“Defending Press Freedom in Haiti Has Made Me a Target,” Says Journalist Guyler C. Delva

September 17, 2025 – Haiti – 

Guyler C. Delva, a prominent Haitian journalist and secretary general of the press freedom organisation SOS Journalistes, says that his advocacy in defense of Haiti’s embattled journalists has made him the target of threats, harassment, and political hostility. In recent weeks, he has alleged that powerful actors—including figures linked to the Transitional Presidential Council—have increased pressure on him in response to his public defense of persecuted media workers.

Delva holds multiple roles: beyond leading SOS Journalistes (founded in 2005), he is also vice chair of the Inter-American Press Association’s committee on press freedom in Haiti. He claims that since early August, he has been openly threatened in public places by unidentified individuals. Delva believes the threats are connected to his vocal support for journalists like Guerrier Henri—forced into exile amid accusations of “gang ties”—and for reopening long-stalled cases such as the 2000 murder of journalist Jean Dominique.

Delva also reports facing legal harassment. He was recently summoned by Haiti’s judicial police without formal notice of charges and told that authorities are exploring accusations of gang affiliation against him—claims he strongly denies. Amid these pressures, he has suspended his professional activities and temporarily left his home for safety reasons.

Meanwhile, his organisation is under severe strain. SOS Journalistes, which relies primarily on donor funding, is struggling financially. Inflation is soaring, the economy is in decline, and donors have pulled back. The group faces unpaid rent and operating debts, and Delva alleges that the CPT has excluded SOS Journalistes from recent funding or support opportunities—actions he interprets as motivated by his activism rather than neutral selection processes.

Delva’s supporters have rallied behind him. Both the Inter-American Press Association and the Committee to Protect Journalists have formally called on Haitian authorities to guarantee his safety.

Delva insists that his efforts are simple: defending colleagues, seeking justice in unresolved murders, and preserving press freedom. Yet he says those efforts have put him squarely in the crosshairs of both political power and the legal system.

Reference – 

Haitian journalist says defending colleagues has made him a target