Haiti - Politic : Sen. Steven Benoît will vote for Daniel Gérard Rouzier

To reporters, Senator Steven Benoît [Alternative platform], declared yesterday Tuesday that the choice of Daniel Gérard Rouzier as Prime Minister designated by the President Martelly was a good choice, and that Rouzier will have his vote.

"I think it's a good choice, this a person who will not do business under the table, moreover, he said that he was a person transparent and he talked about accountability this is what is missing in the country for 200 years [...] I note that in every interview that he gives, he talks about accountability. When there is an absence of accountability, this is the beginning of the corruption. On the other hand the first thing that I expect is that someone told me how uch money has been spent in the inauguration of President Martelly, that someone gives me these first expense in details [...] as a member of the Anti-Corruption Commission in the Senate, I will follow the promise that was made, so that an accountability permanent and periodic exists [...] I am very anxious to see that Government at work [...] I see a team of young men, educated, who have the passion. They already have the means, apparently, it's not just people that come to make money, but put their hands in the dough.

My vote is already acquired, if the Prime Minister meets the eligibility requirements. The Prime Minister has no problem, this is a person who works for 25 years in the country, he has an residence card [U.S.] moreover he said that he will return it to the authorities, everyone knows who is Daniel Rouzier"

Lire aussi :
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3019-haiti-politic-ratification-of-prime-minister-this-week.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3021-haiti-politic-bandits-corruption-justice-rouzier-clarifies-his-future-actions-part-i.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3022-haiti-politic-economy-unemployment-donors-rouzier-clarifies-his-future-actions-part-ii.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3013-haiti-politic-daniel-gerard-rouzier-answers-to-the-questions-of-michel-martelly.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3020-haiti-politic-inite-does-not-intend-to-impede-the-choice-of-president-martelly.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2999-haiti-politic-michel-martelly-has-designated-daniel-gerard-rouzier-as-prime-minister.html

Source :
 HaitiLibre 

Haiti - Justice : Gaillot Dorsinvil «disobedience to authority»

Pierre Louis Opont, the Director General of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), Jean Pierre Toussaint Thélève, Vice-President of the Council, and 2 electoral advisers, Ginette Cherubin and Laurette Croyance have responded on Wednesday, to "the invitation" of the Commissioner of the Government of Port-au-Prince around the allegations of fraud and corruption that the electoral institution is subject. Apart advisers absent without explanation, [only the advisor Jacques Belzin has justified his absence for health reasons], the great absent in this meeting was Gaillot Dorsinvil, the President of the CEP.

Absences that have provoked a strong reaction of the Government Commissioner, Mr. Haricidas Auguste who firmly declared, "We will ensure that the other advisors come here in the next 48 hours" suggesting that a new absence, would entail the measures prescribed by law to summon the people involved, describing the behavior of "disobedience to authority"

Me Haricidas Auguste, informed the concerned that is at the request of the Senate Committee of Inquiry on the alleged fraud within the CEP, that the measures were taken [ban from leaving the country]. During these hearings, the Government Commissioner has attempt to obtain clarification on the legal bases which had led to appoint a Special National Complaints and Challenges Bureau (BCEN) in addition to the questions relating to the allegations of corruption and fraud within the CEP.

Me Auguste Aristidas has declared his intention to interrogate more especially Mr. Gaillot Dorsinvil the President of the CEP on the creation of a special electoral court, after the publication of the final results of the second round of elections."we want that he tells us where he has find these legal provisions to create a special BCEN while the constitution says there has no court that can be created in the country, without reference law"

Following the hearing, Pierre Louis Opont, has recalled that he had learned through the press his prohibition to leave the territory "I wanted to meet the Commissioner to protest against this arbitrary measure that I think given the freedom of movement, which is guaranteed to every citizen [...] I am very satisfied of my meeting with the commissioner". Me Stanley Gaston, his lawyer, also criticized the prosecution's decision to deprive his client of his right to free movement and informs that steps will soon be undertaken to bring the prosecution to lift the ban.

