Gilbert Bigio

Gilbert Bigio is a retired Haitian businessman. He is the founder of GB Group and Haiti's only billionaire. He was sanctioned by the Government of Canada for his involvement in arms trafficking and human rights violations in Haiti. Bigio is also the de facto leader of Haiti's Jewish community and an honorary consul to Israel.^[1][2][3]

Gilbert Bigio
Born	c. 1935
Nationality	Haitian
Occupation	Founder of GB Group
Known for	Wealthiest person in Haiti
Spouse	Monique Bigio

Bigio's name appeared in the 2021 Pandora Papers leak of secret offshore company documents by the ICIJ. In an accounting document from the estate of Jeffrey Epstein, Bigio was revealed as the buyer of Epstein's Mercedes Maybach at a price of $132,000.^[4] Other leaked documents showed Bigio moving wealth to Miami and Switzerland through offshore companies in different tax havens.^[5]

Early years

Bigio is from a Sephardic Jewish family from Aleppo in the Ottoman Empire (now Syria), whose family emigrated to Haiti in 1896. The family has also been involved in other commercial activities all throughout the country. The Bigio family has remained in Haiti, prominent in business affairs for three generations.^[6][7][8] Bigio is not religious, but does own the only Sefer Torah in Haiti and culturally participates in Jewish holidays and events. His wife Monique is a convert to Judaism. According to Bigio, he has not experienced antisemitism in Haiti.^[7]

Canadian Government sanctions against Bigio

On December 2, 2022 the Government of Canada imposed sanctions against Bigio, along with two other Haitian businessmen; Reynold Deeb and Sherif Abdallah. The sanctions against Bigio was a response to his alleged participation in "gross and systematic human rights violations in Haiti and engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti." The Canadian sanctions against Bigio were intended to stop the flow of illicit funds and weapons to armed criminal gangs in Haiti.^[9][10]

Specifically Bigio is accused of supporting "illegal activities of armed criminal gangs, including through money laundering and other acts of corruption" according to a statement from the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs.^[11]

References

1. • "Haiti's Few Jews Hold On To History". Retrieved 2014-02-08 – via Webster University.
   • Luxner, Larry (2004-03-20). "Haiti's few Jews hold on to history". Miami Herald. Vol. 101, no. 188. p. 186. Retrieved 2024-03-15 – via Newspapers.com.
2. Dickter, Adam (2010-01-28). "Scenes From The Haiti Relief Mission". Jewish Telegraphic Agency New York. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
3. "Haiti". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
4. Wilner, Michael; Charles, Jacqueline (2022-12-05). "Canada levies new sanctions against Haiti's economic elite". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
5. Hall, Kevin G.; Charles, Jacqueline (2021-10-15). "FWT: Miami Herald Pandora Papers: A mega wealthy man from the region's poorest country — and his Miami palace". The Haitian Times. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
6. Hall, Michael R. (2012). Historical Dictionary of Haiti. Scarecrow Press. p. 120. ISBN 9780810875494. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
7. Luxner, Larry (2004-02-13). "Around the Jewish World As Haiti Burns, Its Few Jews Choose Business over Politics". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
8. Solomont, E.B., ed. (21 January 2010). "Two Haitian Jews working with IDF to help survivors". JWeekly. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
9. "Sanctions: Grave breach of international peace and security in Haiti". GAC (Press release). 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
10. "Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations". GAC (Press release). 2015-10-19. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
11. "Canada imposes sanctions on Haitian economic elites". Reuters. Washington. 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2022-12-05.