PARAMARIBO – “”The investigation is ongoing and my superiors mad either clear that I am not allowed to talk to anybody,” said Sabrina Pierre who was only willing to confirm that she recently became the official representative of Haiti in Suriname. A message that was posted on the official Facebook page of the Haitian community in Suriname claimed that Haiti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs ordered its diplomatic consulate in Suriname to fire all of its diplomats. All but one of the consulate’s Haitian diplomats have reportedly been recalled to Port-au-Prince and all 12 of the country’s locally hired contractors were fired after French authorities raised concerns that diplomatic staff could possibly be complicit in Suriname being used as a way station for Haitian migrants seeking to enter French territories.

Haiti Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy, who immediately launched an internal investigation, informed French and U.S. officials of her decision last week, multiple sources confirmed to the Miami Herald. Sources told Times of Suriname that the people behind the human trafficking network were identified after Pierre was assigned as the new consul several months ago. In March 2024 Sandy Laguerre, the former consular agent at Haiti’s diplomatic consulate in Suriname died after having received treatment in an illegal wellness clinic located in Paramaribo. In the message that was posted it was suggested that Laguerre was involved in the human trafficking scandal and that an international arrest warrant would be issued. Times of Suriname could not get any confirmation regarding this claim which most likely made it possible to launch an internal investigation. Shortly after being assigned to the diplomatic consulate in Suriname, Pierre found out that illegal activities were taking place at all levels. The employees who were stationed at the Haitian consulate allegedly falsified documents for people who wanted to travel from Haiti to Suriname. Pierre informed her superiors who then instructed her to clean house. When asked to respond to the reports, Pierre made it clear that she did not want to comment…[+]