Arguing in favor of respect of the legal proceedings in this case, Pierre Espérance, Executive Director of the National Network for the Defence of Human Rights (RNDDH)has denounced what he described as arbitrary act. "it is necessary that the justice authorities comply with the procedures [...] the convening in the way they were made​​, are not conform [...] it is necessary that the prosecutor obtain a permission, because members of the CEP, can not be convened in this way [...] We urge the Government Commissioner to regain control (se ressaisir) [...] and to wait that the Senate Committee of Inquiry finishes its work."

See also:
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3017-haiti-justice-the-members-of-the-cep-prohibited-from-leaving-the-country.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3023-haiti-justice-pierre-louis-opont-convened-to-the-prosecutor-this-wednesday.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2987-haiti-usa-revocation-of-visas-of-officials-suspected-of-electoral-fraud.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2979-haiti-politic-the-parliamentary-commission-on-the-electoral-fraud-began-its-work.html


source : HL/ HaitiLibre 

Haiti - Politic : Ratification of Prime Minister this week ?

Rodolph Joazile, the President of the Senate said that "The President Michel Martelly has just convened the 49th Legislature [on vacation], in extraordinary Assembly, for the meeting of ratification of the Prime Minister-designate." Without specifying a date, President of the Senate stated that this ratification will take place this week "as the President of the House of Deputies and myself had said to the President Martelly during our meetings last week, we need a Prime Minister who is able to maintain the balance within the society and that inspires confidence to everyone to facilitate a out of the crisis" Rodolph Joazile added.

Sen. Moise Jean-Charles (INITE) stated that if the documents of Mr. Daniel Gérard Rouzier meet the constitutional requirements, he should pass smoothly this first step.

However, given that no political party in Parliament does not hold an absolute majority, the President of the Senate and the Deputy Marie Jossie Etienne, second secretary to the Bureau of the lower house, agree on the fact that "the Prime Minister-designate Daniel Gérard Rouzier, must take steps with Parliamentarians to make sure of winning a majority for his ratification."

Steps or negotiations... which have been underway since early this week with Prime Minister-designate. If the Prime Minister-designate gets the vote of both Houses (Senate and Deputy), he shall to cross a final step: the ratification of his general policy, after the formation of his ministerial cabinet [jointly with the President Martelly].

Mario Dupuis, President of the Political formation Ansanm Nou Fò "the procedures provided by the constitution have been respected in the designation of choice, in the measure, where no party or platform does not have absolute majority in parliament. We think there is a set of requirements, in our view, to be a good the Prime Minister [...] the platform will be very attentive to the integrity of the person in question [...] that the Prime Minister is competent and also understand the rules of the political game, who is prepared to participate in the construction of the democratic process, these are our expectations. We must wait before to judge it, at the time of his declaration of general policy... What are the guidelines that will be proposed ? Are these lines correspond to the expectations of the population ? These lines correspond with the vision that we have of future of country, of the reconstruction of country ?"

As for Fednel Monchery, General Coordinator of the platform of President "Repons Peyizan", he indicated that "... this is a very good choice. We believe that he [Rouzier] is able to help the President to deliver all the promises he made ​​during the electoral campaign [...] we are asking parliamentarians to ratify this choice."

See also :
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3007-haiti-politic-two-chambers-of-commerce-in-favor-of-daniel-gerard-rouzier.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2999-haiti-politic-michel-martelly-has-designated-daniel-gerard-rouzier-as-prime-minister.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3003-haiti-prime-minister-the-president-martelly-explains-his-choice.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3013-haiti-politic-daniel-gerard-rouzier-answers-to-the-questions-of-michel-martelly.html

Source : TB/ HaitiLibre

Haiti - Politic : Economy, unemployment, donors, Rouzier clarifies his future actions (Part II)

In an interview granted this morning to a radio of the capital, Daniel Gérard Rouzier, the Prime Minister-designate, clarified some of the measures that he intends to implement in his Government. A foretaste of his declaration of general policy. This second part concerns, economic growth in Haiti, unemployment, relations with international donors, the IHRC, and other aspects of his relations with parliamentarians and the role of women in his government.

