PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – The National Police of Haiti (PNH) has suspended “until further notice” all firearms licenses as the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country continues to deal with social unrest and calls for the removal of the government of Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry.

Acting PNH Director General, Frantz Elbé, in a statement said that it had “noted that a climate of tension exists in the metropolitan area and its surroundings, and in some provincial towns for several days.

“As part of its mission to protect the lives and property of citizens, the PNH informs everyone that, as part of the management of this climate of unrest, all firearms licenses are suspended until further notice.”

Opposition groups as well as civil society organisations have been organising protests and the PNH said that it is urging all demonstrators to respect the limits defined by law.

It said while it recognises the right of people to make their voice heard, the police will never tolerate any attack on human life or any act of robbery and attack on human and state property.

The PNH said that arrangements are being put in place to allow security companies to carry out their work.

Meanwhile, UNESCO and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Haiti have “strongly condemned” the murder of journalists Tayson Latigue and Frantzsen Charles, on September 11, in Cité Soleil,.

The two journalists were killed by armed bandits operating in tes area, while they were in full exercise of their profession

Henry has expressed “shock” at the murder of the two journalists, adding “We strongly condemn this barbaric act”.