Haiti’s crime bosses hit back at government’s pledge to tackle gangs

A member of the gang led by Jimmy Cherizier, alias Barbecue, a former police officer who heads a gang coalition known as G9 Family And Allies, joins a march to demand justice for murdered Haitian President Jovenel Moise (Joseph Odelyn/AP)

Haiti’s government warned about a spike in kidnappings and other crimes as it pledged to fight gangs, drawing retorts from two crime bosses that any crackdown will bring greater violence aimed at police in the already unstable country.

Ariel Henry, who was installed as prime minister weeks after President Jovenel Moise was assassinated at his home in early July, said one of his priorities is to make Haiti safer.