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The Canadian government continues to sanction Haitian actors for their bad deeds in Haiti.
To date, over thirty people have been sanctioned by the Canadian government. They include :
André Apaid(businessman)
Arnel Bélizaire(former congressman)
Berto Dorcé(former minister)
Carl Braun(businessman)
Charles Saint-Rémy(businessman)
Gary Bodeau(former congressman)
Gilbert Bigio(businessman)
Gracia Delva(former senator and congressman)
Hervé Fourcand(former senator
Jean Marie Vorbe((businessman)
Jean-Henry Céant(former prime minister
Jimmy Cherizier aka Babekyou( gang leader)
Jocelerme Privert(former President of the Republic)
Johnson André aka Izo 5 segond(gang leader)
Joseph Lambert(former senator)
Joseph Wilson AKA Lanmò San jou (gang leader)
Laurent Salvador Lamothe( former prime minister)
Liszt Quitel(former minister)
Marc Antoine Acra((businessman)
Michel Joseph Martelly(former president of the republic)
Nenel Cassy(former senator)
Prophane Victor(former congressman)
Reynold Deeb((businessman)
Rony Célestin(former senator)
Salim Succar((businessman)
Sherif Abdallah((businessman)
Steeve Khawly((businessman)
Vitel’homme Innocent( gang leader)
Youri Latortue(former senator)
The grounds for sanctions vary from destabilization, financing of armed gangs, and illicit drug trafficking among others.
These sanctions were adopted in accordance with Resolution 2653 adopted by the United Nations on October 21, 2022. This resolution, adopted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, establishes a comprehensive sanctions regime targeting individuals and entities responsible for acts that threaten the peace, security and stability of Haiti.
Under the resolution adopted on October 21, 2022, the Security Council provides for a series of targeted measures, including an arms embargo, travel bans and asset freezes. These measures are aimed at individuals and entities designated as responsible for or complicit in activities that destabilize Haiti. The resolution also established a committee within the Security Council to oversee the implementation and monitoring of these sanctions.
A file containing details of each sanctioned individual is posted on the Canadian government website.
https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2023/2023-10-11/html/sor-dors192-eng.html
“These sanctions are intended to exert pressure on the political and economic elite, which engages in significant acts of corruption that contribute to a culture of impunity and fuel instability”, according to the Canadian government’s announcement on its website.
The sanctions regime, as detailed in the regulations, imposes several prohibitions:
Asset freeze: All funds, financial assets and economic resources in Canada held or controlled by designated individuals or entities are frozen. This includes all assets managed directly or indirectly, as well as those held by individuals or entities acting on behalf or at the direction of designated parties.
Arms embargo: There is a total ban on the supply of arms to designated persons or entities.
Travel ban: Designated persons are inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Currently, the most notable individual on the sanctions list is Jimmy Cherizier, also known as “Barbecue”, who heads the G9 gang alliance. Cherizier is accused of committing acts that undermine the peace, security and stability of Haiti, including orchestrating serious human rights violations, according to the Canadian government.
The gang leaders work in concert with influential members of the government, political class and private sector, according to the list made public by the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sanctions against Haitian actors such as Jimmy Cherizier are part of a broader strategy to restore stability in Haiti. The UN Security Council resolution and Canada’s subsequent implementation reflect a concerted effort to tackle the root causes of the country’s crisis.
The troublemakers indexed by Canada should also be sanctioned by other UN Security Council member countries, including the United States.
While Canada has made public a list of some thirty people, the United States has so far kept secret the majority of those involved in criminal activities in Haiti. Only a few names on the US list are known to the general public.
Several personalities on the Canadian list have claimed their innocence, arguing that the Canadian authorities are seeking to assassinate their character.
It is important to note that no legal action has been taken by the Haitian government.
The UN Security Council Committee is responsible for constantly reviewing and updating the list of designated individuals and entities. This ongoing process ensures that the sanctions regime remains relevant and effective in countering new threats. As new actors are identified, they will be added to the sanctions list, and prohibitions will automatically apply under Canadian law,” states the Canadian government’s website on foreign personality sanctions.
Sanctions are likely to have significant economic and social repercussions on the targeted individuals and entities. By freezing assets and restricting access to resources, sanctions aim to disrupt the operations of those who contribute to Haiti’s instability. This in turn should create a more secure environment, paving the way for political and economic reform.