Friday, September 30, 2022, 3 days before the official date of the return to court (new judicial year), the Board of the Federation of Bars of Haiti (FBH) refused the invitation of Prime Minister a.i. Artiel Henry to discuss with lawyers by videoconference, of the reopening of the Courts on Monday, October 3, 2022.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister a.i., the Federation explains that the conditions are not met to organize a return to justice, reminding him, among other things, of the dysfunction of the Court of Cassation and the occupation by gang members of the Palace of Justice from Port-au-Prince...

Letter from FBH :

"Friday, September 30, 2022

Mr. Ariel Henry Acting Prime Minister

In its offices,

Mr. Acting Prime Minister,

It is with astonishment that the Board of Directors of the Federation of Bars of Haiti (FBH) has read a correspondence sent to us by your Chief of Staff this Thursday, September 29, 2022. This includes a kind of convocation for a videoconference set for this Friday, September 30 to discuss the reopening of the Courts.

The form adopted clearly reveals the weakness of the approach. What reopening are you talking about? The one that should have taken place in two days, this Monday, October 3, 2022?

Should we remember that the Court of Cassation of the Republic, Institution called to proceed with the solemn reopening, is no longer able to meet in audience, for lack of President, for lack of magistrates ?

Should we need we remind you that you have not yet deigned to grant new premises to the Palace of Justice of the largest Court in the country, evicted manu militari by a gang of thugs, that for more than four months ? https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36930-haiti-flash-bandits-make-the-law-at-the-palace-of-justice-in-port-au-prince.html

Should we remind you that in several jurisdictions such as Les Cayes, Saint Marc, Cap Haitien, the Government Commissioners multiply arbitrary and illegal actions, without any response from the Ministry of Justice, which does not even bother to respond to the multiple alerts from our Bars ?

Should we remind you that the Secretary General of our Federation, Incarcerated for more than two months [July 22, 2022] https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37226-haiti-flash-arrest-of-the-secretary-general-of-the-federation-of-bars-of-haiti.html for misleading reasons, will not be able to travel to meet you ?

Should we need we remind you that the country has been practically blocked for weeks, that it has been months since citizens no longer have access to fuel or essential goods and services ?

This off-the-cuff approach illustrates the quality of the 'dialogue' that you seem to promote in an attempt to maintain control. But of what control are you talking about ?

The control of this legal system which for a year has not been able to move forward on the slightest emblematic file, which buries the truth like the bodies of prisoners who died of hunger and thirst, who died from being piled up under your responsibility in unsanitary jails without ever having access to justice ?

The control of the inhabitants of this country whose hope for a better tomorrow is dying day by day, or even that of the armed gangs, whose power continues to grow ?

Control, finally, above all, of an image, of an appearance of control, as if our schools and our courts could function normally, as if our international friends could continue to conceal the real problems while evacuating the all of their staff.

Mr. Prime Minister, the Federation of Bars of Haiti (FBH) regrets to note that the conditions are not met to organize a ceremony for the return to court. They are not either to allow us to participate in the meeting fixed for this day.

With our regards,

For the Board of the Federation of Bars of Haiti (FBH):

Me Jacques LETANG President

Me Carl-Henry VOLMEUS Vice-Chairman."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37253-haiti-arms-trafficking-me-robinson-pierre-louis-at-the-national-penitentiary.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37247-haiti-arms-trafficking-order-to-remain-in-prison-against-me-robinson-pierre-louis.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37226-haiti-flash-arrest-of-the-secretary-general-of-the-federation-of-bars-of-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37108-haiti-flash-seizure-of-120-000-ammunition-me-michelet-virgile-releases-the-alleged-traffickers.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37058-haiti-flash-seizure-of-tens-of-thousands-of-ammunition-at-the-wharf-of-port-de-paix-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html

HL/ HaitiLibre