When the microphone is weaponized, allegiance matters more than airtime.
Investigative | The Haitian Pulse Editorial Team | July 26, 2025
A Journalist Convicted by Complicity?
On July 25, 2025, Haiti’s Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) officially summoned journalist Guerrier Henry to appear at their headquarters in Clercine 6, Port-au-Prince, for an investigation into alleged ties with a leader of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition. The summons, signed by acting director Inspector General Pierre René François, demands Henry’s presence on July 28 at 10:00 a.m., making no allowance for delay or discretion.
The details have not been disclosed, but credible sources—including a formal complaint filed on July 17 by journalist Thomas Rudy Sanon—allege that Henry repeatedly gave on-air legitimacy to notorious gang figures such as Jimmy Chérisier (“Barbecue”), Jeff Larose (“Jeff Gwo Lwa”), and others linked to Viv Ansanm.
From Cradle to Microphone—or Into Criminal Networks?
Once celebrated for hosting Boukante Lapawòl on Radio Méga, Henry now faces accusations that he used his platform to prop up terror-group leaders, effectively becoming a propaganda arm for violence. The National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL) previously ordered the suspension of his program in November 2024, citing threats to public peace—a warning that Henry allegedly ignored.
If these allegations hold, Henry's role is no longer journalism—it is complicity in terror, and an affront to every Haitian parent whose child has suffered under gang violence.
“Journalists who speak to the people while hiding ties to warlords are not just hypocrites—they are enablers of national destruction.”
Media as Cover, Not Conscience
While democracy depends on an informed press, Haiti’s media landscape has been corrupted—silenced by elite interests and criminal power alike. Multiple outlets cover oligarchic interests as truth and ignore blatant sabotage when it serves their sponsors.
Guerrier Henry's case highlights the toxic nexus between press and power—where media figures shield, rather than expose. If Henry is proven to have aided Viv Ansanm, the public has the right to demand consequences—regardless of his celebrity status.
Justice at a Crossroads
Critics argue this could be a political move—a weaponization of the justice system against dissent voices. But prosecution for apologizing terrorism or abetting gang activity is not censorship—it is enforcement of criminal statute under Articles 44–45 of the Haitian Penal Code.
If Henry becomes untouchable, it confirms that the media fortress is unassailable. If he's accountable, it sets a precedent: no one is above the people—not even those granted microphones.
“When a journalist uses the airwaves to legitimize killing, surrender of ethics is not journalism—it is sedition.”
The U.S. Crackdown Raises the Stakes
With the U.S. Department of State intensifying its crackdown on individuals with gang affiliations, the tide is shifting. If Haiti’s justice system is serious about reclaiming the rule of law and restoring national dignity, then a wide net must be cast—one that reaches not only the visible gang leaders but also their enablers across media, business, and political sectors. Too many have used their platforms to shield criminal agendas. If accountability is truly on the table, prison doors should swing open for more than just foot soldiers—they must also close behind those in suits and studios who have betrayed the nation under the guise of influence.
Where The Haitian Pulse Stands
Silence is privilege. Accountability is strength.
Guerrier Henry should face the investigation—not as a celebrity, but as a party under suspicion in a case tied to gang terror. No media profile should guarantee impunity. Justice—not coverage—must be his fate.
The Haitian people deserve to know who in the media is telling truth, and who is trading it.
“There is no freedom of the press when the press becomes a mouthpiece for those holding the country hostage.”
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