, the Mayor, was highly critical of a letter received by Amnesty International with a series of recommendations for the rights of refugees. He regrets that this body is opposed every time, to the efforts to promote a return to normalcy and life. He argues that the recommendations : including a notice to the persons concerned, their identification, obtaining their consent before and during operations have been complied.

Despite the guarantees given by the mayor, some victims said they were dissatisfied with the method used by the Mayor to perform this operation. Beyond the $ 250 of compensation per family, the displaced require insurance on the new areas of resettlement proposed, safety, sanitation of the site, access to drinking water, running water, electricity and other public services required...

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3370-haiti-social-friday-the-displaced-of-camp-sylvio-cator-will-be-evacuated.html

S/ HaïtiLibre