The Fallout from the arrest of a Haitian diplomat driving the car of a drug dealer
- HAPPENINGS!
- By Raymond A. Joseph
The arrest, on December 7, of Edith Exavier, who headed the Haitian Consulate in Santiago, Dominican Republic, at the wheel of a Lexus vehicle, at a border crossing between the two Caribbean-island nations, has open a Pandora’s box.
The luxury four-wheel-drive Lexus, used in the past in trans- porting cocaine, happened to be registered in the name of José Bernabé Quinterio, a Dominican money launderer and drug dealer connected to Cesar Emilio Peralta Adamez, nicknamed El Abusador in Spanish, or The Abuser, the powerful Dominican drug lord who is also nicknamed “the Dominican Pablo Escobar,” after the late Colombian who had set up and led the Medellin drug cartel.
To be noted, Bernabé Quinterio was caught last August in a major drug bust in the Dominican Republic and is currently jailed there. As for Peralta Adamez, he was arrested on December 2, in Cartagena, Colombia. Jailed in Bogata, the Colombian capital, he was awaiting extradition to the United States to stand trial for cocaine trafficking. On December 3, the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo reported that he was being handed to U.S. federal marshals that day. However, since then, no information is available about the whereabouts of this prized suspect.
In the wake of the Exavier scandal, Claudy Gassant has undertaken his first major anti-corruption investigation since he was named, last December 4, Director General of the “Unit in the Struggle against Corruption” (ULCC). This is a baptismal of fire for the top-notch lawyer who also had been a former government prosecutor in Port-au-Prince! This is a sensitive case, because Haitian government officials both in Haiti and in the Domini- can Republic are involved in the affair.
All of a sudden, President Jovenel Moïse must be scratching his head and asking himself why in the world did he name Mr. Gassant Director General of the ULCC? After all, his predecessor, former Army major David Bazi- le, had not been heard of since 2017, when he assumed leadership of the agency, which was created in September 2004 by the interim government of Alexandre-Latortue, following President Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s second flight into exile on February 29, 2004.
After being questioned, last December 7, at the Jimani/Malpasse Dominican Police post, Ms. Exavier, holding a diplomatic passport, was released on caution and under certain conditions. That same day, the Dominican Police had issued a statement stating the woman was to present herself, within 24 hours, at the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) office, probably in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. However, the Lexus vehicle, actively being searched by the DEA, was confiscated.
After Ms. Exavier left the Police station, surreptitiously she continued on to Port-au-Prince. That afternoon, the Foreign Office in Port-au-Prince had issued a statement saying that Ms. Exavier wasn’t arrested, but that she was “restrained” from being at her office. A jargon to say she wasn’t returning to the Dominican Republic.
On learning that she was in Haiti, Mr. Gassant, the anti-corruption tsar, officially contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and requested that she be put at the disposal of the ULCC, which had initiated an investigation in the circumstances of her arrest. By that time, the Exavier arrest had become a major international scandal.
When Mr. Gassant received no response from the Foreign Ministry, he asked for a private meeting on Friday, December 20, at his office, with the Foreign Minister, officially the boss of Ms. Exavier. At the last minute that Friday, Bocchit Edmond, the foreign minister, said he was unable to meet with the ULCC Director General and offered to meet at his own office at another occasion.
Whereupon, that same Friday, December 20, Vant Bèf Info (VBI) of the popular blog JJJ Communications, published a detailed story with a headline in French that is translated, “Haiti Corruption: Seven functionaries of the Haitian Diplomacy being sought in a Corruption Case.” It begins as follows: “Seven (7) functionaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religion, accused of corruption and of other similar infractions, are being sought actively by the Unit in the Struggle against Corruption (ULCC).”
Leading the list is Yves Rody Jean, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., at the Haitian Embassy in the Dominican Republic. Following are the names of others, also at the Santo Domingo Embassy: Eric Cheresca, Minister Counselor; Claude Smith, Administrator; Ronald Beldor, Counselor; Kerby Alcante Desormeaux, Second Secretary; Kerby Alcantara Desormeaux, of Dominican nationality, a businessman having [Dominican] identification card (cedula) number 224-0036121-2; and finally, Judith Exavier, “Chief at the Haiti General Consulate post in Santiago.” To be noted, two names are similar, except for their middle names: “Alcante,” the Second Secretary (Kerby) and “Alcantara,” the Dominican businessperson. According to additional information, Alcante is the Haitian name he used and Alcantara is his Dominican name, but it’s the same person.
In a letter, dated December 9, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Gassant said he “informed Minister Edmond Bocchit (sic) that the DG of the ULCC wishes to meet you this Friday, December 20, 2019, beginning at 3:00 PM,, at the office of the institution, at Number 13 of Sapotille Street, in Pacot” [an uptown residential neighborhood of Port- au-Prince].
