December 23, 2024
The General Secretariat of the Presidency issued an official statement this Friday, October 4, in response to the investigation report from the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC), which implicates three members of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC). According to the statement, the TPC “takes note of the report” and is currently deliberating on the measures to be taken regarding the allegations against Smith Augustin, Emmanuel Vertilaire, and Louis Gérald Gilles. The Council is committed to “taking all necessary steps” to ensure the stability of the State, the protection of the Nation’s interests, and the smooth functioning of the institution.
The ULCC report, widely circulated in the media, calls for legal action to be taken against the three advisers, accusing them of passive corruption, solicitation of bribes, and abuse of power. These allegations concern practices that include the solicitation of funds (100 million gourdes) in exchange for the reappointment of Raoul Pascal Pierre Louis as President of the Board of Directors of the National Credit Bank (NCB). In addition to this accusation, credit cards valued at 20,000 US dollars were reportedly issued to the advisers by the NCB, at the instigation of Pierre Louis, in exchange for services rendered.
In light of these revelations, the TPC, through its General Secretariat, appears to be taking a cautious stance while reassuring the public of its commitment to ensuring transparency and institutional stability. This scandal poses a significant challenge for the transitional government, highlighting the urgent need for structural reforms to effectively combat corruption at the highest levels of the State. The ULCC report also recommends the adoption of an ethics code to regulate the practices of public officials, aimed at strengthening transparency and preventing the recurrence of such abuses.