The governments of the United States and Canada announced Friday sanctions against Haiti’s Senate President Joseph Lambert and former Senator Youri Latortue for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities over the past two decades.
In the case of Lambert, who remains a prominent political figure in Haiti, Washington believes he has helped facilitate cocaine trafficking from Colombia and has helped these groups operate with impunity. He has also allegedly encouraged others to commit acts of violence in his name.
US Treasury Assistant Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said in a statement that both Lambert and Latortue «have abused their official positions to traffic drugs and have collaborated with criminal gangs that undermine the rule of law in Haiti.
«The United States and its international partners will continue to act against those who facilitate drug trafficking, enable corruption, and seek to profit from Haiti’s instability,» he added. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere is suffering from a succession of emergencies ranging from political to humanitarian to growing insecurity.
The G7 foreign ministers on Friday endorsed a communiqué in which they expressed their «deep concern» about the humanitarian situation in Haiti and condemned the fact that gangs are «terrorizing» the population. They also applauded the recent UN Security Council resolution authorizing sanctions for the leaders of these gangs.
«We urge all actors in Haiti to restore order and security and to allow the delivery of the aid that is required to meet the urgent needs of the population,» they added in the note, in which they hope that the country can continue to move towards «free and fair» elections.
