A Canadian diplomat and an RCMP officer heaped reward and gratitude on a sanctioned Haitian businessman that International Affairs accuses of gangland connections, after he allowed a helicopter airlift of Canadian residents and police at his luxurious golf course final month, emails supplied by his legal professionals counsel.
Emails attributed to consul Catherine Brazeau present her telling businessman Reynold Deeb in French that his help was “distinctive,” and giving him “an enormous thanks on behalf of the complete embassy group.”
The emails additionally counsel Deeb, whose actions International Affairs says shield and allow “armed prison gangs,” was supplied with journey plans and passenger lists for helicopter flights carrying Haitian Nationwide Cops to and from his Petionville Membership, a golf course in Port-au-Prince.
“I do not know the way to thanks, director” an individual described as an RCMP liaison officer writes to Deeb in French after the flights. “Every little thing went effectively regardless of the challenges we confronted.”
Canadian legal professionals for Deeb, an govt at a dominant Haitian import agency, say the emails will likely be used as proof in a Federal Courtroom problem of Deeb’s inclusion on Canada’s sanctions record. Deeb is one in all 28 individuals sanctioned beneath Canada’s Particular Financial Measures (Haiti) Rules.
“Why the Authorities of Canada was concurrently asking Mr. Deeb to be used of his property and sustaining sanctions in opposition to him just isn’t clear,” his judicial assessment software says.
One in every of Deeb’s legal professionals, Geoff Corridor, mentioned the “fairly outstanding” emails present Canadian officers had been grateful and “complimentary” towards their consumer for permitting the usage of his property, “which is definitely opposite to sanctions legislation for Canadians to be utilizing property of those that are sanctioned.”
International Affairs didn’t instantly present a response to questions concerning the emails.
Conservative overseas affairs critic Michael Chong mentioned sanctions beneath Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “are usually not definitely worth the paper they’re printed on when he refuses to uphold them,” and it was “no shock that his authorities sought help from a person in Haiti beneath Canadian sanction.”
Deeb denies ties to gangs
Deeb calls his inclusion on Canada’s sanctions record “faulty,” and says those that discover themselves sanctioned endure “extreme reputational injury,” their journey is restricted and so they’re denied monetary companies and employment alternatives.
He has not been sanctioned by america, the European Union or the UK.
However he was sanctioned by Canada “in response to the egregious conduct of Haitian elites who present illicit monetary and operational help to armed gangs,” Overseas Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly introduced on Dec. 5, 2022.
“Canada has motive to consider these people are utilizing their standing as high-profile members of the financial elite in Haiti to guard and allow the unlawful actions of armed prison gangs, together with by means of cash laundering and different acts of corruption,” International Affairs Canada mentioned in a information launch on the time.
“The sanctions Canada has imposed are supposed to place stress on these chargeable for the continuing violence and instability in Haiti. These individuals should cease offering funds and weapons to prison gangs in Haiti.”
Deeb denies being tied to gangs. He says in an software filed in Federal Courtroom final month that the minister denied his bid to have the sanctions lifted on March 21 this 12 months, the identical day Brazeau first contacted him concerning the evacuation flights.
“The Canadian Embassy wish to request the help of your group, The Petion Ville Membership S.A., to facilitate a departure help mission for a few of our Canadian residents right here in Port-au-Prince,” an e mail to Deeb, attributed to Brazeau, says.
The e-mail says the embassy was attempting to prepare “a number of helicopter flights” for Canadians “in want of pressing consular help.”
“This isn’t for evacuation functions, however reasonably to supply an possibility for Canadians who’ve pressing and precedence help wants and want to depart the nation.”
The e-mail to Deeb asks if the golf course would grant entry for “helicopter landings and departures.”
“If potential, we wish to begin offering this departure help to Canadians as early as this weekend,” it says.
‘Your group has been distinctive’: e mail attributed to envoy
Deeb replied to Brazeau the following day. “I will likely be happy to collaborate with the embassy to make sure the mandatory preparations for the profitable execution of this operation to evacuate your fellow residents,” Deeb’s e mail says.
International Affairs Canada mentioned on April 26 it had helped near 700 Canadian residents, everlasting residents and relations depart the nation.
On April 12, Deeb wrote to Brazeau concerning the completion of the helicopter operations.
“We have now diligently completed our greatest to ensure that this delicate and harmful operation to be a complete success. I stay at your disposal in case there’s a have to resume flights,” Deeb wrote.
The reply got here the following day. “Your group has been distinctive, and we thanks as soon as once more for all of the help supplied to the embassy. We have now accomplished our operations to date, although we do not know what the long run holds within the coming days or even weeks,” Brazeau mentioned. “Thanks very a lot once more, and let’s keep in contact for any additional developments.”
The emails additionally depict correspondence between Deeb and an RCMP liaison officer in early April, in search of use of the golf course for flights carrying members of the Haitian Nationwide Police “listed on the hooked up manifest.”
Deeb’s emails present he allowed the flights to happen. “I hope you’re effectively, and that the whole lot went easily with the helicopter transport of members of the Haitian Nationwide Police from Petion-Ville Membership to Cap-Haitien for his or her coaching,” Deeb writes. “I’m at your disposal for some other requests you could have sooner or later.”
The RCMP officer thanked Deeb for his assist.
The officer just isn’t named by The Canadian Press as a result of his function in Haiti just isn’t publicly recognized. He declined to remark concerning the emails.
