NEWS RELEASES
July 28, 2006 (10:15 a.m. EDT)
No. 88
CANADA WELCOMES RELEASE OF FORMER HAITIAN
PRIME MINISTER YVON NEPTUNE
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, today welcomed the release from detention of former
Haitian Prime Minister Yvon Neptune.
“I am pleased with the decision to liberate Mr. Neptune,” said Minister MacKay.
“Canada has been concerned with the prolonged detention of Haiti’s former prime
minister and that of other detainees, in violation of Haiti’s laws and international
obligations. I welcome the new Haitian government’s commitment to improve delivery of
justice and respect for human rights,” added the Minister.
Canada has repeatedly raised the case of Mr. Neptune with both the former transitional
government and the current government. Canada has been concerned about the
deteriorating state of health of Mr. Neptune and the delays in processing the case due
to the weaknesses of the judicial system in Haiti.
Given the fragility of Haiti’s judicial system, Canada has been working to help define
priorities that would lead to significant improvements. A significant proportion of
Canada’s contribution of $520 million over five years, announced at the July 25
international donors’ conference in Port-au-Prince, will serve to support justice reform
as part of overall efforts to solidify the transition toward stability, security and good
governance in Haiti, and to assure respect for human rights and the rule of law.
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