Haiti: When Criminals Oversee the Conduct of Official Exams

Official 9th-grade exams took place without major incident from June 30 to July 2, according to a partial assessment by authorities. In most lawless zones, exam centers were relocated; in others with lower risk, the state took a chance and held these tests nonetheless. PORT-AU-PRINCE.—In Delmas, Pétion-Ville, Tabarre, and other accessible areas, the ninth-grade exams were conducted under the usual security arrangements, as every year. Human resources from the Ministry of National Education and staff from the centers worked together to allow candidates to complete this stage, under the benevolent and vigilant eyes of PNH agents, particularly EDUPOL. In Carrefour, one of the rare areas controlled by the Viv Ansanm bandits, everything took place under the surveillance of armed gangs. The streets of Fontamara, Bizoton, Thor, Mon Repos, Waney up to Brochette, testified Sarah Pierre, parent of a 14-year-old teenager, a candidate for these exams. Agents from the Central Directorate of Road Police (DCPR) and those from the EDUPOL unit, a police unit specializing in student support, were all absent, noted the Le Relief team. Instead, heavily armed men, some hooded and dressed in fatigues, controlled the comings and goings through the streets… a form of supervision for the smooth running of the exams. “I was scared seeing all those armed men on the first day,” confessed Lisa Louis, a 9th-grade student. “Usually, they are so numerous and frequent in the streets when there’s an attack or an event to fear. I almost turned back and abandoned the exams,” added the teenager. Meanwhile, the satisfied educational authorities reported a smooth conduct of the 9th-grade tests, counting the days until they could launch the official baccalaureate exams. Relocated Exam Centers In the plain: Croix-des-Bouquets, Cannan, Santo, Bon Repos, Marin, Clercine, and Butte Boyer, exam centers were relocated elsewhere due to the total control exercised by bandits over these areas. In Cité Soleil, Route Neuve, the same observation was made, even though the MENFP had guaranteed that all arrangements were made for the organization of the official tests. Once again, knowingly or inadvertently, the state adapted to the reality. The one imposed on society for several years. Jean Mapou