We just received this news this morning and after calling a few of our sources, it appears this news is true. While we are still shuffling for more answers as to how this will affect tourism and whether or not it will apply to tourist, here is the report from LoopHaiti.
On Thursday, March 1st, the Haitian government announced that all transactions on the territory of Haiti will be made in the national currency which is the Gourde.
“In an article 4 of the decree published in the official newspaper of the Republic of Haiti, Le Moniteur, it is written in black and white: “It is forbidden to accept payments from anyone in foreign currency or its equivalent in gourd for transactions that take place in Haiti,” says Loop Haiti
“The prices of goods and services are compulsorily displayed and paid in gourde,” reads the document signed by President Jovenel Moise, his Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant, the Minister of Economy and Finance (MEF), Jude Alix Patrick Salomon, the Minister of the Interior, Max Rudolph Saint-Albin and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Antonio Rodrigue.
How they plan on enforcing it?
The decree is requesting that all citizens file a complaint against anyone who asks them to pay from a currency other than the gourd, and violators of these provisions will be prosecuted, “in accordance with the laws of the Republic.
Do you think this is a good or bad move for Haiti?
This is actually not a bad idea. Economically I think it is a smart move because other countries like the United States, Bahamas and Jamaica would have to purchase Haitian gourdes from Haiti, and this would allow the value to increase . In regards for tourism, it is not the greatest because tourist would now have to convert dollars and do all the calculations in their heads.