Among the topics to be discussed, Mr. Gassant wrote, “is the case of an employee of the ministry who holds two (2) different diplomatic passports under three names, and who is implicated in illicit activities.” He quotes “article 2” of the ULCC, based on the decree of September 8, 2004, that has been violated.
Mr. Gassant also deplores that the ministry “has refused to provide to the ULCC the reports of December 17 and 18, 2019, and has failed to answer the subpoena issued to the Ministry on December 12, 2019, concerning diplomats suspected of being involved in commercial activities in violation of the Interamerican Convention and of conventions of the United Nations against corruption and also of other international texts [treaties], as well as of [Haiti’s own] law of March 12 and of May 9, 2014 concerning prevention and repression of corruption which hinders the normal functioning of Justice, as specified in article 21 of the said law.” Interestingly, that law was adopted under the presidency of Michel Martelly, who handpicked Jovenel Moïse as his successor. It was then an open fight and Foreign Minister Edmond could certainly count on the support of Rony Célestin, a powerful senator of the “Bald-Headed” ruling party representing the Central Department, adjoining the Domini- can Republic. Interestingly, Senator Célestin had named his girl- friend Judith Exavier to the Consular post in Santiago.
It’s an open secret in Haiti that the very wealthy Senator Célestin hasn’t gained his millions from his Senate salary or from additional funds for Senate-related expenditures. He hadn’t won the lottery, neither is he heir to wealthy parents. However, his various real estate ventures, including a multi-million apartment complex in construction in upscale Pétion-Ville, are indicative of money from shady dealings. Only international organizations operating in Haiti and people of the Senator’s ilk will be able to afford his swanky apartments, the rental of the cheapest units fetching $4,000.00 a month.
With the kind of support Minister Edmond can count on, probably including that of President Moïse, he feels at ease to counter Claudy Gassant. On December 21, Info Juno 7.ht, an authoritative blog, published a story entitled “The Director General of the ULCC is put in his place by Bocchit Edmond.” It asserts “the caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs attempts to calm down the ardor of the new general director of the Unit in the Struggle against Corruption (ULCC). In a communiqué dated December 21, 2019, the Haitian Chancellery affirms its support for the employees of the Haitian diplomacy who are being targeted by the institution under the leadership of Attorney Claudy Gassant.”
Among the insults flung at Mr. Gassant is “the astonishing frivolity shown by ULCC issuing warrants against members of the Diplomatic mission and of a Consulate post in the Dominican Republic.” The minister affirms, “None of these functionaries are subject to penal actions,” adding “these functionaries still have the full and complete confidence of the Ministry and of the government of the Republic.”
Minister Edmond further states “while the Ministry intends to collaborate, I would advise the ULCC not to overstep its competence, and it should respect the confidentiality of dossiers in its care.” In addition, Info Juno comments : “What a slap in the face for the one who recently took charge of the ULCC!”
Following the Info Juno reporting, without any official denial of what was reported, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued two letters that are circulating on WhatsApp, both dated, December 20, 2019, regarding the request of the ULCC. It’s a sudden change, as if the ministry would be at odds with the Foreign Minister, who prefers to be called Chancellor.
One of the letters, addressed to the ULCC, acknowledges receipt of the agency’s letter of December 19 on December 20.In that letter, the ministry says it has forwarded the correspondence of the ULCC to the Embassy in the Dominican Republic and have instructed that the functionaries cooperate with the agency.
The second letter, allegedly sent by the Ministry to the Haiti Embassy in Santo Domingo, is quite interesting. It is published fully, just as it appears on the letterhead of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to the Embassy of Haiti in the Dominican Republic and, in reference to correspondence No. ULCC/DG-183-12-/19-20 of December 19, 2019,received this Friday December 20, 2019, and under instructions of Chancellor Bocchit EDMOND, has the honor of asking it to inform the following functionaries to make themselves available to the agents of the Unit in the Struggle against Corruption (ULCC), on Monday, December 23, 2019, at 10 am:
“1.Mr. Kerby ALCANTE, 2. Mrs. Judith EXAVIER, 3. Mr. Smith GLAUDE, 4. Mr. Eric CHERISKA, 5. Mr. Yves Rody JEAN, 6. Mr. Ronald BELDOR.
“The Chancellery would want the Embassy to ask these functionaries to proceed as per instructions of Chancellor EDMOND.
“The Embassy will find, in attachment, a copy of said correspondence.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of the occasion to renew to the Embassy of Haiti in the Dominican Republic the assurance of its high consideration. (Illegible signature), Port-au-Prince, December 20, 2019” over the seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Haiti.”
