Susan D. Page, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission for the Support of Justice in Haiti (Minujusth) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22590-haiti-un-a-woman-at-the-head-of-minujusth.html , welcomed in a statement the appointment of judges to hear complaints from individuals regarding the PetroCaribe case. A statement issued on the eve of an agreement with the IMF https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23659-haiti-economy-moise-accepts-the-program-of-control-and-the-requirements-of-the-imf.html and just before the opening of the 29th CARICOM Conference, which provoked a very strong reaction from the Chancellery which sees in these declarations "a partisan attitude harmful to the political and institutional stability" and an attack "on the image from the country. "

We invite you to share the content of this press release and the Chancery's reaction to make your own opinion.

Press release from Minujusth (25 February) :

"As part of its mandate to support the Haitian Government in strengthening the rule of law institutions, to continue developing the capacity of the Haitian National Police and Corrections, to monitor the human rights situation, to report on and analyze it, the United Nations Mission in Support of Justice in Haiti (Minujusth) welcomes the fact that judges have been tasked with investigating petroCaribe complaints filed by individuals before the Court of First Instance in Port-au-Prince on 29 January and 20 February 2018 respectively. According to a report recently released by Transparency International, Haiti is ranked as the most corrupt country in the Caribbean and ranked 23rd out of 180 (157) out of 180 countries https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23641-haiti-corruption-haiti-ranked-157th-out-of-180-countries-progresses-slightly.html "

"I welcome the initiative and the active role of Haitian citizens and civil society engaged in the fight against corruption and impunity. Their actions demonstrate that the public stands up for accountability and justice," declared Susan D. Page.

The Mission regrets, however, that no investigating judge was charged with examining allegations of human rights violations committed by units of the Haitian National Police (PNH) in Lilavois on 12 October 2017, during which at least a person was killed https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22395-haiti-flash-an-agent-of-the-boid-shot-down.html , as well as in Grand Ravine on November 13, 2017, where eight civilians were summarily executed, in addition to the two officers of the PNH killed https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22779-haiti-security-operation-grand-ravine-the-pm-recognizes-police-burrs.html "I call on the competent authorities to proceed without delay to the assignment of investigating judges in these two cases, as provided by law," said Page.

Reactions of the Chancellery (February 26) :

"[...] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns the Press Release issued by Minujusth which once again undermines the image of the country.

This statement by the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations goes beyond the terms of reference assigned to it and reflects a partisan attitude that is detrimental to the political and institutional stability so dearly acquired in recent years.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is dismayed that in the midst of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of State and Government [...] this declaration will pollute a serene atmosphere, indispensable for investment and economic and social development , an essential condition for stability and peace [...] "

In addition, the Chancellery informs us that following the statement by Mrs. Susan D. Page, the Government of Haiti has decided to recall for consultation its Ambassador to the United Nations, Denis Regis.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23659-haiti-economy-moise-accepts-the-program-of-control-and-the-requirements-of-the-imf.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23658-haiti-politic-d-1-haiti-ready-to-receive-the-29th-conference-of-heads-of-state-of-caricom.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23641-haiti-corruption-haiti-ranked-157th-out-of-180-countries-progresses-slightly.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23185-icihaiti-justice-minujusth-s-innovative-approach-to-strengthening-the-rule-of-law.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22395-haiti-flash-an-agent-of-the-boid-shot-down.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22779-haiti-security-operation-grand-ravine-the-pm-recognizes-police-burrs.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22590-haiti-un-a-woman-at-the-head-of-minujusth.html

HL/ HaitiLibre