Barry Ellsworth
13 January 2023•Update: 13 January 2023
TRENTON, Canada
Canada on Friday announced sanctions on two Haitians - a previous member of parliament and a businessman who had dealings with the country's former president.
The pair are former MP Michel Martelly and Charles Saint-Remy, both linked to previous President Arnel Belizaire. They are now barred from entering or undertaking any financial dealings in Canada.
"Canada has reason to believe these individuals are using their status as high-profile elites in Haiti to protect and enable the illegal activities of armed criminal gangs, including through drug trafficking and other acts or corruption," Global Affairs Canada said in a news release.
Violent gangs are in control of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, and the chaos has affected the country to the point that people are starving and dying. Gangs have long been used to quell political opposition in Haiti, but never to the extent seen today.
"These gangs and their supporters continue to terrorize vulnerable populations in Haiti with impunity and are precipitating a humanitarian crisis in the country that includes the resurgence of cholera," the news release said. "They are also committing unspeakable violence against affected populations and impeding the delivery of critical services and humanitarian aid."
The US has talked with various countries, including Canada, about a military intervention with troops on the ground but has found no consensus for the campaign as yet. However, this week Canada did deliver more armored vehicles to Haiti to help police contain the gangs.
"Canada will continue to work with the international community to support the people of Haiti so they can emerge from this crisis and restore peace and security in their country," Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in the press release.
Since November 2022, Canada has sanctioned 15 Haitian elites.
