Transcript of video

Operation HAMLET

Hédi Annabi, Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti

The basic mandate of MINUSTAH is to provide overall security in the country in support of the Haitian National Police.

Major Dan Stepaniuk, staff officer, United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti

One of the biggest challenges is that it is easy for myself and the Canadian public to view this place as a tropical paradise, and it has the potential to be a tropical paradise. It’s right next to the Dominican Republic; it’s a Caribbean island. At the same time, it is one of or the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Many Haitian citizens survive on less than two dollars a day. There is a lot of poverty; there are many, many security issues, and we have a military force of some 7,060 persons that try to fan out over the entire island to provide as much support as possible.

Sohrab Farid, Second Secretary, Canadian Embassy in Haiti

The work that Canada does here in Haiti is very important and is very big. [Haiti is] the number two aid recipient after Afghanistan in terms of Canadian funding, and the number one priority in the hemisphere.

Colonel Normand Lalonde, Chief of Staff, Military Force, United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti

Although the Canadian military contribution is very small, with only four officers, we make a difference. We are all hold influential posts on the staff. We have an excellent reputation with both the people and the members of the mission.

Major Dan Stepaniuk

The United Nations — MINUSTAH — military force is largely here for security issues. That’s not to say that those are the only types of things that we do. Many of the battalions participate in reconstruction efforts; we have engineers here who do a lot of reconstruction for the country.

Lisa Quirion, Corrections Officer, United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti

We do a great deal in the area of sanitation for the domestic prison system; we have built lavatories and showers. The soldiers definitely complete these projects very quickly and effectively, and at the lowest price.

Major Dan Stepaniuk

The soldiers are here to provide a safe, stable and secure environment. We are here to protect human rights, and we are here to enable and facilitate, and to support the nation in its political processes as well.

Colonel Normand Lalonde

MINUSTAH is a fine mission with a great deal to do. It has to rebuild the government while rebuilding the country, where the government has a security mission that will last for many years to come.

Deputy Commissioner Jean-Michel Blais, Head of Operations, United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti

People tend to think that, when we come here, we bring all the knowledge and experience we developed and acquired in Canada, and it’s just a question of applying it here. That is not the case, and it’s a mistake that we have made in the past. We can’t recreate the Canadian system here. We have to hold our ground. It’s like any other mission or operation, whether police or military; we have to be capable of adapting to the terrain, and that is what we are in the process of doing here. Also, when you work with people from many nations, you have to be able to adapt yourself.

Colonel Normand Lalonde

We have already seen concrete changes, such as the stabilization of Cité Soleil, Martissant and Gonaïves, which were the most troubled sectors. Because of the military presence, these sectors are comparatively stable with an acceptable level of security, and now the mission is working very hard on reforms that will take much longer to see effects that produce visible changes. But we’re definitely on the right road.

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