Politics

Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit Orders Former CPT Members to Declare Assets Within 30 Days

Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) has issued a formal directive requiring all nine former members of the now-dissolved Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) to submit their asset declarations within 30 days of leaving office, in accordance with Haiti’s 2008 transparency law.

The notice, released on February 9—two days after the CPT officially ended its mandate—activates a legal obligation for outgoing officials to file an “exit declaration” detailing their wealth. These filings must be submitted to the clerk of the civil court in their area of residence.

According to ULCC Director General Jacques Ludwig Joseph, the requirement is essential to uphold transparency and accountability in public administration. He emphasized that failing to comply within the legal timeframe could result in judicial proceedings.

The Transitional Presidential Council, which governed from April 2024 to February 2026, was tasked with restoring security and preparing national elections amid Haiti’s prolonged political crisis. Its final months, however, were overshadowed by multiple corruption allegations.

ULCC investigators previously recommended prosecution against three former presidential advisers — Smith Augustin, Louis Gérald Gilles and Emmanuel Vertilaire — for alleged extortion and bribery involving the National Bank of Credit (BNC). Other accusations surfaced in the media against additional CPT members, though some claims were not substantiated by ULCC reports.

During the CPT’s tenure, concerns also grew over monthly payments reportedly reaching 5 million gourdes (approximately $40,000) for each adviser from funds intended for intelligence operations. An October 2024 ULCC report highlighted the need for stronger oversight to prevent misuse of public resources.

Before leaving office, CPT members passed a highly controversial decree restructuring the High Court of Justice. The measure grants the court exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving senior officials and restricts ordinary courts from hearing offenses committed during their official duties. Human rights organizations condemned the decree, warning that it effectively grants judicial immunity to former leaders.

With the CPT now dissolved, the ULCC’s reminder has renewed debate over whether Haiti’s mechanisms for accountability can function effectively. Former council members and other officials have until early March to comply with the asset declaration rules or face potential legal consequences.