Corruption in Haiti
Understanding and Fighting
Do you know how corruption affects your life every day?
Corruption is when people in power use their position for personal benefit rather than to serve the public.
Forms of Corruption
Bribery
Offering or accepting money to influence a decision
Embezzlement
Stealing public money or government resources
Nepotism
Giving jobs or contracts to family or friends
Clientelism
Giving favors for political support
Fraud
Cheating in contracts, projects, or elections
Check Your Understanding
What is corruption?
Corruption Perceptions Index 2025
- Haiti: 16 out of 100 (0 = very corrupt, 100 = very clean)
- Among 182 countries assessed
- One of the three lowest-scoring countries in the Americas
PetroCaribe Scandal
About $2 Billion Embezzled
2008-2018: The PetroCaribe program represented about $4.3 billion. CSCCA audits (2019-2020) and Senate reports documented about $2 billion embezzled or mismanaged - hospitals not built, roads not made, projects don't exist. No one prosecuted.
Economy
- Slowed development
- Reduced investment
- Growing inequality
Health
- Hospitals lack equipment
- Medicines don't arrive
- Care not free
Education
- Schools lack books
- Teachers not paid
- Diplomas bought
Justice
- Judges demand bribes
- Rich buy freedom
- Poor in prison
Democracy
- Elections bought
- Trust lost
- Corrupt leaders stay
Check Your Understanding
Which sectors does corruption affect?
Haiti has several institutions and laws in place to fight corruption:
ULCC
Unité de Lutte Contre la Corruption - the unit responsible for preventing and investigating corruption in the public administration. Citizens can file complaints with it.
UCREF
Unité Centrale de Renseignements Financiers - the financial intelligence unit that analyzes suspicious transactions to fight money laundering.
CSCCA
Cour Supérieure des Comptes et du Contentieux Administratif - the audit court that reviews how the State spends money. It authored the PetroCaribe audits (2019-2020).
2014 Anti-Corruption Law
The 2014 law criminalizes illicit enrichment and provides protection for people who report corruption (whistleblowers).
The BNC Affair (2024-2025)
In July 2024, the chairman of the board of BNC (Banque Nationale de Crédit) accused three CPT councilors - Smith Augustin, Louis Gérald Gilles and Emmanuel Vertilaire - of demanding 100 million gourdes from him so he could keep his position. The ULCC investigated and recommended prosecution; the councilors denied the accusations. The case remains emblematic of corruption challenges at the highest level of the State.
Every citizen has a role to play in fighting corruption:
1. Report Corruption
- Contact ULCC (www.ulcc.gouv.ht)
- Go to civil society organizations
- Inform independent media
2. Refuse Bribes
- Ask for receipts for all payments
- Refuse to pay for services that should be free
- Report people who demand bribes
3. Demand Transparency
- Ask government to publish spending
- Participate in public forums
- Watch how your representative spends
4. Organize in Your Community
- Create local oversight committees
- Mobilize to demand justice
- Educate other citizens
5. Support Journalists
- Read and share work of journalists who expose corruption
- Protect press freedom
- Defend journalists under attack
Remember
Every time you pay a bribe, you reinforce the system. Refuse corruption - you can change things!
Check Your Understanding
What should you do if someone asks you for a bribe?
Congratulations!
You've completed learning about corruption. Now fight it!