Priest charged in Haitian school collapse

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti-SEARCH and rescue efforts for the remaining people trapped under rubble after the tragic November 7 collapse of a Haitian school may have come to an end yesterday (Nov. 10), but the nightmare continues for the school’s founder who was charged with involuntary manslaughter as a result of the incident.

Protestant priest Fortin Augustin, founder of the collapsed College La Promesse Evangelique, allegedly turned himself into authorities immediately after the accident, and police have confirmed that he would be charged with involuntary manslaughter as a result of negligence in the school’s construction.

Unsubstantiated rumours surrounding Augustin, allege that he did not hire an engineer for the school’s construction on the grounds that he had a sound knowledge of the science.

Haitian President Rene Preval called the construction of the building “really weak” and also noted that the construction guidelines for the entire country would have to be reviewed to ensure such an incident did not repeat in the future.

On Monday, Preval also called off the search and rescue efforts that had failed to produce any live survivors since four children were pulled from the rubble early Saturday morning.

Rescue workers had been employing sonar, dogs and cameras to little avail in the around-the-clock survivor search since the accident. ~~Adz:Right~~

“We don't want to risk the life of the population or the rescue workers,” the president told media yesterday, commenting on the wreckage’s instability. “The more time that passes, the less time we have of finding anyone alive.”

At this time 92 persons, mostly children, have been confirmed dead as a result of the building collapse, while an addition 150 suffered cuts, broken bones and other injuries.

Andre LeCleric, a United Nations representative working at the scene, said he believed somewhere between 100 and 200 persons may be still trapped inside of the building, though this number is significantly less those originally believed to be inside.

Media reports indicate that many grief stricken parents whose children remain missing have returned day after day to the accident site in hope that their loved ones have miraculously survived, despite being buried for nearly 96 hours.