Haiti: The mayor of Léogâne, including how and when he obtained his position, as well as his reelection and ties to the President of Haiti, Michel Martelly; charges of misappropriation of funds; protests against the mayor (2006-June 2014)

1. Overview

Sources state that the mayor of Léogâne is Santos Alexis [or Alexis Santos, according to some sources] (HaïtiLibre 24 July 2012; UN 25 June 2012). According to Haiti's Ministry of Interior and Territorial Communities, Santos Alexis is the mayor of the commune of Léogâne, while two other people hold the positions of deputy mayor (Haiti 22 July 2013). According to the Haitian daily Le Nouvelliste, Santos Alexis became the mayor of Léogâne in 2006 (12 Jan. 2011). Other media sources state also that the last municipal elections in the country were held in 2006 (HaïtiLibre 7 July 2012; Radio Métropole Haiti 5 July 2012). According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), partial legislative and municipal elections, which were supposed to have been held in 2011, are scheduled for 26 October 2014 (18 Mar. 2014).

2. Ties to the Government of President Michel Martelly

In July 2012, the government of Haiti announced that it would dismiss over 100 mayors from their duties - that is, nearly all those who were elected in 2006 - whose mandates had expired in 2011 (HaïtiLibre 7 July 2012; The Haitian Sentinel 7 July 2012; Radio Métropole Haiti 5 July 2012), and replace them with interim administrators who it would appoint until the next elections (ibid.; The Haitian Sentinel 7 July 2012). The same sources added that some mayors would maintain their positions (ibid.; HaïtiLibre 7 July 2012; Radio Métropole Haiti 5 July 2012).

According to Le Nouvelliste, the Haitian government decided to keep Santos Alexis in his position as mayor until the next elections (1 Nov. 2012). Another article from Le Nouvelliste states that Santos Alexis was still the mayor of Léogâne at the end of 2013 (Le Nouvelliste 3 Dec. 2013). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to Le Nouvelliste, Mayor Santos Alexis [translation] "expressed his attachment to the [central] power in place" in October 2012 (ibid. 1 Nov. 2012). The same daily reports that in December 2013, he congratulated the Haitian government on an economic and social assistance program for mothers living in Léogâne, stating the following: [translation] "'We never once doubted the goodwill of the administration [of President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe]'" (ibid. 3 Dec. 2013).

Further information on the possible ties between Santos Alexis et Michel Martelly could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Charges Regarding Misappropriation of Funds and Arrest of Santos Alexis

According to media, the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Disputes conducted an inquiry into the misappropriation of funds by the Léogâne City Hall (Radio Métropole Haiti 22 Oct. 2008; Le Nouvelliste1 Nov. 2012). Le Nouvelliste states that this inquiry was conducted in 2007 (ibid.). Some sources state that, at that time, Santos Alexis was personally charged with misappropriating over 20 million Haitian Gourdes [C$478,000] (RNDDH Apr. 2009, 10; Radio Métropole Haiti 21 Oct. 2008). According to Radio Métropole Haiti, the Ministry of the Interior conducted an inquiry in October 2008 into the administration in the commune of Léogâne (ibid. 28 Oct. 2008).

Sources state that Santos Alexis was arrested in October 2008 in Malpasse [near the border with the Dominican Republic] in connection with charges of misappropriation of funds (ibid. 21 Oct. 2008; RNDDH Apr. 2009, 10; Radio Kiskeya 20 Oct. 2008). Radio Kiskeya, a radio station that broadcasts from Port-au-Prince, stated that he [translation] "was wanted for his presumed involvement in misappropriation of funds and serious administrative irregularities undermining his management" (ibid.).

According to Radio Métropole Haiti, a radio station that broadcasts from Port-au-Prince, Santos Alexis stated that he had never received an order [translation] "prohibiting him from leaving" (Radio Métropole Haiti 6 Nov. 2008). He also stated that that he had been [translation] "arrested for dual nationality" (ibid.). Radio Kiskeya stated that he was arrested in possession of a passport from the United States, a country where he [translation] "lived for a long time" (Radio Kiskeya 20 Oct. 2008).

According to Radio Métropole Haiti, Santos Alexis and his accountant were charged with [translation] "forgery" and they were released on 31 October 2008 (3 Nov. 2008). According to Radio Kiskeya, the mayor was released [translation] "to the great displeasure of many [Léogânnais] who protested, in vain" (23 Jan. 2009). Santos Alexis told Radio Métropole Haiti that he had been released following the intervention - a petition - of the Association of Western Mayors (Association des maires de l'Ouest) (Radio Métropole Haiti 6 Nov. 2008).

