‘Exceptional’: Diplomats and RCMP praised sanctioned Haitian, emails suggest

A Canadian diplomat and an RCMP officer expressed their praise and gratitude to a sanctioned Haitian businessman whom Global Affairs accuses of gang connections after allowing a helicopter flight of Canadian citizens and police to his luxury golf course last month, according to e emails from his lawyers.

Emails attributed to Consul Catherine Brazeau show that she told businessman Reynold Deeb in French that his assistance was “exceptional” and extended “a big thank you … on behalf of the entire embassy team.”

The emails also show that Deeb, whose activities Global Affairs says “protects and enables armed criminal gangs,” obtained travel plans and passenger lists for helicopter flights with Haitian National Police officers to and from his Petionville Club, a golf course in Port-au. -Prince.

“I don’t know how to thank you, Director,” a person described as an RCMP liaison officer wrote to Deeb in French after the flights. “Everything went well despite the challenges we faced.”

Canadian lawyers for Deeb, an executive at a dominant Haitian importing firm, say the emails will be used as evidence in a legal challenge to the federal court’s inclusion of Deeb on Canada’s sanctions list. Deeb is one of 28 people sanctioned under Canada’s Special Economic Measures (Haiti) regulations.

“Why the Government of Canada simultaneously asked Mr. Deeb for use of his property and imposed sanctions against him is not clear,” his judicial review application says.

One of Deeb’s lawyers, Geoff Hall, said the “quite remarkable” emails show that Canadian officials were grateful and “complimentary” to their client for allowing use of his property, “which in fact violated is with the sanctions law for Canadians to use property of those being punished.”

Global Affairs did not immediately respond to questions about the emails.

Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong said the sanctions under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “are not worth the paper they are printed on if he refuses to enforce them,” and it was “no surprise that his government sought help from an individual in Haiti under Canadian sanctions. .”

Deeb calls his inclusion on Canada’s sanctions list “incorrect,” saying those sanctioned “suffer serious reputational damage,” have their travel restricted and be denied financial services and employment.

He is not sanctioned by the United States, the European Union or the United Kingdom.

But he was sanctioned by Canada “in response to the egregious behavior of Haitian elites who provide illegal financial and operational support to armed gangs,” Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly announced on December 5, 2022.

“Canada has reason to believe that these individuals are using their status as prominent members of Haiti’s economic elite to protect and enable the illicit activities of armed criminal gangs, including through money laundering and other acts of corruption ” said Global Affairs Canada. in a press release at the time.

“The sanctions imposed by Canada are intended to put pressure on those responsible for the ongoing violence and instability in Haiti. These people must stop providing money and weapons to criminal gangs in Haiti.”

Deeb denies having ties to gangs. He says in a petition filed with the Federal Court last month that the minister rejected his bid to have the sanctions lifted on March 21 this year, the same day Brazeau first contacted him about the evacuation flights.

“The Canadian Embassy would like to request the assistance of your organization, The Petion Ville Club SA, to facilitate a departure assistance project for some of our Canadian citizens here in Port-au-Prince,” an email to Deeb , attributed to Brazeau, says.

The email said the embassy was trying to organize “a few helicopter flights” for Canadians “in urgent need of consular support.”

“This is not for evacuation purposes, but rather to provide an option for Canadians who have urgent and priority support needs and need to leave the country.”

The email to Deeb asks if the golf course would allow access for “helicopter landings and departures.”

“If possible, we would like to begin providing this departure assistance to Canadians as early as this weekend,” it said.

Deeb replied to Brazeau the next day. “I will be happy to work with the embassy to make the necessary arrangements for the successful execution of this operation to evacuate your fellow citizens,” Deeb’s email said.

Global Affairs Canada said on April 26 that it had helped nearly 700 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and family members leave the country.

On April 12, Deeb wrote to Brazeau regarding the completion of helicopter operations.

“We have worked diligently to make this delicate and dangerous operation a total success. I remain at your disposal in case it is necessary to resume flights,” Deeb wrote.

The answer came the next day. “Your team was exceptional and we thank you again for all your support to the embassy. We have completed our activities so far, but we do not know what the future holds in the coming days or weeks,” said Brazeau. “Thank you again and let’s keep in touch for any further developments.”

The emails also show correspondence between Deeb and an RCMP liaison officer in early April requesting the use of the golf course for flights with members of the Haitian National Police “listed on the attached manifest.”

Deeb’s emails show that he arranged the flights. “I hope you are well, and that everything went smoothly with the helicopter transport of members of the Haitian National Police from Petion-Ville Club to Cap-Haïtien for their training,” Deeb wrote. “I remain at your disposal for any other requests you may have in the future.”

The RCMP officer thanked Deeb for his assistance.

The officer is not being named by The Canadian Press because his role in Haiti is not publicly identified. He declined to comment on the emails.

Darryl Greer and Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press