Haitians in the Bahamas who want a return to peace and stability in their native land are expressing their delight that U.S. authorities have offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Haitian gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue “ Cherizier.

  After the announcement of this bounty, Cherizier recorded a statement for social media pledging  conditional collaboration to U.S. authorities and denied receiving money from a man in America to finance his activities in Haiti.

 U.S. federal prosecutors announced criminal charges against Cherizier, who leads an alliance of gangs that control much of the capital of Port-au-Prince.

   The indictment alleges that Cherizier, as well as U.S. citizen Bazile Richardson, 48, solicited funds from Haitian diaspora community in the U.S. to help pay gang members and buy firearms in violation of of U.S. sanctions.

   Cherizer is a former police officer who is at large in Haiti.

  The group has been accused of multiple murders, kidnappings and attacks on infrastructure.

Haiti’s federal government has been largely displaced from downtown Port-au-
Prince, where gangs are said to control nearly 90 percent of the city. Gang leaders
had threatened to interrupt the swearing in ceremony forcing an increase in
security forces by the United Nations and Kenyan forces that prevented any
attacks.

Haiti has not held a presidential election since 2016, and turmoil in the country
increased following the 2021 assassination of Jovenel Moise and criminal

networks have exploited the power vacuum to expand their own influence and
wealth through bribery, intimidation or death.

Saint-Cyr is meant to be the final head of the council before it completes its task of
holding a presidential election on February 7, 2026. At that point, Saint-Cyr and
the council are expected to hand off power to the election’s winner.

Elections for roles in the federal government are expected to be held in three
stages, starting in November 22025 and ending with February’s presidential race,
but gang violence and attacks could interrupt those plans.
Since the appointment of Saint-Cyr and the transitional council a three-month state
of emergency has been declared as gang violence continues with attacks across the
country. The measure will cover the West, Centre and Artibonite regions that have
seen an increase in attacks by gangs in recent months.
Threats of violence have forced essential services to shut down, including hospitals
and roadways, and nearly 1.3 million people have been displaced from their
homes.

The United Nations estimates that close to 5,000 people in Haiti have been killed
between October 2024 and June of 22025.

The humanitarian situation in Haiti is considered among the most dire in the world,
and Saint-Cyr called on the international community to assists in this regard.

He said, “I invite all international partners to increase their support, send more
soldiers and provide more training. I am asking the security forces to intensify their
operations.”

“Our country is going through one of the greatest crises in all its history. It’s not
the time for beautiful speeches. It’s time to act,” he said.