WASHINGTON, CMC – The United States on Monday named two former senior Haitian officials as being involved in “significant corruption” during their time in public office.
A statement from the US Department of State said Washington is “publicly designating Arnel Belizaire, a former member of the Haitian Chamber of Deputies, and Antonio Chéramy, a former Haitian Senator,” and that “this action renders Belizaire, Chéramy, and their immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States”.
It claimed that Belizaire and Chéramy abused their positions by interfering with public processes of the Haitian government.
“These corrupt and destructive acts had serious effects on U.S. national interests by further destabilizing Haiti’s institutions and processes,” said the State Department, adding, “the designations reaffirm the United States’ commitment to ensuring accountability for individuals who contribute to the destabilization of Haiti”.
According to the State Department, the public designations are made under Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 and that it requires the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio “to publicly or privately designate foreign officials and their immediate family members about whom the Secretary has credible information of involvement in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights”.
Meanwhile, speaking at a high-level Haiti support event, United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Thomas Landau said both Haitian nationals have “had a destabilising effect on Haiti’s democratic institutions and processes.
“Our designation renders Belizaire, Chéramy, and their immediate family members ineligible for entry into the United States. The US government will remain relentless in pursuing those supporting terrorist gangs through indictments, arrests, sanctions, arms seizures, and other immigration restrictions.
“ The United States has long been a partner and a friend to Haiti. However, we cannot continue to bear the lion’s share of the financial burden in addressing the hemisphere’s security threat.
“That is why we call on all UN member-states to support the creation of a GSF(Gang Suppression Force) and UN support office, and to provide the resources required to stabilize Haiti. This is not a crisis that can be ignored or deferred. It demands urgent, coordinated, and decisive action. The people of Haiti cannot wait.”
He told the event that Haiti stands at a crossroads and that the capital, Port-au-Prince, faces an escalating security crisis with gangs terrorizing communities, extorting families, and recruiting desperate children to commit horrors on behalf of gang leaders.
He thanked President William Ruto of Kenya for organising this event, saying “ Kenya has shown courageous leadership in leading the Multinational Security Support (MSS)Mission, and we are deeply grateful for its commitment and the sacrifices it has made, including – as you just mentioned, Mr. President – the lives of three of your people”.
He stated that, despite the contributions of Kenya and the countries that have joined the MSS, the mission currently lacks the necessary mandate and resources to address the escalating scale of the challenge.
“That is why the United States and Panama have worked with Haiti to introduce a UN Security Council resolution to establish a larger gang suppression force with a broader mandate, and a UN support office for Haiti, which would provide the necessary operational and logistical support for the force.
“This effort responds to the call from our partners in Kenya, as we have just heard, and has the full endorsement of Haiti. All 32 members of the Organization of American States have likewise signed on to a joint statement calling for the urgent passage of this resolution,” Landau said, noting that “ it is not that often you get all 32 members of an international body to agree on something.”,
He stated that this request, which would involve a force of more than 5,500 personnel, more than five times the size of the current MSS mission, would operate under a mandate authorized by Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
“This mandate would empower the force to proactively target gangs and restore security to Haiti while ensuring it has the appropriate tools to succeed. The mission’s anticipated objectives include reducing territorial control by gangs, securing critical infrastructure, and conducting anti-gang operations.”
But he said, unfortunately, the adoption of this resolution is not a done deal.
“Despite overwhelming support of the UN Security Council, there are still those who might try to prevent its adoption or slow our response in Haiti’s hour of need. The time for action is now, and the United States asks all our partners to join us in pressing for this critical resolution before the MSS mission mandate expires on October 2”.
Landau said that the proposed resolution would address Haiti’s immediate security challenges, but we must also not ignore the long-term recovery of Haiti. The era of impunity is over for individuals promoting violence and undermining the country’s stability and governance.
He said the United States has already taken decisive action to support the restoration of democratic governance, “but we are not done. We welcome others to join these efforts.”
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