Politics & Democracy

Haiti’s long and drawn-out 2015 electoral cycle ended on January 29, 2017, with municipal elections and the last round of legislative run-offs. Balloting was reported to be mostly calm across the country, and a strong police force and U.N. officers were deployed to oversee the peaceful process. However, voter turnout was especially low in parts of the country, where some urge their fellow Haitians: “We should make our voices heard.” Part of the article is shown below. Click HERE for the full article. Haiti Holds Final Round of Election Cycle Started in 2015 David McFadden, Associated Press January 29, 2017 Haiti held a final round of legislative contests as well as long-overdue municipal elections on Sunday, closing a repeatedly derailed electoral cycle that started in 2015. President-elect Jovenel Moise’s political faction and its allies are hoping to increase their majority in Parliament with eight legislative […]

Le président élu d’Haïti, Jovenel Moïse, est sous enquête pour le blanchiment d’argent. Mercredi, il a répondu aux questions du juge d’instruction Breddy Fabien mais il n’est pas encore clair dans quel délai l’affaire peut être résolue. La cérémonie d’investiture du président élu est le 7 février prochain. Selon l’auteur de cet éditorial, “il est dans l’intérêt du président élu que le juge Breddy Fabien rende cette ordonnance avant la cérémonie d’investiture pour mettre un terme à ce dossier.” Partie de l’article est ci-dessous. Cliquez ICI pour le texte complet. L’ordonnance du juge Breddy Fabien sera-t-elle rendue avant le 7 février ? Lemoine Bonneau, Le Nouvelliste 25 janvier 2017 Editorial – Le président élu Jovenel Moïse a répondu, mercredi, aux questions du juge d’instruction Breddy Fabien, dans le cadre de l’enquête ouverte par le magistrat sur les accusations de blanchiment portées […]

Haiti’s Central Financial Intelligence Unit initiated an investigation on President-elect Jovenel Moise in 2013, but new details are coming to light in the weeks leading up to his scheduled swear-in. The investigation covers his transactions from 2007 to 2013, including the purchase of 45 vehicles and large cash deposits. Additionally, Moise faces a second allegation by the Unit for the Fight against Corruption, which highlights two delinquent loans totaling over $1 million that were approved outside of standard procedures. Many Haitians now fear that these money laundering allegations will hinder Haiti’s ability to receive foreign assistance and work with established banks outside of the country. Part of the article is shown below. Click HERE to read the full article. Before Haiti’s president-elect even takes office, he’s battling money-laundering suspicions Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald January 24, 2017 A Haitian judge is investigating a report by the […]

Mere weeks before Haiti’s President-elect, Jovenel Moise, is to take office, he faces resurfacing claims of money laundering from the country’s Central Unit of Financial Intelligence. Moise denies the allegation, describing it as “a political maneuver” to challenge his legitimacy. Part of the article is shown below. Click HERE for the full text. Haiti’s president-elect hit with money laundering allegation Makini Brice, Reuters January 20, 2017   President-elect Jovenel Moise has pledged to stamp out corruption and strengthen Haiti’s legal institutions, but even before taking office on Feb. 7, he faces a government allegation of money laundering. A political newcomer, Moise was declared winner of the long-delayed election on Jan. 3 for the Bald Heads Party of Haiti’s last elected president Michel Martelly, although opponents have said they will not accept his victory. The Central Unit of Financial Intelligence (UCREF), a government institution, concluded in a report there were […]

Four days before he would be sworn in as a Senator in Haiti and thus gain immunity, 2004 coup leader Guy Philippe was extradited to the U.S. on drug charges. As Philippe is a Haitian national, this move appears to be illegal based on Haiti’s Constitution. This article outlines the corresponding articles of the Constitution and a few treaties relevant to this matter. Part of the article is below. Click HERE for the full text. Haiti – FLASH : Guy Philippe was extradited on what legal basis ? HaitiLibre January 11, 2017 Many wondered about the legality of the extradition of Senator Guy Philippe on Thursday January 5th, great is the confusion in the minds of many including our parliamentarians, what say the texts of laws in Haiti ? First of all, many speak of the agreement signed on 17 […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact : Mario Joseph, Av., Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, Mario@ijdh.org + 509-3701-9878 (French, Kreyol) Nicole Phillips, Esq., Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, Nicole@ijdh.org + 001-510-715-2855 (English, French) Human Rights Lawyers Call Haitian Electoral Court’s Verification a Lost Opportunity (PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, January 10, 2017) – The Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI) and the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) are disappointed in the incomplete verification conducted by Haiti’s electoral authorities, which fell far short of the comprehensive inquiry ordered by the National Electoral Challenges Bureau (BCEN).  The verification panel’s January 3rd decision ignored legitimate demands of the process raised by political parties and observer groups, putting at risk the credibility of the recently-announced presidential results. On December 20, the BCEN ordered a review of 12 percent of the tally sheets (1,560 total) from the Vote […]