Gilbert Bigio
Gilbert Bigio | |
|---|---|
| Born | Haiti |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Originator of the GB Group, Haiti's inaugural billionaire, honorary consul to Israel |
Gilbert Bigio is a retired entrepreneur from Haiti and the originator of the GB Group. He is acknowledged as Haiti’s inaugural billionaire and has been subjected to sanctions by the Canadian authorities due to allegations involving arms trafficking and violations of human rights. Additionally, Bigio acts as the informal head of Haiti’s Jewish community and holds the position of honorary consul to Israel.
In 2021, Bigio’s name surfaced in the Pandora Papers data leak, which exposed his offshore financial operations, including the acquisition of Jeffrey Epstein’s Mercedes Maybach for $132,000. The leaked documents further revealed his transfer of assets through offshore entities based in Miami and Switzerland, underscoring his broad international commercial engagements.
Early years
Originating from a Sephardic Jewish lineage tracing back to Aleppo (present-day Syria), Bigio’s family relocated to Haiti in 1896. Over three generations, they have maintained significant involvement in diverse business ventures throughout Haiti, securing a notable position within the national economic landscape. Although Bigio himself is not religiously observant, he possesses Haiti’s sole Sefer Torah and actively takes part in Jewish cultural celebrations and observances. His spouse, Monique, underwent conversion to Judaism. Bigio has reported an absence of antisemitic experiences within Haiti.
Canadian Government sanctions against Bigio
On December 2, 2022, the Government of Canada enacted sanctions targeting Bigio alongside two other Haitian businessmen, Reynold Deeb and Sherif Abdallah, citing their purported participation in "gross and systematic human rights violations" as well as behaviors undermining Haiti’s peace, security, and stability. The objective of these measures is to disrupt the financing and supply of weapons to armed criminal organizations.
The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs has specifically accused Bigio of facilitating illegal activities by armed gangs through mechanisms such as money laundering and corruption.