At a time when rumours are circulating that members of the Presidential Transition Council may dismiss the Director General of the Unité de Lutte Contre la Corruption (Anti-Corruption Unit), Hans Ludwig Joseph has just received a major boost for his investigation into the corruption scandal within Haiti’s Conseil Présidentiel de Transition (CPT).
The U.S. State Department affirms its support for anti-corruption efforts in Haiti, and reaffirms its support for governance and security initiatives.
At the heart of the State Department’s message is a clear call for accountability and transparency within the CPT.
The US State Department reiterated its support for Haiti at a time of significant political and security challenges.
In an electronic interview, a spokesperson addressed several pressing issues, including allegations of corruption within the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT), efforts to combat gang violence and the potential implications of an upcoming change in the US administration.
In the electronic exchange, the US State Department commended the Haitian anti-corruption agency, ULCC, for its investigative work. The State Department urged CPT members to hold its members accountable regarding ULCC’s investigation into accusations that three CPT members engaged in large-scale corruption.
Louis Gérald Gilles, Emmanuel Vertilaire and Smith Augustin allegedly demanded the sum of 100 million gourdes each from the former General Manager of the Banque Nationale de Crédit (BNC) in exchange for maintaining his position at the BNC. It was Augustin himself who denounced the alleged corrupt elements. Raoul Pierre-Louis had lodged a complaint with the ULCC. He had provided documents proving the exchanges he had had with the alleged criminals. The former General Manager of the BNC, whose term of office had expired, was to be replaced at the head of the state-owned banking institution. Since then, there have been reports of manoeuvres by the CPT to dismiss the ULCC director general in charge of the investigation.
For the State Department spokesman, it is imperative that the Presiding Officers promote accountability at the Board level in order to maintain its credibility with the Haitian people and the international community.
The State Department also regrets that Haiti’s new leaders are spending most of their time seeking to consolidate their power, rather than defending the interests of the long-abandoned population.
The acute and immediate needs of the Haitian people demand that the transitional government prioritize governance over the competing personal interests of political actors,” said a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department.
The issue of corruption remains a major concern in Haiti’s political landscape. Despite repeated calls from several civil society organizations, the three members of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT), a nine-member body set up to lead Haiti’s transition, who have been the subject of corruption allegations, remain in their posts. This has raised questions about the credibility and effectiveness of the PTC in guiding Haiti towards elections by autumn 2025.
Having been in place for over seven months, the Presidential Advisors have shown no diligence in facilitating a climate of peace in Haiti ahead of the country’s general elections this year.
The Department’s position is in line with wider international concerns about governance in Haiti. Corruption not only undermines public trust, but also poses significant challenges to the effective delivery of services and the implementation of development programs.
Political viability of the Presidential Transitional Council
The creation of the CPT in March 2024 marked a crucial step in overcoming Haiti’s prolonged political impasse. The Council, formed as a temporary measure, was tasked with running the country during a transition period and organizing elections by autumn 2025. However, doubts about its structure and effectiveness persist among Haitians and the international community alike.
Recently, former Prime Minister Garry Conille and the PTC parted ways. The State Department, recognizing that cohabitation between the two was no longer viable, lent its support to new Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé. Asked why the US government had let go of Garry Conille, who was seen as the Americans’ foal, the spokesman said that the State Department had simply taken note of the decision taken by the Presidential Transitional Council and former Prime Minister Garry Conille. “We have not taken a separate decision”, the US official clarified.
Asked about the possibility of a new governance structure, such as a single president and prime minister, the State Department reiterated that the choice of governance framework belongs to the Haitian people, insisting that the PTC remains a temporary solution, supported by the US and other international partners, to Haiti’s immediate governance challenges.
The spokesman stressed that the formation of the PTC was a response to years of political stalemate, with the aim of fostering stability and preparing for democratic elections. The United States continues to support the Council as a mechanism to help Haiti through this transitional phase.