Haiti's SOS Journalistes: Penalized Independent Journalist Now Allowed to Leave Country, According to Minister of Justice

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - SOS Journalistes welcomes the decision of the Minister of Justice to order the Prosecutor's Office to immediately lift the abusive and absurd measure taken by former authorities to prohibit a journalist from leaving the country, causing him enormous harm.

At the request of the Secretary General of SOS Journalistes, the Minister of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), Dr. Patrick Pelissier, has instructed the Government Commissioner, Frantz Monclair, to immediately lift the travel ban imposed on journalist Esaüe César by the former head of the Port-au-Prince Prosecutor's Office, Jacques Lafontant.

On February 1, 2023, the latter had prohibited Esaüe César from leaving Haiti on the grounds that the journalist was allegedly involved in a conspiracy against the internal security of the state, in death threats against then Prime Minister Ariel Henry, in press offenses, etc.

However, after questioning, a magistrate, who had taken the journalist's statements, did not bring any charges against him and asked him to return home.

The repressive measure has indeed just been lifted on the orders of Minister Pelissier.

"The government opposes this type of abuse. It is unacceptable that an authority could cause such harm to a journalist who has been accused of no substantiated offense," declared Minister Pelissier in a conversation with the leader of SOS Journalistes.

SOS Journalistes takes note of the encouraging developments and calls on the executive authorities to continue on the path of respecting freedom of the press and expression, a fundamental element of democracy and the rule of law.

Done in Port-au-Prince, June 2, 2025.

Joseph Guyler C. Delva

Secretary General of

SOS Journalists Haiti