Open Letter From Bishop Gregory TOUSSAINT To The Haitian Authorities

Port au Prince, Haiti June 19, 2024

His excellence

Dr. Gary CONILLE

Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti

In his Offices.-

Mr. Prime Minister,

The Tabernacle of Glory Churches, represented by Bishop Gregory TOUSSAINT, send you their greetings in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that there is no authority that does not come from God and those who symbolize them are servants of God for the good of the people (Romans 13: 1, 4). On this scriptural basis, the evangelical sector brings you its support in the fight for respect for the moral values ​​of the country.

It may be useful to remind you that the late President Jovenel MOÏSE and the Government of the time had published in the official journal Le Moniteur of June 24, 2020, the new Penal Code dated June 20, 2020 which should come into force after two years, i.e. on June 24, 2022.

It is recognized that, in the country’s legal arsenal, this new normative text is necessary to replace some of the Codes that are almost two centuries old. However, it is at the same time the bearer of moral controversies likely to harm the good morals of Haiti and the ethical values ​​of the majority of the population. Far from preserving what can be saved, it has been understood that the new Penal Code, as it has been published, can make this nation an immoral space that will attract, through its application, sex tourism, to the detriment of young people and vulnerable children in particular.

Wanting to fulfill its vocation as guardian of moral values, the Church in Haiti as a whole has since then made its concerns and demands known to the political leaders in place through a petition of nearly 185,000 signatures and marches to say no to indecency. President Jovenel MOÏSE had promised to work on this. It was not until June 1, 2022 that Prime Minister Ariel HENRY and his Government issued a decree appointing a nine-member commission with the mission of evaluating the said document, among other things, and then extending the date of entry into force of the new penal code by two more years, to June 24, 2024.

This commission submitted its report to the head of government. It recommended the postponement of this code given the need to amend certain irritating articles. This is the case to cite for example articles 248, 264, 273, 275, 277, 278, 298, 301, 304, 306, 362, 363, 366, 376, 468 and 471.

Unfortunately, no concrete follow-up has been made on this and in a few days, the new Penal Code is likely to come into force despite the demands recognized as true and well-founded by the living institutions of the nation including the family, the Church, the bars and several other sectors of society.

Given the precarious situation of the country which is facing multiple security, socio-political and financial crises; it is useless to let the moral disaster that the new Penal Code will cause increase if it is not amended before its implementation. Because sex tourism is also a source of insecurity for victims. It is with this in mind that the religious sector of Haiti is sending you this correspondence to request your prompt intervention to take all necessary measures toreport this text. There is considerable public interest in this issue, as evidenced by the petition which has already collected nearly 185,000 signatures against the irritating articles.

In addition, this will allow the relevant authorities to make any changes deemed useful to this legal tool that could be useful to the population instead of harming it. While it is certainly good to come up with new standards to regulate society, it is equally better to draft laws that create as little discontent as possible among the people. The Word of God declares “woe to the sinful nation” (Isaiah 1:4), but “happy is the nation whose God is the LORD” (Psalms 33:12).

In the hope that this administrative process will receive your best attention and that a favorable response will be promptly granted, the Tabernacle of Glory Churches renew to you, Mr. Prime Minister, their patriotic greetings and pray that God grants you all his grace and wisdom to succeed in your enterprises for the benefit of the Haitian Nation.

Respectfully,

_________________________

Bishop Gregory TOUSSAINT

Tabernacle of Glory, CEO

CC:

To

Transitional Presidential Advisors

In their Offices.-

His excellence

Mr. Edgard LEBLANC FILS

President of the Transitional Presidential Council

In his Offices.-