Phanèse R. Laguerre, the former coordinator of Haiti’s National School Canteen Program (PNCS), was arrested on January 31, 2025, and placed in preventive detention on charges of embezzling over 250 million gourdes ($2 million) in public funds. The scandal, uncovered by Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC), has exposed widespread fraud in a program designed to provide meals to vulnerable schoolchildren, with 90% of suppliers allegedly fabricated.
Fraudulent Contracts and Phantom Suppliers
According to the ULCC report, funds earmarked for purchasing food for school canteens were diverted through a network of fake suppliers and inflated contracts. Investigators found that only 10% of the program’s vendors could be verified, while the remainder appeared to exist solely on paper.
“This is not just theft—it’s a betrayal of Haiti’s children,” said ULCC Commissioner Jean-Louis Joseph. “These funds were meant to nourish students, not line pockets.”
Laguerre, who led the PNCS from 2020 to 2024, faces charges of embezzlement, abuse of office, and illegal awarding of public contracts. Two other officials—Enos Charles, the program’s administrative director, and Junior Maillard, its accountant—have been summoned to appear before investigating judge Marthel Jean-Claude on February 10, 2025.
Impact on Haiti’s Most Vulnerable
The PNCS, a cornerstone of Haiti’s education system, provides daily meals to over 500,000 students in underserved areas. The embezzlement has left many schools without adequate food supplies, exacerbating a hunger crisis that affects 4.4 million Haitians.
“Children are paying the price for this corruption,” said Marie-Claude Pierre, a teacher in rural Artibonite. “How can they learn on empty stomachs?”
Broader Crackdown on Corruption
The arrest marks a significant step in Haiti’s anti-corruption efforts, which have gained momentum under the transitional government. In recent months, the ULCC has prosecuted several high-profile cases, including the sentencing of three former ministers in the $2 billion Petrocaribe scandal.
Yet critics argue that systemic reforms are needed to prevent future abuses. “Arrests alone won’t fix this,” said attorney Samuel Madistin. “We need transparency in public contracts and stronger oversight mechanisms.”
Public Outcry and Calls for Justice
The scandal has sparked outrage among Haitians, many of whom view corruption as a root cause of the country’s economic and political crises. Protests have erupted in Port-au-Prince, with demonstrators demanding accountabilities for all implicated officials.
“This money belongs to the people,” said Jean-Pierre Louis, a protester outside the ULCC headquarters. “We won’t stop until every gourde is accounted for.”
As the investigation unfolds, Laguerre’s case has become a litmus test for Haiti’s commitment to justice. For now, the children who depend on the PNCS remain the scandal’s most poignant victims.
