The United Nations (UN) has awarded 60 Rwandan police officers in Haiti with ‘Certificate of Completion’ for their excellent performance in crowd control, firearms and basic police techniques. The officers are part of an initial contingent of 160 under the Formed Police Unit 1 (FPU1), who completed their nine months’ mission in the disaster-prone Caribbean nation, and are deployed under the United Nations Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The UN mission was deployed there mainly to oversee relief activities after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the country last year, killing over 200,000 people and leaving millions homeless. Police Constables, Clementine Mukamana and Vital Mutangana also emerged the best overall performers. Marin Mikulec, the UN official who handed over the certificates, commended the officers for their discipline and commitment. Mikulec commended Mukamana and Mutangana for their exceptional performance and recommended them for promotion due to their “ability to excel as professional police officers and their skills.” He added that the two officers’ performance was an honour for the Rwandan unit in Haiti, and their country in general, because of their skills and professionalism. “I supervised her (Mukamana) work during the training in crowd control, basic police techniques and firearms where she performed as a professional,” Mikulec said in a recommendation letter addressed to the Chief Supt. Egide Ruzigamanzi, the outgoing contingent commander in Haiti. He stated that Mukamana took part in decision making during crowd control training and took initiatives to lead the group of other police officers. In reference to Mutangana, Mikulec noted that “he showed above average skills in all aspects of police techniques and especially in weapon handling.” “His performance in assault rifle and pistol during the shooting test was stunning” he added. Recently, another police officer, Assistant Inspector of Police, Alphonse Rutayisire, who is also attached to the contingent in Haiti, was awarded with ‘Certificate of Excellence’ for successfully conducting an operation that included Haitian Police Officers in Port-au-Prince, under his command, and arrested a man who was wanted by the Haitian government for murder. The FPU1 contingent is slated to return home on December 31, after completing their nine-month mission. They will be replaced by another contingent of 160 officers, headed by Chief Superintendent, Toussaint Muzezayo, under the Formed Police Unit 2 (FPU2), which departed Monday night. The mission in Haiti serves as a protection force for the UN staff, crowd control and help in aid distribution in internally displaced camps. Currently, there are over 400 police officers on mission in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sudan and Haiti. bosco.asiimwe@newtimes.co.rw