Which Economic Plan for Haiti ? :
"There is a competitiveness plan that exists and it is this plan that we will apply in Haiti. That means : building infrastructure that will attract investment. Where we will build them ? Where there is the most exclusion and of poverty, infrastructure will be installed in these locations. We have a simplification of the tax code, that we will propose to the Parliament [...] we will work, to try to convince the Parliament, to make them understand, that to broaden the tax base, so that more people pay taxes, the tax rates must decrease, we must simplify the tax structure. We will also build customs across the country [...] For example, if we build a customs to Miragoâne, a high proportion of taxes to Miragoâne will remain in the Department of Nippes."

What will you do to reduce unemployment and create jobs ? :
"I will create conditions so that people can come and invest, it is the only way to remove unemployment. It is necessary that jobs be created, for this, we must have good infrastructure. Firstly we must create a climate suitable to do business, secondly create infrastructure so that people can come, that means: having roads, ports, airports, power plants [...] the country will be a big site [...] from now, if you look in the street you will see that we will begin to pave roads..."

Which are your relationship with international donors ? :
"Until now, the reports are very good, remember that I am accustomed to talking with them, I'm accustomed to raise funds internationally. There are two things to observe when you raise funds, you must be transparent and give an accountability report. Under the previous Government donors have decided to erase the Haitian debt, that means that today Haiti no longer owe money on international markets.

This seems to be a good measure ... but in reality, this means that the country has declared bankruptcy, and because it declared bankruptcy, it can not find loans, it works exclusively on charity [...] the country is a country of beggars. I do not think the country will regain its sovereignty, if it does not return on the financial markets and receives new loans and that we give the accounts of what we do with that money. My role today is to talk with all our donors and tell them that we are very happy with all the help and donations they give us, but that we'd like to break this circle of charity [...] we spoke with donors, they are very receptive and they will send technical assistance so that we can be accountable and transparent.

We can not negotiate or discuss if the country receives a donation, but we can do it in the case of loans. That is why we will submit our economic platform to international donors, but also to the private banks. We want that the private banks lend money on the market so that the private sector can grow [...] Haiti is ranked very low in all indices of the World Bank, both on corruption, on the ease of doing business, as well as on the time it takes to obtain a building permit... I say that before the end of the year, we will rise of about 80 positions in the rankings. At the level of the corruption, accountability, I want that we start to publish all that needs to be [...] make tendering with greater openness; regarding the time it takes to open a business in Haiti it is says that it takes 280 days, I'll see if I can reduce this period to 10 days [...] We have many efforts being made ​​on "e-governance", the President talked a lot about it, we have a technology platform extremely ambitious and we are constantly working on it. We do not sleep ! "

What future for the IHRC (Interim Haiti Recovery Commission) ? :
"We are in full brainstorming in order to transform it into an "Agency of the Reconstruction", we believe that the IHRC should become an institution Haitiano-Haitian [...] we try to do our best to keep President Clinton [...] the agenda for me, should be a Haitiano-Haitian agenda and it is a proposal that I will do in Parliament in my general policy statement. I want to talk with them so that together, with the Parliament, we can arrive to a program that is consistent and who will do that programs are realized for Haiti."

