A U.S.-sponsored radio ad, urging Haitians to surrender any arms cache or people who possess illegal weapons to the U.S. embassy in Haiti, fueled a debate on whether Haiti is under a tacit protectorate.

The U.S. embassy denied on September 22 any attempt on its part to undermine the country’s sovereignty, but critics say U.S. officials have assumed a role attributed to the Haitian police.

In a paid commercial broadcast in Haitian Creole on radio and television stations, the U.S. government promised compensation to those who would provide information about groups who own illegal weapons.

“You who are listening, if you have information about people who would hide heavy weapons, please contact the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince ,” said the broadcast spot that provides a telephone number for callers who wish to share such information.

“The calls will be treated confidentially and you will receive a big compensation,” said the U.S. embassy in the advertisement, underlining the danger those weapons pose for the Haitian society.

Several government officials who spoke on condition of anonymity and several politicians, who accepted to go on record, accused the U.S. administration and other foreign powers of turning the first black independent republic of the world into a protectorate.

Shaila Manyam, a spokeswoman for the U.S. embassy, said the embassy’s initiative did not mean to threaten the country’s sovereignty.

“We work very closely with the Haitian police and U.N. troops to improve the security climate in Haiti,” Manyam said, without specifying whether the information collected by the embassy was given to the Haitian police or U.N. troops.

Manyam talked about U.S. information programs, about violations of U.S. narcotics law and threats to U.S. citizens’ personal security.

“It’s a program aimed specifically at violations of U.S. narcotic law and potential acts of violence against U.S. citizens,” said Manyam, adding that the effort aims to improve the security of all Haitians.

A Haitian Cabinet member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, called the commercial outrageous. “I am not a spokesman for the government, but as a Cabinet member I feel offended that a foreign embassy can be allowed to air such an ad in my country,” he said.

Several other politicians expressed indignation about the airing of the spot.

“I don’t think the Haitian embassy in the United States could have released such a commercial,” said Evans Paul, a former Port-au-Prince mayor and former presidential candidate.

“I think it’s some sort of protectorate even though they did not officially call it that name,” Paul said. “I don’t think (President René) Préval can make any decision without taking into account the will of those foreign powers and institutions.”

Charles Henry Baker, who came third in the February 7 presidential race, said the foreign powers were taking advantage of the lack of leadership by the elected government to impose their will on Haiti.

“The U.S. embassy would not dare do such a thing in any other country in the world,” said Baker, an industrial representing the Haitian mulatto elite.

“The international powers believe they can take the opportunity to interfere with our internal affairs,” Baker said.