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| photo © patrice dougé All rights reserved |
On a regular basis, regardless of the time and day, employees of Petion Ville City Hall pile up in a white pickup truck and descend upon the open market. Wearing light green vests and sometimes carrying batons, steal merchandise, beat up those who resist in all impunity—with the approval of the Mayor, Dominique Saint-Roc, and protection of armed police officers in uniform (UDMO) who's Toyota land cruiser assists in the almost daily operation."They've stolen a lot of my merchandise, I couldn't tell you how much money I have lost" 22-year old Patricia Joseph, wearing the straw hat and red t- shirt comes to the open market in Petion Ville everyday. She sells nail polish and other beauty products. Having your goods stolen have become part of our harship she says, I have two kids to feed, we are now accustomed to always be on the look out for the white pickup truck.