Sanctioned Businessmen From Haiti Run Business Operations In The Dominican Republic

The sanctions issued by Canada on Dec. 5, included three businessmen from Haiti for allegedly supporting the armed gangs that have contributed to the humanitarian crisis in the country. Two of these three have businesses in the Dominican Republic, Diario Libre reported.

Gilbert Bigio, the founder of the GB Group and a Haitian businessman of Jewish ancestry, is one of them. In 2012, the GB Group bought the assets of Chevron Texaco in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Saint Martin.

The majority of Bigio's business operations are now managed by his son Reuven, Chairman of the GB Group.

Reynol Deeb, a businessman in the textile industry and one of Haiti's major importers, is listed. Deeb is a partner in the Dominican Republic company Dekadom SRL, which specializes in the export, import, trading, and distribution of a variety of goods including those for domestic use, personal use, and beverages, among others.

Deeb is also a partner in Willy & Chic Dominicana SRL. It imports, exports, markets, and distributes confectionery, personal use, groceries, soft drinks, natural, fruit, and alcoholic beverages, among others.

Sherif Abdallah, who is of Egyptian descent and was, according to the Miami Herald, a close friend of the deceased Haitian President Jovenel Mose, was also sanctioned by Canada.

Abdallah helped Moïse in meetings with the diplomatic corps accredited to Haiti and facilitated meetings between the ambassadors and the late president.

Gilbert Bigio, Reynol Deeb, and Sherif Abdallah may have assets on Canadian soil, but they will be unable to conduct business because Canada will put a freeze on those assets.

"Canada has reason to believe that these individuals are using their status as high-profile members of Haiti's economic elite to protect and enable the illegal activities of armed criminal gangs, including through money laundering and other acts of corruption." indicated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the North American country.

Canada added eight sanctions against the Haitian political elite, including former President Michel Martelly and two former prime ministers Laurent Lamothe and Jean-Henry Céant, before focusing on the economic class.

Gary Bodeau, Rony Célestin, Hervé Fourcan, Youri Latortue, and Joseph Lambert have also been penalized. Sanctions were applied to the last four on the list from the United States.