What I do everyday....May 3, 2026

Dear friends,

After nine days and working through three different major gang leaders, we liberated our kidnapped friend 4 days ago, on Tuesday.

Yesterday was a game changer. If I did the same job today, four days later, I would be accused of providing material support to a global terrorist network.

See this statement from me, and the one far below from the US Government.

From me:

“ Just to make it clear to our friends and supporters since the new phase affects us greatly,

Since early 1990s to the present, both Nos Petits Frères et Soeurs and Fondation St Luc have done and continue to do significant work, and make significant investments, in the most marginalized areas of Port au Prince and beyond.

This makes us well known in many communities, including especially troubled communities.

Gangs have always existed in those areas but have taken over in the largest measure over the past five years.

Our steady work in normal times, in times of earthquake and hurricane emergencies, in times of violence have earned us enough respect from the people -including the malevolent - that we found ourselves in a position of both access and credibility.

This placed on us an obligation well described by Red Cross international, stating that those who have the ability to speak with non governmental armed groups on behalf of vulnerable persons or communities have the obligation to do so.

We have done this for Churches, international organizations of high standing, a number of governments for their citizens, and for many individual families- as recently as 3 days ago.

Both ourselves and others like us can no longer intervene for individuals in peril or in precarious situations that might become more dangerous, because our human corridors are carved out via humanitarian interventions like:

Truckloads or water for an area of drought, seeds for farmers to replant after a disaster to their crops, an energy surgery for a preeclampic woman, a prosthetic limb for a gunshot victim, etc

Under the current declarations any of these could be deemed as support for criminal organizations.

Our access and our credibility are no longer useful.

But our institutions are still useful , until broken supply chains empty our pharmacy shelves or rupture stocks of medical supplies.

This whole country has yearned for the end of gang rule and this nightmare of a life, causing nothing but terror, misery and hardship for over five years.

We can only hope this current strategy will hasten a return to normal times free of gang rule.

From the US Government for anyone with any dealings with the gangs of Haiti:

Implications for Haiti’s Private Sector and Financial Sector

Designation Overview

On May 2, 2025, the Trump administration officially classified two major Haitian gangs-Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif-as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and Specifically Designated Global Terrorists. This designation empowers the United States to impose extensive economic sanctions on these groups and anyone conducting business with them, including Haitian and international entities.

Impact on Haiti’s Private Sector.

• Trade Disruption: The gangs control crucial economic infrastructure, such as major ports and roadways in Port-au-Prince. Much of the movement of goods in and out of Haiti currently relies on payments to these gangs. Sanctions could halt or severely disrupt all trade, as businesses may be penalized for any perceived association or payment to these groups.

• Supply Chain Breakdown: Private sector actors, including importers, exporters, and local businesses, could face sudden shortages of goods, increased costs, and operational paralysis, especially if they are unable to access ports or roads previously controlled by the gangs.

• Legal and Financial Risks: Any private sector entity found providing “material support” to the gangs-even unwittingly-could face U.S. sanctions, criminal charges, and exclusion from the U.S. financial system. This includes not only Haitian businesses but also international firms operating in Haiti.

• Humanitarian Access: Humanitarian organizations, which often partner with private sector logistics providers, may also be forced to cease operations, further straining the availability of essential goods and services.

Impact on Haiti’s Financial Sector.

• Banking Sanctions: U.S. sanctions can extend to Haitian banks and financial institutions that facilitate transactions for or with the designated gangs. This could lead to the freezing of assets, loss of correspondent banking relationships, and exclusion from the global financial system.

• Remittances and International Transactions: Remittances, a critical source of income for many Haitian households, could be disrupted if financial institutions face heightened scrutiny or are unwilling to process transactions for fear of sanctions.

• Investor Confidence: The designation and associated sanctions are likely to further erode investor confidence, deterring foreign direct investment and complicating access to international capital markets.

Expert Assessment:

Experts warn that these measures, while intended to weaken the gangs, could exacerbate Haiti’s humanitarian crisis and economic collapse by halting trade, aid, and financial flows-effectively isolating the country from the global economy.