On Friday 9 December, the Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, took part in the celebration of the International Anti-Corruption Day.

In his speech, the Head of Government underlined "[...] Corruption constitutes a systemic obstacle to the achievement of democracy, the rule of law, as well as human rights. By taking hold in societal practices, corruption fuels injustice, economic and social inequalities, impunity and generates endless conflicts.

To the corrupters and corrupted, I want to say categorically that the Government is more than ever determined to hunt them down to their last entrenchment and with all the rigor of the law.

The Government does not intend to relax anything in this fierce fight against the enemies of the Fatherland who often use passive and active corruption as the ideal instrument to deconstruct the Nation and compromise the stability so necessary for growth.

[...] Justice must act more quickly against these people and their accomplices in the private sector. Because the State needs resources to help our compatriots who live poorly, who live in misery, who are in all sorts of difficulties [...]"

Intervention by Prime Minister Henry:

Moreover, that same day the Canadian Government reaffirmed its support for Haiti in the fight against corruption. Concretely, the office of the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau announced two financings to strengthen the capacity of Haiti in the fight against corruption and to guarantee access to justice.

The first envelope is 5 million dollars which will be paid over 3 years is a financial support which "aims to strengthen the capacity of Haitian legal institutions to investigate, prosecute and judge cases of corruption and economic crime, money laundering and related offences, as well as to improve information sharing with international partners, including in Canada, on transnational organized crime."

Another funding of $3.5 million will be allocated to the fight against impunity in Haiti. "Canada is extending and increasing its funding for this Lawyers Without Borders Canada project which aims to strengthen the legal and judicial services of civil society organizations and justice actors in order to help victims of violence especially sexist. These new funds will make it possible to continue efforts to strengthen access to justice, fight against impunity and support the fight against corruption, in light of the current crisis in Haiti. This brings Canada's total contribution in support of this project since 2017 to $21.3 million," one readsin a note from Canada.

HL/ HaitiLibre