Amid escalating gang-driven violence and political collapse in Haiti, Canada has unveiled a new $7.5 million CAD funding package dedicated exclusively to boosting the operational capacity of the Haitian National Police (PNH). The announcement, made by Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on the sidelines of the Organization of American States (OAS) general meetings held in Panama, forms part of a broader $35 million CAD regional security initiative for the Caribbean.
The core of the targeted $7.5 million contribution will go toward two critical police priorities: the full renovation and outfitting of a state-of-the-art training facility for PNH officers, and the rollout of specialized tactical training programs designed to sharpen the force’s ability to confront armed gangs and counter criminal activity linked to terror networks. By upgrading training infrastructure and skills, Canada aims to directly enhance the PNH’s on-the-ground effectiveness in rooting out gang control across Haitian communities.
A portion of the funding has also been earmarked for community-focused infrastructure projects in Haiti’s highest-risk areas. These interventions are tailored to immediately reduce everyday violence in vulnerable neighborhoods, strengthen local social support systems, and prioritize outreach to women and young people – groups disproportionately targeted for recruitment by criminal gangs. This community-centered component is designed to address the root drivers of gang expansion beyond just military-style operations.
Finally, remaining funds will be channeled into joint maritime security operations between regional partners and Haitian authorities. The primary objective of these operations is to disrupt gang supply lines by intercepting illegal shipments of firearms and narcotics that enter Haiti via coastal routes, cutting off the critical resources criminal networks rely on to sustain their power and violence across the country.