Tuesday, after several hours of debate and despite the threat of impending sanctions on Haiti, the deputies have not managed to agree and vote this law on transnational fraud (money laundering and terrorist financing) and decided to suspend the plenary without announcing resumption date...

Recall that the law, passed in the Senate, February 28, 2013, seems gives for nearly four months, more problems to Deputies than Senators...

Jean Tolbert Alexis, President of the Lower House explained that the suspension was necessary because of various problems and "major legal breaches" referring among other thing : to the lack of definition of "terrorism" and the absence of Conventions referenced in the text.

The Deputy Sadrac Dieudonné, leader of the opposition for his part declared "[...] There are too many aspects in this law that are not in harmony with the Constitution and the laws of Haiti, it is a complex law [...]" stating "We can not punish terrorist financing without knowing what terrorism," stressing the complex aspect of this definition while large countries like inter alia France and the United States can not agree themselves on this definition...

Remember, that after the first deadline date not respected (15 March 2012), the Professional Association of Banks (APB) had obtained an additional delay until March 27, followed by a moratorium until June 15, 2013. Unless new deadline, the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF) can trigger at any time the start of an investigation in Haiti, what will be badly received by the international partners, potential investors and the countries with which Haiti maintaining economic relations. At the end of its investigation, the FATF could take the decision to inform all countries that they must deal with prudence and mistrust with Haiti. The country will then be seen as not cooperating State supporting money laundering and terrorist financing.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8835-haiti-politic-law-punishing-transnational-fraud-not-ratified-by-lower-house.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8791-haiti-economy-d-1-before-the-end-of-the-moratorium-the-country-sanctioned-soon.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8226-haiti-justice-a-law-that-worries.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8163-haiti-economy-haiti-risk-international-economic-sanctions.html

HL/ HaitiLibre