Jean Renel Senatus out, Elco Saint-Amand in
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) – On Thursday, the Ministry of Justice announced the dismissal of the Government Commissioner of Port-au-Prince, Jean Renel Senatus and announced Elco Saint-Amand, a former Haitian deputy commissioner in 2001 who was arrested in Collier County Florida in 2009, as his replacement.
Saint-Amand had formerly worked as Deputy Commissioner in Port-au-Prince back in 2001. He was involved in an illegal search of persons living in Port-au-Prince for suspicion of drug-trafficking and was revoked.
On January 20, 2009, Saint Amand was arrested in Collier County, FL for driving with a suspended license and failing to obtain a drivers license within 30 days of a prior citation.
Senatus became the government commissioner in January 2012 and was the most stable of government commissioners for some time. No information has been given for the removal of Senatus.
Jean Renel Senatus was best known for implementing strong measures to protect children, end begging at airports and banks, and closing down businesses that served adult items and entertainment to minors.
Before Senatus, Haiti had 5 heads at the office of the prosecutions in a period of 5 months.
Senatus’s predecessor, Lionel Constant Bourgoin, resigned for not wanting to be “the armed wing of any authoritarian power,” he proclaimed in his resignation letter.
Bourgoin’s predecessor, Félix Léger was dismissed after 2 months for arresting Deputy Arnel Bélizaire (Delmas & Tabarre/independent).
Léger’s predecessor Jean Sonel Francois was dismissed after 2 months for summoning the former Minister of the Interior, Paul Antoine Bien Aime, for corruption, where the amount of $10,000 [US] was being paid to two dozen parliamentarians.
Francois’ predecessor Harrycidas Auguste had been dismissed for being present after the beating and subsequent death of, Isuzu, a suspect in the National Credit Bank (BNC) Chairman, Guiteau Toussaint, murder case.
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More information now available.
Sophia Martelly flies back to Haiti – fires Senatus, replacing him with Elco Saint-Amand, a close associate of Jacques Ketant. Elco Saint-Amand was involved with Ketant in the cocaine business. Ketant was Aristide’s main man and was jailed for 27 years. Americans have shortened his sentence and some say he has already been released.
Public outcry, at Elco Saint-Amand’s appointmen saw him dropped, instantly.
What is troubling is the fact that Sophia Martelly flew back from New York to fire Senatus and replace him with Elco Saint-Amand then flying back to New york, all in the same day. Martelly has shown an affection for drug dealers.
A dangerous weakness, even though some of his family will be sought by the DEA when they get a clear shot.