By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
HAITI’S inquiry into corruption at its embassy in The Bahamas has revealed “unacceptable situations” and “wrongdoing,” Haiti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Bocchit Edmond has reportedly said.
His comments were published on Friday by Haiti’s newspaper, Le Nouvelliste.
Officials from Haiti arrived in Nassau in July to conduct its investigation. They focused on claims the embassy was involved in getting visas for Haitians and finding fake partners for them to marry to gain status in The Bahamas.
According to Le Nouvelliste, Mr Edmond said the commission of inquiry confirmed the “‘voluntary or involuntary’ involvement of several diplomats in ‘wrongdoing’.”
“The minister notably raised the issue of trafficking of residence visas in the Bahamas, which are issued on the spot through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the capital Nassau,” the newspaper reported, quoting the Haitian foreign minister as saying: “Some people have gone directly through diplomats who have used their influence to help them get the visa.”
Mr Edmond said such behaviour was against protocol.
“The image and credibility of the Haitian embassy are really stained in Nassau,” he said. “The foreign minister now has doubts about some documents issued by the embassy. Concerning the Haitian community, he no longer trusts the institution.”
The Tribune recently reported that since the commission completed its work, five Haitian embassy officials have been transferred out of the country, including former Chargé d’Affaires François Michel.
Another former embassy official, former first secretary Adras Andirs, has resigned.
Mr Michel had served in the Nassau post for five years and in a recent interview he insisted there was no correlation between his transfer and the commission of inquiry’s findings.
Mr Edmond appeared to indicate otherwise, saying drastic measures were needed to improve the embassy’s image in the Bahamas, including recalling diplomats to Port-au-Prince and transferring two employees to other posts.
The commission conducted its investigations from July 29 to August 3.
Comments
jujutreeclub 5 years, 2 months ago
So what will happen to the crooked Bahamian officials involved in this most unfortunate breach of loyalty to our Bahamaland. Selling the country for a pot of porridge. This was going on for years ever since the passport scan. A full investigation need to be had here because the Haitian investigation must have named the Bahamian counterparts. Root out the corruption. All those who benefitted from this need to be prosecuted and their documents destroyed. They need to be deported with haste.
joeblow 5 years, 2 months ago
... it is more likely that someone will get promoted!
JackArawak 5 years, 2 months ago
man, change the name to Bahaiti and move on. You have classrooms full of dumb fat kids to concern yourself with
Gotoutintime 5 years, 2 months ago
Call Freddie the QC---He can handle this!!
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 2 months ago
The headline to this article is all wrong. It should read: Henfield's Reputation 'Stained'
TalRussell 5 years, 2 months ago
It's important that the comrade popoulaces at-large understand the differences between the two defenses both governments. “My sovereign government swears to tell the truth vs.false light, so that colony's populaces at-large can better assess the strength the credibility and scope of who be's more further from truth." .... yes, no ....
TheMadHatter 5 years, 2 months ago
Of course we will never hear the names of the Bahamian brides and grooms from these marriages. They will not be hung by the neck as traitors - nope - they wont even be fined.
thephoenix562 5 years, 2 months ago
How Mr Henfield get in this?Please explain.
TheMadHatter 5 years, 2 months ago
As you know, he's one of the two that have infiltrated the House.
Giordano 5 years, 2 months ago
The Crown needs to interfere in order to define the name of this place, The Bahamas or Bahaiti? As The Crown is the Head of Estate and all of these overwhelming evidences of corruption perpetrated by Haitians on both sides for so long : the ones already infiltrated on the right or known side and the side where The Majesty's picture is,the one on the local currency ,are really making The Crown to look very bad. I am very confused. Which name is,by the facto,the truth name : The Bahamas or Baha-iti ? I wonder why corruption is so abundant here and there or there and here,which one? The fact of the matter is that infiltration is at all levels of government and private institutions and is so deep,difficult to separate like the mixture of coffee & milk. This is why the real McCoy should come up : Zero nationality in the whole Planet in order to start appreciating,respecting and admiring others people languages,cultures,religions and places of origin.
TheMadHatter 5 years, 2 months ago
Time to lay off the Bin Laden weed bro.
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