The Pitit Dessalin political party has formally requested clarification from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regarding allegations made against its leader, former Senator Moïse Jean-Charles. The party’s concerns stem from claims in a recent report by the UN Panel of Experts on Haiti which suggests that Jean-Charles runs an illicit network associated with the country’s glass eel trade.
In the 94-page report, released on September 8, the panel alleges that Jean-Charles influences the issuance of export permits, customs oversight, and commercialization processes, linking these operations to broader smuggling networks throughout the Caribbean. The panel’s findings cover developments through July 2026.
Pitit Dessalin contends that the glass eel trade, known locally as zangi, is not inherently illegal, emphasizing that the Ministry of Agriculture issues certificates to exporters who adhere to legal requirements. The party argues for a clear distinction between legal commercial practices and any potential violations within the sector.
“Moïse Jean-Charles maintains that he does not engage in any commercial activity in this field,” the party stated. They are seeking verifiable evidence to support the claims against Jean-Charles and have specifically asked for the allegations to be substantiated with precise and corroborated information.
Furthermore, Pitit Dessalin has requested that, in the absence of evidence linking Jean-Charles to control of the glass eel sector, his name be removed from the report’s relevant sections. The party is allowing the appropriate UN bodies to address this matter while reserving the right to pursue legal action to defend both their reputation and the rights of their members.
The UN panel’s report also addressed the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, detailing the activities of armed gangs and their alleged ties to various political, economic, and security figures. It noted that security operations since December 2025 have succeeded in halting gang expansion within Port-au-Prince and have reclaimed certain areas of the capital. However, the report documented instances of violent divisions within the Viv Ansanm alliance and a resurgence of violence in the lower Artibonite region, alongside increased gang consolidation in the Centre department and extending into the South-East.
Between October 2025 and April 2026, the report registered at least 3,165 deaths and 1,551 injuries due to gang violence. It also reported ongoing breaches of the arms embargo, significant drug seizures, and little progress in freezing assets under existing sanctions.
