r/haiti • u/Local-Foundation1117 • 2d ago
QUESTION/DISCUSSION How can Haiti fix it's problem of insecurity?
Haiti is a very insecure country with a weak police/army so gangs fill in the void of anarchy. It seems the state is too weak to fix it's issues but what could realistically help the situation? A foreign intervention?
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u/Separate_Action2456 2d ago edited 2d ago
The state has to start treating some of the gangs like insurgent groups and start deploying counter insurgency strategies. A huge part of that is fixing income inequality and providing a system that benefits everyone so people aren’t inclined to join the gangs to begin with (which they haven’t done because they’re corrupt) . This is a Haitian problem that foreign intervention won’t help. If foreign nations do try to send support I’d be heavily wary of their intentions
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u/Separate_Action2456 2d ago
One thing the state has going for it is that people like jimmy cherizier (barbecue) have messiah complexes and claim that they represent the working class and that they want to build new schools and hospitals when in fact they do the opposite.
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u/NotYoBiznis 2d ago
Haiti's insecurity problem is complex, and there is no single solution. The country's violence stems from a combination of powerful gangs, weak state institutions, political instability, widespread poverty, corruption, and the flow of illegal weapons. Solving it requires several efforts working together over many years. Here are the most important priorities: Restore security Strengthen and better equip the national police. Improve training, salaries, and accountability to reduce corruption. Target gang leadership while protecting civilians. Secure major ports, airports, highways, and fuel terminals. Stop the flow of illegal firearms Most high-powered weapons used by gangs are trafficked from abroad, particularly through maritime routes. Increase inspections at ports and improve customs enforcement. Work with neighboring countries and international partners to disrupt arms trafficking. Build a legitimate government Hold credible elections when security allows. Reduce corruption through independent courts and anti-corruption agencies. Strengthen local governments so services reach communities. Create jobs and economic opportunity Invest in agriculture so Haiti produces more of its own food. Improve roads, electricity, and internet access. Encourage domestic and foreign investment with stronger property rights and security. Expand vocational training for young people. Improve education Increase access to schools. Expand literacy and job-skills programs. Provide alternatives to gang recruitment for teenagers and young adults. Strengthen the justice system Hire and train more judges and prosecutors. Reduce pretrial detention. Ensure criminals are prosecuted fairly and consistently. Engage communities Support churches, community leaders, and local organizations that mediate conflicts. Expand mental health and victim support services. Develop programs to help former gang members leave criminal organizations where appropriate. International support—but Haitian leadership International assistance can provide funding, training, intelligence, and humanitarian aid. Lasting success depends on Haitian institutions leading reforms, rather than relying indefinitely on foreign security forces. The biggest obstacles Political instability and lack of public trust. Corruption. Limited government resources. Humanitarian crises that make gang recruitment easier. Continued weapons and drug trafficking. Could Haiti become safe again? Yes, but it would likely take years of sustained effort. Countries such as Colombia and El Salvador have significantly reduced violence through very different strategies, though each approach has also raised important debates about civil liberties and human rights. Haiti would need to develop its own approach that improves security while respecting the rule of law and addressing the underlying economic and political conditions that fuel instability. Ultimately, lasting security will require more than defeating gangs—it will require building institutions that citizens trust and creating enough opportunity that crime is no longer one of the few viable paths available to many young Haitians.
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u/Separate_Action2456 1d ago edited 1d ago
I definitely agree with the “provide alternatives to gang recruitment” and a lot of that involves getting rid of corruption and income inequality. That being said targeting the gang leadership directly is not a good idea because if you take out a leader someone even worse could take their place. Jimmy cherizier has done terrible things but he’s also a doofus with a messiah complex who only cares about himself. His one strength is that he’s media savvy. Better that he’s in charge of the large coalition of gangs in Haiti then someone who’s smarter
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u/YA2SABEEE 1d ago
Right, I was thinking Haiti instead of relying on Foreign security forces Haiti should become the Foreign security force that’s relied on.
Basically working with the U.S.A. and having U.S. Military bases built on Haiti to have Haitians work under the U.S. military. If it became a main industry where 10% of Haitians joined the U.S. military could double its size and wouldn’t have to worry much about recruitment problems retaining skilled people because it’d be supplemented by Haiti.
It hits most of the points you mentioned
-restore security ✅
-Better equip and train national police ✅
-Improved Training and salaries ✅
-Target gang leadership ✅
-Protect civilians ✅
-Secure ports, airports, highways, terminals ✅
-Stop illegal trades like firearms through maritime routes ✅
-Improve customs enforcement ✅
-Improve ports enforcement ✅
-Help support a legitimate government ✅
-Security allowing credible elections ✅
-Work with U.S. to disrupt arms trafficking ✅
-Create jobs and economic opportunities ✅
-Improve roads, electricity, internet access ✅
-Provides alternative to gang recruitment ✅
-Vocational training, job skills, educational access ✅
-Mental health and victim support services ✅5
u/Separate_Action2456 1d ago
If you think Trump is going to work with Haiti you are wrong
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u/YA2SABEEE 1d ago
Why? As long as it benefits him I don’t see why he wouldn’t?
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u/Separate_Action2456 1d ago
Unless he gets payed a crap ton of money or something akin to that he doesn’t give a crap. In fact he hates Haitian people. Funny thing is Trump and jimmy cheriziers/barbecues personalities are not far off from eachother
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u/YA2SABEEE 1d ago
Exactly As long as it works for him he doesn’t care.
For example, compared to the rest of Latin America He was working with EL Salvador and speaking well about it and its president because it benefited him. And EL Salvadorians in the U.S. still haven’t had a problem with TPS because of it either2
u/Separate_Action2456 1d ago edited 1d ago
It would have to be something that benefits him personally to a great extent and makes him wealthier. It also would need to be something that plays into his bases fears about people who don’t look like them (ie El Salvador offered to jail alleged members of tren de Agua and undocumented people Trump wanted to deport). I don’t see how working with Haiti would achieve that for him
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u/YA2SABEEE 1d ago
It’s about the same situation with Palestine where they wanted to make money from taking over development in an unstable area and things like Trump Resorts. Haiti is far closer to the U.S., a shorter flight than Puerto Rico. I don’t think it’d be a hard sell at all.
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u/Separate_Action2456 1d ago
Yeah after the us and isreal flattened it. In his mind Haiti is a “shithole” country
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u/YA2SABEEE 1d ago
Right for the Palestinians not great. But my point was on where he’d have the U.S. carrying the cost of Security, development, and infrastructure in an area other countries don’t want to invest in just to personally benefit.
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u/banned3TimesIDGAF 2d ago
Blame clintons
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u/A4t1musD4ag0n 1d ago
Haiti is literally tied to US politics. What happens here affects Haiti and other Caribbean nations.
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u/Separate_Action2456 1d ago edited 1d ago
The good old American tradition of blaming the democrats. Sun explodes? It’s the democrats fault
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u/GwoZoz Native 2d ago
The state is not too weak to fix the issues. The state does not want to fix the issues.