even after American law officials described him as a foreign terrorist in May this year. The US Department of Justice also claimed in an indictment that Chérizier, alias ‘Barbecue’, and a US citizen, Bazile Richardson, 48, solicited funds from the Haitian diaspora community in the US to help pay gang members and buy firearms, in violation of US sanctions.

The US is offering five million US dollars for information leading to the arrest of Cherizier, a former police officer, whose group has been accused of multiple murders, kidnappings and attacks But, in a short video message in English released here, Chérizier, who heads the criminal group ‘Viv Ansanm’, says that Richardson is “innocent” and that he is ready to cooperate with the FBI, but under certain circumstances. “My name is Jimmy Cherizier Barbecue. If the FBI wants me, I’m here. I’m willing to collaborate with them on one condition. There can be no lies told. Basil Richardson, aka Fredo, is innocent. He has ‘never sent any money to me to finance anything in Haiti. Stop with all those lies and we can collaborate. Thank you,” Cherizier says in a video. (Jamaica Gleaner)