Following the accusations of corruption launched in the media by Senator Sorel Yacinthe which states that 5 senators received $ 100,000 to buy their vote in favor of the ratification of Prime Minister Michel https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-28741-haiti-politic-senator-sorel-yacinthe-accuses-his-colleagues-of-corrupt-senators-deny.html , the North Senator Dieudonné Luma Étienne, Chairperson of the Commission Equity of Gender and Vice Chairman of the Culture and Tourism Commission, quoted as beneficiary, rejects these allegations and announces his intention to bring a lawsuit for libel and slander against Senator Yacinthe.

To this end, Senator Etienne wrote to Senator Cantave, President of the Senate to inform him of her intentions.

Excerpt from Senator Etienne's letter :

"Honorable Speaker of the Senate,

[...] the country is experiencing an identity crisis and a loss of unprecedented moral values, affecting the highest levels of society. However, given the noble function and prestige attached to my mission and as the only woman sitting in the Senate of the Republic in this legislature, I can not, under any circumstances, pass over in silence, the false and fanciful allegations of the Senator Sorel Jacinthe, according to which I would have cashed the sum of one hundred thousand US Dollars (100,000.00 USD) in return for the favorable vote of the statement of the general policy of the Prime Minister named Mr Fritz William Michel. These statements, which are attributable to me personally, greatly affect my honor and reputation.

[...]

In this context, I would like to advise you and this is my sole responsibility, my firm determination to take legal action against the accusing Senator Sorel Jacinthe, not only for my honor, that of my relatives and that of my constituents of the North Department [...]

Honorable Speaker of the Senate, it is useful to recall at this level that the immunity enjoyed by senators, through Article 27 of the Senate's Rules of Procedure, can not in any case be assimilated to a blank check, justifying drifts of all kinds on the part of some of us.

[...] Consequently, I will dedicate and devote the remaining time to a fight against defamation and slander, whatever political current they may come from. It's about my reputation.

I take this opportunity to ask you to send me a certified copy of the original letter of accusation to the Senate Office signed by the accusing Senator Sorel Jacinthe or the certified copy of the statements made and signed by the accusing senator, relating to the facts relayed on the airwaves of certain radio stations and reported in the written press, in order to complete my file because you are not unaware that Haitian law remains essentially formalistic [...]"

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-28741-haiti-politic-senator-sorel-yacinthe-accuses-his-colleagues-of-corrupt-senators-deny.html

HL/ HaitiLibre