Haiti US imposes sanctions on former president of Haitian Senate

The United States says it has imposed visa and financial sanctions on the former president of the Haitian Chamber of Deputies, Gary Bodeau, for his alleged involvement in corruption

US Secretary of State, Antony J Blinken, said the decision is in keeping with efforts to “support the people of Haiti and respond to the ongoing instability in the country

“The Department of State is publicly designating Bodeau under Section 7031©, rendering him generally ineligible for entry into the United States Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury is designating Bodeau under the Global Magnitsky sanctions programme and as a result of this action

Bodeau’s financial assets in the United States have been blocked,” Blinken added

He said the United States and its partners will continue to “ use all tools at our disposal to support the Haitian people and promote accountability for corrupt actors who exploit the Haitian people and contribute to the ongoing instability in Haiti ”

Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E Nelson, said “corrupt officials like Bodeau have created an environment that empowers illegal armed gangs and their supporters to inflict violence on the Haitian people ”

“Along with our partners, including Canada, we are committed to holding accountable those undermining the integrity of Haiti’s government and destabilizing the country,” he added

Washington alleges that Bodeau was involved in several corrupt schemes “wherein he engaged in efforts to influence the outcome of Haitian political appointments, including facilitating and soliciting bribes worth millions of dollars

“In 2018, Bodeau paid Haitian officials to secure their votes while seeking ministerial position appointments He also solicited a large bribery payment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from senior government officials in exchange for his political support,” it added

Washington also alleged that in 2019, Bodeau offered to deliver a successful vote in

Haiti’s Chamber of Deputies for a prospective ministerial appointee in exchange for millions of dollars paid out through individual payments to members of the Chamber of Deputies

“Several Haitian businessmen provided between 500 and 600 million Haitian gourdes (approximately US$6 2-$7 4 million) to members of the Chamber of Deputies to influence the outcome of a ministerial vote ,” it said, adding that “in advance of the floor session, Bodeau participated in discussions on the vote and payments with various members of the Chamber of Deputies ”

Bodeau is not the first Haitian government or public official to be sanctioned by the United States In recent months, Washington has imposed sanctions on President of the Haitian Senate, Joseph Lambert, Youri Latortue, Senator Rony Celestin and former legislator, Richard Fourcand

Haitian PM condemns the murders of police officers

Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry has described as “barbaric acts,” the murders of three police officers on Sunday by members of the “Timakak” gang during an ambush

The General Directorate of the National Police of Haiti in extending condolences to the families of the slain police officers has identified them as Pierre Paul Dorcely, Nicolas Robinson and Medèze Fortilien

It said the officers from the Intervention Brigade, assigned to the Thomassin SubCommissioner, were “cowardly murdered” in Thomassin 32, a neighborhood on the mountainside south of Pétion-Ville, where many upper-class citizens reside

“Our police brothers have once again, fallen under the murderous bullets of thugs without faith or law We deplore these barbaric acts,” Prime Minister Henry said in a statement

“To the families, to the brothers in arms of these valiant police victims, we send our sincere condolences and we assure them of our solidarity We renew to the Haitian people our unshakable determination to do everything to achieve the creation of a climate of security and stability in the country which is too bruised and bereaved

“We are not insensitive to this situation and we are working hard to find a lasting solution,” Henry added

In a statement, the Ministry of Justice and

Public Security, said it “deplores the alarmingly serious ambush against a police patrol” on Easter Sunday

The National Union of Haitian Police Officers said so far this year, 21 police officers have been killed in the line of duty

Last month, the United Nations called for the deployment of an international “specialized support force” to impede Haiti’s accelerating tumble into extreme violence after more than 530 people have been killed since the start of the year