PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – The Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince has condemned the murder of a 37-year-old businessman, Robenson Rendel, in the courtyard of the Notre-Dame du Perpétuel Secours Church on Sunday as he got out of his vehicle to attend mass.

“This barbaric act has fanned the flames of violence in our country and reveals once again that bloodthirsty individuals have no respect for human life or sacred places such as churches and hospitals,” said Metropolitan Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, Monsignor Max Leroys Mesidor.
Eyewitnesses said that the armed individuals dressed in black fled on a motorbike and the killing caused panic among the congregants who closed the doors of the church to try to protect themselves.

The deputy spokesperson for the Haitian National Police (PNH) Lionel Lazarre said while he believes that the assassination has no connection with the ongoing deadly gang attacks, it was nonetheless well planned.

The police said the armed men were waiting for their victim who, once he got out of his armoured vehicle, and was shot several times, including four times to the head, and died instantly.
No other person was injured.

In a statement, Monsignor Mesidor said the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince “condemns in the strongest terms this heinous crime, which is added to an already long list, and urges everyone to take the path of peace, which leads to fraternity and progress for the good of all”.

“Peace is a responsibility that falls to us,” Monsignor Mesidor said, urging the authorities as well as all the citizens of the country not to allow “chaos and anarchy to have the upper hand”.

“Let us Haitians commit ourselves to another path, that of peace, harmony and respect for human life, because our country is at the end of its rope,” Monsignor Mesidor said, expressing his condolences to the family and friends of the victim as well as to all the faithful of the Parish of Fragncau Ville.