Ricard Pierre, the Minister of Planning and External Cooperation in a note, said he learned with amazement on social networks that visas were recently refused by the American Consulate to executives of this ministry who had to go to University of Illinois to Chicago.

The Minister recalls that he is very sensitive to the continuous training of executives, more particularly those of the public administration. In this sense, he encourages them to participate in training sessions held both inside and outside the country. With regard to training abroad, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Planning is responsible for providing interested parties with official passports and visas.

After investigating these allegations regarding trainings held at the University of Illinois from July 6-30, 2021, October 4-29, 2021, and November 1-24, 2021, the Minister confirms that 12 Ministry officials who attended these formations, defected and never returned to Haiti, discrediting the Ministry and that notices of cessation were issued by his predecessor for abandonment of post.

However, Minister Pierre, who has only been in office since November 25, 2021, wishes to specify that to date, the Ministry has not requested any official passports or detailed American visas for one or more of the officials of his Ministry and that the allegations of recent visa denials for Illinois does not concern him.

IH/ iciHaiti