Haitian business figure and GB Group founder Gilbert Bigio died at age 91 in Florida on September 29, 2026. His death closes more than half a century at the head of a major commercial empire in the Caribbean, a legacy intertwined with industrial expansion, international sanctions, and offshore financial investigations.
Industrial Expansion and the Rise of GB Group
Born in 1935, Gilbert Bigio built an extensive commercial network that positioned him among the most prominent figures in Haiti’s private sector. His business enterprises expanded across multiple strategic sectors over more than fifty years. The family enterprise began its core network in 1972 with the establishment of Aciérie d’Haïti, recognized as the country’s first steel mill. Over subsequent decades, the operations grew to encompass energy, construction materials, real estate, consumer goods, telecommunications, and logistics.
The conglomérat diversified further through GB Energy, extending its reach into petroleum distribution and retail fuel networks across the Caribbean. The company acquired 67 Texaco service stations in Jamaica in 2015 and operated in the Dominican Republic. Another major infrastructure project arrived in 2015 with the inauguration of Port Lafito near Port‑au‑Prince, a private deep‑water port.
Canadian Sanctions and International Scrutiny
Bigio’s later years unfolded under heavy international scrutiny and economic penalties. On December 5, 2022, the Canadian government imposed sanctions on Bigio alongside fellow business figures Reynold Deeb and Sherif Abdallah. Ottawa stated it had grounds to believe these members of Haiti’s economic elite utilized their positions to shield and facilitate the illicit operations of armed gangs through money laundering and corruption. The sanctions froze potential Canadian assets and banned transactions with the targeted individuals, though the measures did not constitute a criminal conviction. Bigio denied any wrongdoing.
In 2020, he purchased a Mercedes‑Maybach from Epstein’s succession for approximately $132,000. The transaction was documented in financial records. These structures included Lockver Investment Inc., established in 2001. Earlier, in the 1990s, the U.S. government sanctioned Bigio and family members for alleged support of a military coup in Haiti.
Bigio's Offshore Holdings Revealed in Pandora Papers Leak
Financial transparency leaks added further controversy to the family’s business history. The Pandora Papers, released in 2021, revealed offshore structures and trusts linked to Bigio and his family members. According to the ICIJ, Bigio and Sherif Abdallah were connected to at least a dozen offshore companies and trusts in jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas, including Lockver Investment Inc., formed in 2001.
Port Lafito also drew regulatory and investigative attention regarding contraband flows. A 2023 United Nations Security Council report listed Haitian ports used for firearms and ammunition smuggling, while separate investigative reporting and international documents linked private port infrastructure to arms trafficking allegations. Bigio’s family had consolidated its presence in critical economic sectors, expanding operations beyond Haiti.
Leadership Transition and Public Roles
Bigio’s public roles extended beyond commerce. He served as the current secretary general of the Haitian Anti‑Corruption Journalists Network (RHAJAC), specializing in governance, corruption, and geopolitics, with operations spanning Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He also held the position of honorary consul of Israel in Haiti, reflecting his involvement in the country’s Jewish community.
Funeral services for Gilbert Bigio are scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2026, in Hollywood, Florida.
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