Concerning his relations with parliamentarians, Daniel Gérard Rouzier is confident "I have contacts with parliamentarians, the contacts are excellent, I believe in the institutionalization, I think we need to "membrer" the Parliament, that is to say that Parliament should take its responsibilities. I think, as the parliamentarians say that the Prime Minister, is an offshoot of the Parliament, therefore I have submit me to their votes, I must work with them to bring the country out of its current situation, [...] I began the consultations [...] Yesterday I spoke with the President of the Chamber of Deputies and I asked him to arrange for me a meeting with the bloc [parliamentary], so that I do not speak only with one or two person but with all, in order that we learn to know each other..." Regarding the presence of women in his government, Daniel Gérard Rouzier affirms"I would like this, I have contacted a maximum of women, but not everyone wants to take that risk, but I would like to have as many women as possible."

Part 1 :
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3021-haiti-politic-bandits-corruption-justice-rouzier-clarifies-his-future-actions-part-i.html

source : HL/ HaitiLibre 

Haiti - Politic : Bandits, corruption, justice, Rouzier clarifies his future actions (Part I)

In an interview granted this morning to a radio of the capital, Daniel Gérard Rouzier, the Prime Minister-designate, clarified some of the measures that he intends to implement in his Government. This first part concerns, insecurity, corruption in public administration, rule of law and the penitentiary system.

What signal do you send to the bandits ? :
"I do not want to send a signal to the bandits, I want to send a clear signal to the population [...] if I'm ratified as prime minister, there will be laws without equivocation. I will work with the Department of Justice, the Chief of Police [...] we will surely establish an efficient intelligence service, to enable us to secure the population. I have a duty to provide security to everybody [...] I have no message for the bandits. I tell people, that is another way to do that will come, that everyone take note, I'm not going to "beat the drum" but the people who will violate the law will see justice [...] I think that the police institution, in its majority is very clean, but I also believe that there are "rotten orange" in the basket, the same thing for the judiciary, the private sector and for churches. We have a country that is in disarray, because a small minority of thugs in it, it is necessary [...] that they return to a righteous life, or we will do what is required for them [...] I will not violate the rights of the person, but I will enforce the law in all its force on those who prevented the "children of the country" to live in peace."

Fight against corruption in public administration :
"First we'll start from the top, whether the President Martelly, whether the Prime Minister Rouzier, they will file a statement of what they hold, of everything they owe when they take office, so that at the end of their term, an audit can be done [...] If they can not explain their enrichment, we will act against them. So, all ministers who agree to serve in this Government, will be obliged to exercise the same, ditto for General Managers. Everyone knows how much a Director General is paid, well, if we find that the latter has a higher standard of living [...] it will be obliged to give explanations [...] It can not there be transparency, without accountability report [...] People who live in poor countries, have a luxury that is not normal, even more if you're serving the people. At the state level, if someone wants to make money that goes in the private sector, invest its money. If you are at the state level, respect the money that we entrust to you. I will give the example in my behavior, I talked about a justice system efficient, if there are people who have deleterious behaviors, they will be arrested. The President Martelly said that for each position, if a person wants the job, he will give the job to the person but with "a pair of handcuffs." What Martelly said I take it seriously and I advise all those who will say yes, to serve alongside us, to take it very seriously as well."

Restoring the rule of law :
"The restoration of the rule is not a possibility, this is what will be [...] You're not going to wait one year to see changes, for example the way whose people drive in the streets, will change. It is necessary that the authority of the traffic police, was rehabilitated. For example, if you double, where you can not double, you get a ticket, payable immediately after three tickets, you get a hole in your license and you can not drive. If you drive without a license, they will arrest [...] Concerning the market vendors that are everywhere in the streets, the solution is to build adequate and hygienic markets..."

The penitentiary system and the escapes :
"Law enforcement, build better prisons purge the police and penitentiary force of its "bad oranges" [...] put them in jail if necessary. But a thing very important, it is that we must go into the prisons and bring out people who have nothing to do there."

