00:00:01:01 - 00:00:12:05
Journalist:
It can look deceptively normal. Dangerous does not even begin to describe Port-au-Prince. Eighty controlled by gangs. One hundred percent ruled by fear.
00:00:13:00 - 00:00:24:00
Journalist:
Jimmy Cherizier is the most powerful gang leader in Haiti, otherwise known as Barbecue. Haitians live in total terror of the gangs but he says he's doing good work. So let's go ask him.
00:00:25:00 - 00:00:12:05
Journalist:
The motorcyclist up ahead, one of his men. We've been told to stay close. We are in G9 territory now, an alliance of gangs of which Barbecue is head. And then, there he is, the former policeman who considers himself misrepresented.
00:00:45:06 - 00:00:50:24
Journalist:
I want the world to know, he says, that I am a victim of a racist system, a corrupt system.
00:00:53:11 - 00:01:00:01
Journalist:
He was sanctioned by the United Nations for human rights abuses last year. There are sanctions on you. Do you care?
00:01:04:02 - 00:01:08:10
Jimmy Cherizier:
(Laughs)
00:01:08:16 - 00:01:11:18
Journalist:
It doesn't bother me, is his response.
00:01:13:23 - 00:01:30:09
Journalist:
Barbecue is bothered when he shows me around his territory. A house burnt by rival gang G-PEP. As we walk through the neighbourhood, there is no mistaking who's in charge here. Yet, with a quick gesture, he signals the proximity of G-PEP.
00:01:33:24 - 00:01:42:06
Journalist:
Metal shacks on the right, he says, erected after G-PEP burnt down homes. And what of the people living here? They're frightened of you.
00:01:42:19 - 00:01:48:08
Jimmy Cherizier
No, they respect me. They respect me.
00:01:47:15
Journalist:
You speak English.
00:01:48:00 - 00:01:57:21
Jimmy Cherizier:
A little. (laughs)
00:01:50:13 - 00:01:57:21
Journalist:
There seems little to laugh about in Haiti. Barbecue, who's never given an interview in English, wants to make a point.
00:01:58:07 - 00:02:00:21
Journalist:
I'm always there to protect my people.
00:02:00:24 - 00:02:08:21
Journalist:
The United Nations accuses him of having engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security and stability of the country.
00:02:09:22 - 00:02:10:22
Jimmy Cherizier:
It’s G9 area.
00:02:11:03 - 00:02:17:18
Journalist:
The mural proudly says as much. Barbecue does not shy away from increasing his profile.
00:02:18:01 - 00:02:19:18
Jimmy Cherizier
You can take my picture. It's my picture. It’s me.
00:02:19:21 - 00:02:25:06
Journalist:
And after pointing out the Che Guevara-styled portrait, he has much more to say.
00:02:26:11 - 00:02:51:20
Jimmy Cherizier:
If you are in G9 area nothing, nothing bad will happen to you, because what we need in G9 is we need, we need another country. We need a country where we can have a lot of tourists to come to visit Haiti because Haiti is a beautiful country. So, how can I say that?
00:02:52:10 - 00:02:58:06
Journalist:
You think Haiti is beautiful and tourists should come and visit. But, believe me, everyone is afraid.
00:02:59:07 - 00:03:15:05
Jimmy Cherizier:
I know. I know. And, I know, I know. The reason they are afraid is just because of the national media, the international media, talk always bad about Haiti.
00:03:15:15 - 00:03:19:04
Journalist:
No, no, no. They are afraid because there are kidnappings every day.
00:03:21:03 - 00:03:22:14
Jimmy Cherizier:
Who created the kidnappers?
00:03:23:16 - 00:03:39:04
Journalist:
So you say G9 doesn't kidnap? Okay. Barbecue insists he does not allow kidnapping, says G9 is an armed group, not a gang. Either way, it's engaged in armed conflict. Where do you get your money from?
00:03:40:23 - 00:03:41:16
Jimmy Cherizier:
(laughs)
00:03:43:03 - 00:04:06:14
Journalist:
Haiti has no elected officials. It does have business elites. They always say in English, follow the money. So where do you get your money from? In Barbecue's telling, some of his funds come from people of this specific district, now living in the United States, who want him to remain in control so others don't take over. But they send you money?
00:04:06:18 - 00:04:07:00
Jimmy Cherizier: Yes
00:04:07:10 - 00:04:09:02
Journalist:
And you don't want to tell me anyone's names?
00:04:09:05 - 00:04:09:14
Jimmy Cherizier:
No.
00:04:09:21 - 00:04:21:22
Journalist:
Okay. Beyond that, it's opaque. But more than a hundred different gangs are vying for territory and power in Port-au-Prince. Can we walk a little bit more?
00:04:23:12 - 00:04:25:14
Jimmy Cherizier:
Yeah. If you want.
00:04:25:23 - 00:04:31:04
Journalist:
Barbecue tells me his daughter, his only child, is about to be seventeen.
00:04:31:21 - 00:04:35:06
Jimmy Cherizier:
She always say to me, you know, when, when are going to die?
00:04:36:04 - 00:04:37:04
Journalist:
What does she mean by that?
00:04:37:18 - 00:04:40:21
Jimmy Cherizier:
Because she knows I have a lot of enemies.
00:04:41:06 - 00:04:52:04
Journalist:
Wow. Here in Delma four, where Barbecue has full control, his is a broad smile, and it seems he wants to know he's made a positive impression.
00:04:54:23 - 00:04:56:08
Translator (off-camera):
Are you scared of me? Question to you.
00:05:02:04 - 00:05:19:21
Journalist:
In this moment, in this place, no. But the thing about the streets in Port-au-Prince is that it's chaos. Chaos wrought by violent gangs of which his group is strongest. And the forty-six-year-old armed leader with a warrant out for his arrest has long-range plans.
00:05:20:16 - 00:05:28:19
Jimmy Cherizier:
I think I'm going to, to, to, to live more than forty-six. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because I have a lot of things to do for this country.
00:05:29:08 - 00:05:42:05
Journalist:
For Haitians already suffering and dying during this time of gang warfare, it is a promise that augurs no chance of any peace. Prue Lewarne, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.