Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the United States and Europe must do “much more” to sanction Haitian elites who have a role to play in Haiti’s insecurity crisis.
“For me, the best way to restore stability for Haiti is first to sanction the elites to tell them that they can no longer finance the gangs. [ni] political instability,” he said Monday during a public meeting held in the Saint-Michel district of Montreal.
A member of the audience challenged the Prime Minister about the concerns of the Haitian diaspora, many of whom live in this neighborhood.
Mr. Trudeau recalled that Ottawa has sanctioned 17 people, including several former politicians, since they are considered to be accomplices of the armed gangs that sow terror in Haiti.
The situation in the Caribbean country has reached a critical level in recent months, with gangs raping women and blocking the population’s access to essential services.
In November, Canada began sanctioning the first people under its Special Economic Measures Act. This has the effect of freezing the assets of these people in Canada, as well as preventing them from making any stay in the country.
During an interview with The Canadian Press in December, Mr. Trudeau spoke of a desire to see European countries follow in the footsteps of the Canadian government.
“We bring the United States and perhaps even Europe to [mettre de l’avant] their own sanctions too,” he said.
On Monday, he went further. “The United States started to impose more sanctions. We need them to do a lot more. We need Europe, France, to do more,” he said.
He also added that the neighboring countries of Haiti had their role to play in this approach.
Paris is waiting for a UN process
In an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI) in December, the French ambassador to Port-au-Prince, Fabrice Mauriès, indicated that France was waiting to see the effects of a resolution adopted at the United Nations Security Council. regarding penalties.
This process aims to identify individuals affiliated with gangs who should be subject to sanctions. Gang federation leader Jimmy Cherizier, known locally as “Barbecue,” was sanctioned under the resolution.
“The European Union, for which it is responsible, has implemented by Community regulation the United Nations resolution […] and is in the process of possibly debating a legal basis which could strengthen this system by taking sanctions against a certain number of personalities,” said Mr. Mauriès.
He asserted that sanctions are not, in his view, “the panacea”. “I believe there needs to be a joint effort to address all components of the Haitian crisis. »
For his part, Mr. Trudeau also insisted on the Haitian National Police which, in his view, must be supported so that it “has the power to do its job”.
He argued that the holding of elections can only be done once stability is established in Haiti.
“To vote when you are afraid to leave your house, when there are armed gangs in the street […] it’s not a real democratic vote,” said the Canadian Prime Minister.
The last elections in this country date back to 2016. Former President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in July 2021 and Prime Minister Ariel Henrys was then presented as leader, but was not elected.