Haiti plans hunt for Duvalier riches

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 6

Haiti plans hunt for Duvalier riches

NZPA-Reuter Port-au-Prince Haiti’s new Government is launching a nation-wide treasure hunt to find the riches that the deposed dictator, Jean-Claude Duvalier, was forced to leave behind in his hasty flight to France, the Justice Minister, Mr Gerard Gourgue, has announced. Mr .Gourgue outlined a three-point plan for the recovery of Mr Duvalier’s assets still in Haiti. He said it entailed:

• Seizure of all property and personal belongings left behind by Mr Duvalier and his wife, Michele.

• Annulment of all financial or economic transactions or operations arranged by Mr Duvalier in the six months before his ousting, and • Giving any companies acting as fronts for Mr Duvalier 15 days to

make a declaration or face seizure.

What would happen to companies making such a declaration was not specified.

Mr Duvalier is reported to have amassed a fortune in secret Swiss bank accounts over the years. Estimates range from SUS2OO million ($372.28 million) to SUSBOO million ($1572 million) dollars. The family also had numerous lands and properties in Haiti, including a ranch and a beach-front villa north of the capital.

Two foreign residents of Haiti said yesterday that they had seen Government trucks removing 21 “jet skis” from the ocean house, which, local gossip columnists have reported, was sold to a Greek about six months ago.

The Gourgue announce-

ment did not specify whether the Duvalier manoeuvres would concern the hundreds of foreign-backed companies in Haiti, including an estimated 200 Americanowned firms that produce everything from baseballs to blue jeans.

Students who demonstrated in the: streets of the capital yesterday, forcing the closure of the city’s schools, were urged to go back to their classrooms today. Colonel Max Valles, the Information Minister, said the military and police would “guarantee the security” of pupils returning to school.

Yesterday’s student demonstrations were held to protest against the composition of the new Government, which contains people close to Mr Duvalier during his regime.