Canada Imposes Sanctions on Individuals Linked to Haiti Crisis
Ottawa Announces New Set of Sanctions Targeting Human Rights Violators and Corrupt Officials
Ottawa, ON - The Canadian government has taken a bold step towards promoting stability and accountability in Haiti by imposing new sanctions on individuals believed to be responsible for human rights violations, corruption, and gross breaches of international peace and security.
Prohibiting Business with Sanctioned Individuals
The sanctions, which came into effect yesterday, prohibit Canadians from doing business with or providing financial services to the listed individuals. Banks and other financial institutions are also required to report any transactions involving these individuals to Canadian authorities.
List of Sanctioned Individuals
The list includes 33 people, including:
- Former Haitian President Michel Martelly
- Former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe
- Former Senator Hervé Fourcand
- Business leaders such as Gilbert Bigio and Sherif Abdallah
- Military officials such as Jean-Henry Céant
Goals of the Sanctions
The sanctions aim to:
- Disrupt the flow of money to those who are undermining peace and security in Haiti
- Encourage those individuals to change their behavior
- Support the people of Haiti and promote stability and accountability in the country
Reporting Requirements for Canadian Banks and Financial Institutions
Under the new regulations, Canadian banks and financial institutions will be required to:
- Report any transactions involving the sanctioned individuals to the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)
- Prohibit providing financial services or doing business with these individuals
International Efforts to Address Haiti Crisis
The sanctions are part of a broader effort by the international community to address the crisis in Haiti, which has been plagued by political instability, violence, and economic struggles. The United States, European Union, and other countries have also imposed sanctions on Haitian officials and individuals accused of human rights abuses.
Full List of Sanctioned Individuals
The full list of sanctioned individuals can be found in the schedule to the regulations.