Corruption Scandal at National Credit Bank: RNDDH’s Pierre Espérance Calls for Accountability

In a powerful statement regarding the recent corruption scandal shaking Haiti’s National Credit Bank (BNC), Pierre Espérance, Executive Director of the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH), has condemned the involvement of high-ranking officials in alleged corrupt practices.

Espérance voiced serious concerns over the credibility and ethical integrity of the three implicated BNC advisors, Louis Gérald Gilles, Smith Augustin, and Emmanuel Vertilaire. According to him, these individuals are unfit to hold decision-making positions in national institutions, given the severe allegations that now tarnish their reputations and harm public trust in governmental institutions.

This scandal erupted when former BNC Board President Raoul Pierre-Louis claimed that Gilles, Augustin, and Vertilaire demanded a 100-million-gourdes bribe from him to secure his position. This alleged extortion attempt exposed a culture of corruption at the heart of a major public institution, casting doubt on its leadership and operations. The swift indictment of these three advisors has intensified the controversy, further eroding public confidence in the BNC.

Espérance’s comments underscore the urgent need for transparent leadership and accountability within Haiti’s public institutions. In his view, the citizens’ trust is foundational to a functioning society, and when senior officials engage in corrupt practices, they jeopardize the public’s faith in the state. He called for immediate reforms within the BNC and other public agencies to prevent similar incidents in the future.