Haiti faces scrutiny over $780,000 lobbying contract with Roger Stone’s firm

Haitian political leaders and advocates are demanding transparency regarding a lobbying contract between Haiti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Drake Ventures LLC, a firm owned by political operative Roger Stone. The agreement, registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), involves monthly payments of $65,000, totaling approximately $780,000 per year through September 2027.

The contract’s mandate includes providing advice, monitoring U.S. federal policy, and representing Haitian interests to the United States government. However, critics, including the Haitian American Foundation for Democracy and political leaders like Jean Elysée Céliscar, have questioned the lack of specific, identifiable objectives within the mandate.

The expenditure has drawn intense scrutiny due to Haiti’s ongoing humanitarian and economic crises. Critics highlight the contrast between the high cost of the lobbying deal and the country’s severe resource shortages, noting that the government previously rejected a $250 million budget proposal for elections. The spending comes at a time when the nation faces widespread insecurity, mass population displacement, and high poverty rates.