The latest dealings bans and immigration bans, announced Jan. 13 by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, target “Haitian elites” — businessman Charles Saint-Rémy, who is described as an associate of Michel Martelly, Haiti’s president from 2011-2016, and Arnel Bélizaire, a former member of Haiti’s Parliament.
The sanctions, which came into force Jan. 13, impose dealings prohibitions, effectively freezing any assets the two men may hold in Canada.
The pair are also inadmissible to Canada now under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
“Canada has reason to believe these individuals are using their status as high-profile elites in Haiti to protect and enable the illegal activities of armed criminal gangs, including through drug trafficking and other acts of corruption,” Global Affairs Canada said Jan. 13 in a press release.
“These gangs and their supporters continue to terrorize vulnerable populations in Haiti with impunity and are precipitating a humanitarian crisis in the country that includes the resurgence of cholera,” the federal government said. “They are also committing unspeakable violence against affected populations and impeding the delivery of critical services and humanitarian aid.”
Global Affairs Canada said the sanctions are intended to put pressure on those responsible for the ongoing violence, including widespread sexual violence, and instability in Haiti.
“Canada is continuing to fight against corruption in Haiti by imposing more sanctions against elites who are supporting the criminal gangs that are terrorizing the country,” Joly said in a statement. “Canada will continue to work with the international community to support the people of Haiti, so they can emerge from this crisis and restore peace and security in their country.”
Since November 2022, Canada has imposed sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations against 15 Haitians in response to the “egregious conduct of Haitian political elites who provide illicit financial and operational support to armed gangs.”
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