By Anilus Aniel, Vant Bèf Info, May 10, 2026
Professor and political scientist Sauveur Pierre Étienne criticized the controversial "Three Prisons" contract, which he described as "perverse" and "illegal," during his appearance on the program "Salon des Invités" broadcast on Vant Bèf Info on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
During this interview, the former OPL coordinator denounced an agreement committing the Haitian state for a period of 50 years with the American firm Metric Facility SA, for an amount exceeding 6 billion US dollars.
According to Étienne, this contract is part of a strategy for the political survival of the de facto authorities. He believes that the leaders are seeking, on the one hand, to obtain international protection through financial advantages granted to foreign private interests and, on the other hand, to foster corruption through hidden commissions.
Étienne also denounced what he considers a serious attack on national sovereignty. According to him, no authority lacking electoral legitimacy can commit the country to a contract of such magnitude without parliamentary approval. He finds it particularly concerning that the management of the prison system and internal security is being entrusted to foreign interests.
One of the most criticized points concerns the cost stipulated in the contract: 22 US dollars per day per prisoner would be paid to the private company. Étienne considers this figure shocking in a country where a large portion of the population lives on less than 2 dollars a day.
He also pointed out that the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Disputes (CSCCA) had repeatedly issued unfavorable opinions on this agreement. In his view, ignoring these warnings demonstrates a clear intention to circumvent administrative standards and jeopardize the interests of the public treasury.
Posted May 24, 2026