Haiti - Corruption : Formal denial from the Minister of Culture
Patrick Delatour, the Minister of Culture and Communication, learned through the press of the allegations made by the "Fondasyon Je Klere" (FJKL) regarding the alleged misappropriation of public funds within the National Heritage Preservation Institute (ISPAN) as part of the implementation of the "Development, Restoration, and Protection of Heritage Sites" investment project for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
According to the Fondasyon Je Klere (FJKL), part of the funds allocated to this project were diverted in the form of debit cards.
Minister Delatour formally denies this information, which states that debit cards were issued using funds allocated by the public treasury for the said project. He states that no debit cards were issued to the Minister, nor were any fees paid to the Minister from these funds.
Minister Delatour reiterates that defamation and slander in Haiti are considered crimes and are punishable by the penal code, a counterweight to the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution. Article 316 of the penal code provides penalties for defamers, and Article 318 concerns slanderous denunciations made in writing.