Further information on charges of misappropriation of funds launched against Santos Alexis or on the legal proceedings that led to his arrest could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

4. Protests Against Mayor Santos Alexis

According to Radio Métropole Haiti, supporters of Santos Alexis organized protests in October 2008 to demand his release (ibid. 22 Oct. 2008). They stated that they were [translation] "ready to freeze the economic activities in the city until the mayor is released," and they burned tires in the roads (ibid.).

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In September 2012, according to the Haitian news agency AlterPresse, approximately 100 residents of Léogâne had protested to demand [translation] "the dismissal of the current municipal council, which, according to them, was not living up to its responsibilities" (AlterPresse 13 Sept. 2012).

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to Le Nouvelliste, several hundred residents of Léogâne protested at the end of October 2012 to demand the dismissal of Santos Alexis and to protest against the central government of Haiti, by reason, respectively, of poor municipal management and the little efforts shown to reconstruct the city (Le Nouvelliste 1 Nov. 2012). One of the organizers stated that they were protesting in particular against the Haitian government's decision to keep Santos Alexis in his position until the next elections, stating in particular the charges of misappropriation of funds of which the mayor had been charged in 2007 (ibid.). The mayor called for calm and patience; he [translation] "accepted" the protestors' demands and he assured them that the reconstruction would resume in Léogâne (ibid.).

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 18 March 2014. "Haïti : Des élections le 26 octobre." [Accessed 17 June 2014]

AlterPresse. 13 September 2012. Jumanne St Fort. "Haïti-Infrastructures : Manifestation à Léogane pour une réhabilitation durable de la rivière Rouyonne." [Accessed 17 June 2014]

Haiti. 22 July 2013. Ministère de l'Intérieur et des Collectivités territoriales. "Léogâne." [Accessed 19 June 2014]

The Haitian Sentinel. 7 July 2012. "Gov't haïtienne se prépare à révoquer plus de 100 maires." [Accessed 17 June 2014]

HaïtiLibre. 24 July 2012. "Haïti - Énergie : KOICA livre deux projets électriques au gouvernement." [Accessed 16 June 2014]

_____. 7 July 2012. "Haïti - Politique : Le gouvernement s'apprête à révoquer 120 maires...." [Accessed 16 June 2014]

Le Nouvelliste. 3 December 2013. Jocelyn Belfort. "Ti Manman cheri dialogue avec ses bénéficiaires de Léogâne." [Accessed 17 June 2014]

_____. 1 November 2012. Nathalie Verné. "'Nous disons désormais non à l'inacceptable' : Léogâne réclame une meilleure gouvernance et une meilleure qualité de vie." [Accessed 19 June 2014]

_____. 12 January 2011. Dieudonné Joachim. "Léogâne vit toujours dans l'angoisse." [Accessed 16 June 2014]

Radio Kiskeya. 23 January 2009. "Le ministère de l'Intérieur décide d'enquêter sur la gestion réputée frauduleuse de certains conseils municipaux." [Accessed 18 June 2014]

_____. 20 October 2008. "Le maire de Léogâne arrêté à la frontière." [Accessed 18 June 2014]

Radio Métropole Haiti. 5 July 2012. "Les maires seront bientôt limogés par l'administration Martelly." [Accessed 16 June 2014]

_____. 6 November 2008. "Dénonciations de plusieurs cas de corruption dans des mairies." [Accessed 16 June 2014]

_____. 3 November 2008. "Alexis Santos est libéré par un juge d'instruction." [Accessed 16 June 2014]

_____. 28 October 2008. "Des maires dans le collimateur de la justice." [Accessed 16 June 2014]

_____. 22 October 2008. "La Cour des comptes poursuit son audit à l'ONA." [Accessed 16 June 2014]

_____. 21 October 2008. "Corruption : le maire de Léogane sous les verrous." [Accessed 16 June 2014]

Réseau national de défense des droits humains (RNDDH). April 2009. Rapport sur la situation générale des droits humains en Haïti au cours de l'année 2008. [Accessed 16 June 2014]

United Nations (UN). 25 June 2012. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). "Lancement des travaux d'aménagement de la rivière Rouyonne à Léogâne." [Accessed 20 June 2014]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Agence haïtienne de presse; Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Factiva; Le Floridien; Haiti - Ministère de l'Économie et des Finances, Présidence d'Haïti; Haïti Liberté; Haïti Monde; Haiti Presse Network; Haiti-Reference; Human Rights Watch; Infohaiti.net; Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti; Le Matin; Premye.ht; Radio SignalFM; Radio Télévision Caraïbes; Radio tête à tête; Tout Haïti; United Nations - Refworld; United States - Department of State.