A Canadian diplomat and a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer praised and expressed gratitude to a sanctioned Haitian businessman whom Global Affairs accuses of gang ties after he authorized the helicoptering Canadian citizens and police officers to his luxury golf course last month, emails provided by his lawyers suggest.
In emails attributed to consul Catherine Brazeau, she can be seen telling businessman Reynold Deeb in French that his help was “exceptional,” thanking him on behalf of the entire embassy team.
The emails also indicate that Mr. Deeb, whose activities Global Affairs says protect and support “armed criminal gangs,” had received travel plans and passenger lists for helicopter flights carrying National Police officers. Haitian woman to and from her club in Pétion-Ville, a golf course in Port-au-Prince.
In the message from someone described as an RCMP liaison officer, she says she doesn’t know how to thank him, adding that everything went well despite the difficulties.
Canadian lawyers for Reynold Deeb, an executive at a major Haitian import company, say the emails will be used as evidence in a Federal Court challenge to the individual’s inclusion on Canada’s sanctions list. Mr. Deeb is one of 28 people sanctioned under Canada’s Special Economic Measures for Haiti Regulations.
“It is unclear why the Government of Canada was simultaneously asking Mr. Deeb to use his assets and maintaining sanctions against him,” his request for judicial review states.
One of Mr. Deeb’s lawyers, Geoff Hall, said the “pretty remarkable” emails show Canadian officials were grateful and “complimentary” to their client for allowing use of his property, “which is in contrary to the law on sanctions imposed on Canadians who use the property of those who are sanctioned.
Global Affairs did not immediately respond to questions about the emails.
Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong said the sanctions imposed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “are not worth the paper they are printed on when he refuses to respect them,” and that it was “not surprising that his government requested assistance from an individual in Haiti under Canadian sanction.”
An “erroneous” inclusion on the list
Mr. Deeb calls his inclusion on Canada’s sanctions list “erroneous” and says those sanctioned suffer “serious reputational damage”, have their travel restricted and are denied financial services and employment opportunities.
It has not been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union or the United Kingdom.
But he was sanctioned by Canada “in response to the unacceptable conduct of members of the Haitian elite who provide illicit financial and operational support to armed gangs,” announced the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, on December 5 2022.
“Canada has reason to believe that these individuals are using their status as high-profile members of Haiti’s economic elite to protect and enable the illegal activities of armed criminal gangs, including through money laundering and other acts of corruption,” Global Affairs Canada wrote in a press release at the time.
“The sanctions imposed by Canada are intended to put pressure on those responsible for the current violence and instability in Haiti. These people must stop providing funds and weapons to criminal gangs in Haiti. »
Mr Deeb denies being linked to gangs. He claimed in an application filed in the Federal Court last month that the minister had rejected his request to lift the sanctions on March 21 of this year, the same day Ms.me Brazeau first contacted him about the evacuation flights.
Thanks and praise
In an email attributed to Mme Brazeau, we can read that the Canadian embassy is asking for help from its organization to facilitate the departure of Canadian citizens.
The email indicates that the embassy was trying to organize some helicopter flights for Canadians in urgent need of consular assistance.
The message to Mr Deeb asks whether the golf club would allow access for helicopter landing and departure.
The businessman responded to Mme Brazeau the following day to tell him that he would be happy to help the embassy.
Global Affairs Canada announced on April 26 that it had helped nearly 700 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and relatives leave the country.
On April 12, Mr. Deeb wrote to Mr.me Brazeau regarding the completion of the helicopter operations, informing him of the success of the operation, adding that he remained at his disposal for the future.
The following day, Mme Brazeau sent him a message to tell him that his team had been “exceptional”.
“We thank you again for all the support offered to the embassy. We have completed our operations so far, not knowing what the future brings us in the coming days/weeks,” she added.
The emails also describe correspondence between Mr. Deeb and an RCMP liaison officer in early April, requesting the use of the golf course for flights carrying members of the Haitian National Police “listed on the attached manifest.”
Mr Deeb’s emails suggest he allowed the thefts to take place.
“I don’t know how to thank you, Mr. Director. Everything went well despite the difficulties encountered,” the officer replied.
The officer is not appointed by The Canadian Press because its role in Haiti is not publicly identified. He declined to comment on the emails.