In a note, the Professional Association of Banks (APB) vigorously protests against the remarks of unprecedented violence, formulated by a political leader (Jean-Charles Moïse, without naming him in the note), against banks and their collaborators during a political demonstration in Cap-Haitien. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37465-haiti-flash-the-population-close-to-the-revolt-at-least-2-dead-and-several-injured-in-the-country-video.html

"Thus making threats, haranguing crowds already frustrated by the difficult situation in the country, to incite them to commit criminal acts is a dangerous and irresponsible process that can lead to an anarchic situation spiraling out of control."

The APB recalls that following these remarks, "[...] on August 30, during the public demonstration organized by this same politician in Cap-Haitien, several bank branches, in the middle of a working day, were thrown stones for more than 45 minutes from a raging mob, putting the lives of bank employees and customers in danger and causing material damage to some of our members premises."

The APB defends its members accused of being responsible for the volatility of the exchange rate, and recalls that the dollar exchange rate is determined, on the occasion of each transaction, by the balance between the supply and the demand for this currency on the foreign exchange market. The Association also points out that "...exchange rates over the past 12 months show that the banking sector, which currently accounts for much less than half of the foreign exchange market, is charging rates significantly below those of the informal market."

The note concludes "Faced with such a surge of gratuitous but visibly fueled violence, the banks reserve the right to prosecute all intellectual and material authors of acts affecting the integrity of the lives of their staff and to the safety of their property."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37511-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37465-haiti-flash-the-population-close-to-the-revolt-at-least-2-dead-and-several-injured-in-the-country-video.html

HL/ HaitiLibre