Corruption Scandal Rocks Haiti’s Presidential Council

On Wednesday, the Haitian Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) released a bombshell report detailing serious allegations of corruption within the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT). The ULCC has recommended the prosecution of three key members of the CPT—Smith Augustin, Emmanuel Vertilaire, and Louis Gérald Gilles—on charges of passive corruption.

According to the report’s findings, the three advisors allegedly solicited a staggering sum of 100 million gourdes (100,000,000.00 GHT) in exchange for securing the reappointment of Raoul Pascal Pierre-Louis as president of the National Credit Bank (BNC). Pierre-Louis, also implicated in the scandal, faces accusations of active corruption, abuse of office, and obstructing justice.

The ULCC’s investigation uncovered a deeply embedded system of bribery and misuse of power at the highest levels of government, casting a shadow over the transparency of Haiti’s public institutions. In response to these revelations, the anti-corruption body has called for immediate and decisive action to bring those responsible to justice.

The report goes beyond implicating the CPT members, recommending legal action against Pierre-Louis for allegedly making the payments to ensure his continued leadership at the BNC.

The ULCC stresses the importance of restoring public trust in Haiti’s institutions by setting a strong precedent against corruption and abuse of power. As this case now moves into the judicial spotlight, it is expected to serve as a critical test of the Haitian justice system’s credibility in addressing corruption at the highest levels.