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Jimmy \u201cBarbecue\u201d Ch\u00e9rizier mocked the U.S. after it announced a $5 million reward for his capture. His viral video response sparked a debate over whether Washington is genuinely serious about dismantling Haiti\u2019s gangs or simply posturing. Many wonder if the U.S. wants Ch\u00e9rizier behind bars or finds his presence on the ground useful.<\/p>\n
Editor\u2019s Note: <\/em><\/strong>This editorial reflects the views of The Haitian Times leadership team. It was written by Fritznel D. Octave.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Shortly after U.S. prosecutors announced a bounty of $5 million to help them capture Jimmy \u201cBarbecue\u201d Ch\u00e9rizier, the most notorious gang leader<\/a> in Haiti today, he responded quickly in a video that went viral.<\/p>\n \u2018If the FBI wants me, I\u2019m here,\u2019 he declared within hours of the U.S. announcement.<\/p>\n Delivered in plain English, Ch\u00e9rizier\u2019s defiance was as much a taunt as a dare \u2014 to Washington, to Haitian authorities and to anyone who still believes in the possibility of justice. He\u2019s not hiding.<\/p>\n The immediate reaction from Haitians was telling. Many mocked what they saw as U.S. hypocrisy. How, they wondered, can the world\u2019s most powerful government \u2014 capable of tracking down and killing Osama Bin Laden<\/a>, the world\u2019s most wanted terrorist \u2014 not find a man who literally parades around Port-au-Prince with minimal protection, holds press conferences and grants media interviews?\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Similarly, a slew of other notorious Haitian gang leaders long on the FBI\u2019s wanted list remain free despite large rewards for tips. Several \u2014 Johnson \u201cIzo\u201d Andr\u00e9<\/a> of 5 Segond, Joseph \u201cLanmo Sanjou\u201d Wilson<\/a> of 400 Mawozo and Vit\u00e9l\u2019Homme Innocent<\/a> of Kraze Bary\u00e8 \u2014 are even members of Viv Ansanm<\/a>. That coalition, led by Ch\u00e9rizier, controls huge swathes of the capital and key trade routes.<\/p>\n Like those gang bosses, Ch\u00e9rizier certainly isn\u2019t losing any sleep over the U.S. indictment.\u00a0<\/p>\n The US is offering up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Haitian gang leader Jimmy \u201cBarbecue\u201d Cherizier after an indictment accused him of conspiring to evade sanctions.<\/p>\n The reward, some believe, is merely a performance<\/a> for international audiences, not a serious manhunt. If U.S. authorities ultimately capture Ch\u00e9rizier, the benefits would seem clear. Removing him could signal a U.S. commitment to helping restore order in Haiti and protecting its geopolitical interests in the Caribbean. Ch\u00e9rizier is sanctioned by the U.S., Canada and the UN for human rights abuses, including his alleged role in the 2018 La Saline massacre.\u00a0<\/p>\n There is also precedent. Over the past 20 years, the U.S. has conducted successful operations to extradite Haitian drug lords and influential political figures tied to narcotics trafficking, such as Guy Philippe<\/a> in 2017, Beaudoin \u201cJacques\u201d K\u00e9tant<\/a> in 2003, \u00a0Fourel Celestin<\/a> in 2004, Jean Eliobert Jasm\u00e9 <\/a>or several other powerful businessmen and former officials accused in the assassination plot of President Jovenel Mo\u00efse in July 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf the FBI wants me, I\u2019m here. I am willing to collaborate with them on one condition: there can be no lies told.\u201d<\/p>\n Jimmy \u201cBarbecue\u201d Ch\u00e9rizier, Indicted Haitian gang leader<\/p>\n It even nabbed Pierre R\u00e9ginald Boulos recently on an immigration violation and gang ties.<\/p>\n So, the question becomes: If Washington could seize people who are much less visible, why hasn\u2019t it arrested Ch\u00e9rizier?<\/p>\n As it were, our skepticism already runs deep. For decades, Washington has taken actions in Haiti that only suited its own interests. It has poured billions into international missions, with abysmal results. Haiti remains poorer, less secure and more dependent than ever.<\/p>\n In the case of Ch\u00e9rizier, many Haitians see a pattern. He operates openly, often strolling or marching along the streets, surrounded by his men and live-streaming on Facebook and TikTok. Why has he not been arrested, despite years of warrants and sanctions? Is it because he is, in some way, still useful \u2014 as leverage in negotiations, as a scapegoat, or even as a pressure valve in a political landscape fractured by national elites and foreign influence?<\/p>\n Ch\u00e9rizier himself has added fuel to the suspicion. In his video, he denied links or at least receiving financial backing from Bazile Richardson, a Haitian American recently arrested in Texas for allegedly financing his gang. \u201cStop all those lies, and we can collaborate,\u201d Ch\u00e9rizier said, claiming Richardson was being falsely accused.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBazile Richardson, aka Fredo, is innocent,\u201d he claimed. \u201cHe has never sent any money to me to finance anything in Haiti.\u201d<\/p>\n By casting doubt on U.S. prosecutors\u2019 case, he positions himself not only as a non-fugitive but as a counter-narrator, inviting Haitians to question who is telling the truth. By contradicting the U.S. government and daring it to come get him, this person\u2014labeled by the Trump administration as a foreign terrorist\u2014 is also trying to sway public opinion in favor of his self-appointed role as a truth teller. What a way to call a bluff.<\/p>\n US says Haitian American sent cash to \u201cBarbecue\u201d for gang operations in Haiti.<\/p>\n Here lies the heart of the matter: Whom should we trust? From what we can see, Haitians should not put their trust in either side.\u00a0<\/p>\n For Haitians, then, the lesson is sobering. We can\u2019t trust either the gang leader\u2019s posturing or Washington\u2019s grandstanding. We have a better chance at justice if we work to reclaim our state and institutions from both the criminals and the foreign powers that shape our day-to-day realities.<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\nWhat would Washington gain?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Why Haitians are skeptical<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Trust neither Barbecue nor Washington<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Like this:<\/h3>\n