Haitian ministers facing 25% pay cut

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC):

The majority of the member of the government of Haiti face a 25 per cent reduction in pay over their failure to file their assets in accordance to the law.

The director general of the Unit Fighting Corruption (ULCC), Amos Durosier, said that out of 38 members of the government, only two - the prime minister and a secretary of state - have filed their assets.

To promote transparency in the management of public affairs, the law requires members of the Haitian government to declare their assets to the Court of Auditors.

The president, prime minister, senators, deputies, judges and more, are required to report to the court, homes owned, businesses owned and bank balances, among other items of wealth.

Assets should be declared

"Officials subject to this formality will declare their assets within 30 days after they have been appointed to office and 30 days after they are released from office," Durosier said.

"Any person subject to the declaration of assets that has maturity of 30 days will in three months be provided a reminder by a bailiff notified at the instance of the ULCC, that he had not completed this step, the person will be deprived of one fourth (quarter) of their salary," warns Amos Durosier.

"If this law is applied literally, almost all ministers, secretaries of state and director general ... in office since October 19 are at risk of having their cheques reduced by 25 per cent.

"The law should be applied by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which issues cheques of government officials," indicated Durosier.