Canadian authorities on Monday imposed new sanctions against three members of Haiti’s economic elite for «protecting and enabling» criminal gang activity in the country through corrupt business networks.
Foreign Affairs Canada has specified that those sanctioned belong to the business sector and are Gilbert Bigio, Reynold Deeb and Sherif Abdala, three «prominent» figures in the country’s economy.
«Canada is taking a leading role in sanctioning elites to prevent them from supporting gangs that commit acts of violence against the Haitian people,» said Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly in a statement.
She called on the international community to impose restrictions against those who are part of the gangs or collaborate with them «to help the people of Haiti emerge from this crisis and restore peace and security» in the country.
«The sanctions Canada has imposed are intended to put pressure on those responsible for the ongoing violence and instability in Haiti,» it said in a statement, adding that these individuals «must stop providing funds and weapons to criminal gangs in Haiti.»
