Canadian resident charged with terrorism in Haiti plot

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) - A resident in the Canadian province of Quebec was charged with terrorism for allegedly planning to overthrow the government of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) report on Thursday.

Gerald Nicolas, 51, will appear in court Dec. 1 to answer three terrorism-related charges.

The charges, which the RCMP said have nothing to do with Moise's assassination in July 2021, include traveling to Haiti to further terror activity, furthering that activity and providing property for terror purposes.

Moise allegedly left Canada and went to Haiti to arrange for individuals to stage a coup in the country, which has descended into chaos after Ariel Henry assumed the role of prime minister, leading Haiti after Moise's death.

Armed gangs rule about two-thirds of the capital of Port-au-Prince and the economy has come to a virtual standstill.

Hunger is killing Haitians and dozens of prisoners died after authorities ran out of food. Gangs have closed schools and markets. A cholera outbreak threatens the lives of 1.2 million children because healthcare services have been disrupted and rampant malnutrition has weakened children, according to UNICEF.

Gangs have also cut off Haiti's primary fuel terminal, which has led to power outages and unclean water, the Canadian Press reported earlier this month.

The US has attempted to get a country -- Canada was recently approached -- to lead a military intervention in Haiti. But no country has stepped forward to date.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in early November that many Haitians are uncomfortable with foreign military intervention, but added that something must be done "one way or another." He did not define what that meant.

The government of Canada said that since a massive earthquake in 2010, Canada has provided CAN$1.87 billion ($1.4 billion) to Haiti and is "the second-largest bilateral donor to Haiti after the United States."

Canada has also leveled sanctions against political elites suspected of collusion with gangs, as well as at least one man considered the gang chief.