By Monday, none of the employees mentioned in the correspondence of the Foreign Ministry to the Embassy of Haiti in the Dominican Republic showed up at ULCC’s office in Port-au-Prince. However, on December 30, VBI, of the JJJ blog, reported that Kerby Alcante was auditioned by the ULCC at the office of the organization. Accused of having and of using false documents, he was immediately arrested. Alcante, who has Dominican nationality, and who represents Haiti as a diplomat, is found to be using “at least five identities.”
Haitian Justice has never been faster than in the case of Kerby Alcante, who was released two hours after his arrest. At the re- quest of his lawyer, the well-known Camille Leblanc, the interim Attorney General of Port- au-Prince, Jacques Lafontant, ordered the release of Alcante who would be staying at his lawyer’s residence, under the custody of the latter. On January 3 (last Friday), he was to appear in court. No mention of his appearance has been reported.
Meanwhile, that same Friday, Attorney General Lafontant wrote to interim Minister of Justice, Jean Roudy Aly, requesting that Claudy Gassant be ordered to appear in his court to be heard on forfeiture and for bunching up all the functionaries and stepping over attributions of administrative and judiciary authorities. In other words, Mr. Lafontant is moving fast to bar Mr. Gassant from continuing to pursue Kerby Alcante and the other “diplomats” on the basis that he has overstepped his mandate. It should be noted that Jacques Lafontant himself isn’t aware that he’s asking the Minister of Justice to do something that goes against the rules. Mr. Gassant’s agency (the ULCC) is overseen by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, not by Justice.
Before the situation had reached this complicated stage, Claudy Gassant had raised the ante. In a press release on Monday, December 23, the Communication Bureau of the ULCC had gone public, stating that it is “informing the general public and the press in particular that two (2) complaints have been filed, as of Monday, December 23, with the Attorney General’s Office of Port-au-Prince by the ULCC, respectively against the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religion (MAEC) [the Ministry’s French acronym], Mr. Bocchit EDMOND and Mr. Kerby ALCANTE.
“The first for having hindered justice in violation of Article 21 of the law of March 12, 2014, dealing with prevention and repression of corruption; the second, for having used several identities, for exercising commercial activities, is a Dominican citizen (National Identification Number 224- 0036121-2) while at the same time being a Haitian diplomat in possession of two (2) diplomatic passports.”
What is next ? Has President Moïse gone on the offensive against Mr. Gassant, the man he chose, on December 4, to assume the responsibility of dealing with corruption in public administration ? Considering that in the era of the PHTK regime Justice is subservient to the Executive, one assumes that the swift action of Justice on behalf of Kerby Alcante and the threat to drag Mr. Gassant to court may have received the blessing of President Moïse. Thus, Foreign Minister Edmond won’t pay attention to any complaint filed against him. He will continue to lead the Foreign Office as the corrupt organization, which has been involved in scandals that further tarnish the reputation of Haiti.
In that context, the latest scandal concerning Haitian diplomacy has to do with the lucrative business of “illegal marriages” of Haitians with Bahamian citizens to obtain Bahamian residence. Under pressure, the Foreign Ministry announced, on December 23, the dismissal of Andras Riché, a former employee at Haiti’s Embassy in Nassau, with no specific title. Last November 25, the son of former influential Senator Andris Riché, Andras was found guilty of corruption charges by a Bahamian court. According to the accusations against him, he managed to get as much as $2,500.00 per case concluded. Nothing is said about how many such marriages he had concluded.
Soon after the court verdict, Andras Riché rushed out of the Bahamas, but nothing has been said about his whereabouts or what was his status with the Foreign Ministry until December 23. When the scandal broke last November in Nassau, four other employees of the Foreign Office were transferred to posts in other countries. Just as in the case of Mr. Riché, no mention has been made of them since their transfer from the Bahamas.
Haitian officialdom should understand that protection of the State against illicit activities is spelled out in the mission statement that accompanied the creation of the ULCC in 2004. At that time, it was of paramount importance, following the involvement of certain officials and friends of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in cocaine trafficking. The most prominent of them, such as Jacques Beaudouin Kétant and Senate President Fourel Célestin, finally landed in U.S. federal jails where they spent several years.
Is Haiti headed for an operation similar to that, which happened after the second flight of Mr. Aristide into exile? How many among the current crop of Haitian officials in the highest spheres of government and the friends on whom they’ve depended in their get-rich-quickly schemes will know the fate of former high rollers that they continue to emulate? RAJ, January 8, 2020
cet article est publié par l’hebdomadaire Haïti-Observateur, VOL.1 No 1 New York, édition du 8 janvier 2020, et se trouve en P. 7, 13 à : http://haiti-observateur.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/H-O-8-January-2020.pdf