Part 2
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3022-haiti-politic-economy-unemployment-donors-rouzier-clarifies-his-future-actions-part-ii.html

See also :
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3013-haiti-politic-daniel-gerard-rouzier-answers-to-the-questions-of-michel-martelly.html

source : HL/ HaitiLibre 

Haiti - Security : Speech of President Martelly to the the 22nd promotion of the police

The 22nd promotion of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) has graduated yesterday Friday, to the Direction des Ecoles et de la Formation Permanente (DEFP), 877 new officers, after more than eight months of training. Modules such as managing the crime scene, police ethics and the fight against corruption, the concepts of gender and violence against women have been taught to these officers of the order in addition to police science.

"Be a police officer, is another form of life made of sacrifices, of self-denial, a mixture of values ​​like honor, morality, loyalty and a vocation of service", said the Inspector General Maximé. In his speech for the occasion, he invited the new members of the PNH to show "consciousness, competence and seriousness" in the performance of their duties so as to contribute to "remake the image of the country", stating that "the temptations are enormous and the forces of corruption are major", blood crimes, embezzlement are common. A country where the lives of police officers are often "precarious" and where the "generally accepted ratio of one police officer per 400 inhabitants" is far from being fulfilled.

Highlights of the speech of President Martelly to the the 22nd promotion

"From today you are part of this elite which is responsible for protecting women, men, children, the state officials and goods of this country. The country, by giving you today that responsibility, has confidence in you, honor it by continuing with rigor, the work of professionalization of the Haitian National Police [...]

You have the full support of my Government to do your job in law enforcement. My Government will not accept judicial corruption, which often has undermined the work of the police. It is no longer question to release of gang leaders, kidnappers and drug dealers took in flagrante delicto, it's over the political protection for criminals.

I invite to a better organization of police substation and police stations, I insist to the maintenance of physical fitness, of the dress code of police officers, of the strict respect of the hierarchy. I exhorts you to strengthen the systems and procedures in place at the level of the staff headquarters (Etat Major), the police substation and police stations. My Government will do its best within the resources available, to give you the means to do your job. I will not tolerate, abuse of any nature from the police. Make proof of moderation but of firmness, an iron fist in a velvet glove. The law must always be your only compass. Never forget that you are a police officer only to protect and serve.

Monitors, let me thank you on behalf of the Nation, for a job well done. The country has a debt of gratitude to you, is with the participation of all and with the competence of each, that we will build the new Haiti. Nobody, I repeat nobody, can help us in this direction, it is to us, only to us as Haitian to do it.

[...] I know you've worked hard to achieve this graduation [...] but there are reasons for this, is to allow you, after having to take the oath on the Constitution to work even better. Remember that your job is to serve and protect the population, [...]

As Commander in Chief, I will work with the Government to get you what you need, so that you can do your job even better. Let me be clear with you this morning, the big responsibility that you take as a police officer, to protect and serve the the population, the President is behind you at 100%, I take this opportunity to tell you also that the President will not tolerate the police officers who are in the disorder [...]

I feel that your parents and families who are here today are very happy, I feel that there are a lot of pride in them, when thay looking at their child wearing the uniform of the police, who just received their diplomas, I am also proud, in the same way as your parents, when I look at you. I invite you in the service that you will give the country to enforce the trust that your parents put in you, to respect the confidence that the Haitian people, the justice, the Director-General, the staff headquarters (Etat Major), your superiors and myself as President, we have put in you. I wish you good luck in the new responsibilities that you received today.

Finally, I must thank the Minustah and the friends of the cooperation who assist the National Police. My Government will work with you for a better performance of our cooperation within the framework of the institutional strengthening [...] it is the only way to reduce the dependence on Haiti. In the weeks and months ahead we will work together for restructure international aid to my country and ensure its receipt by the institutions and the Haitian people. The country thank you for this assistance which made possible the graduation of today.

Police officers in service, 22nd promotion of the PNH, the Haitian people appreciate your efforts, we thank your families who consent tremendous sacrifices every day, you have our support and you are in our prayers every day.

May God bless you and may God bless Haiti."

See also:
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2991-haiti-security-graduation-ceremony-of-the-22nd-promotion-of-the-pnh.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1122-haiti-police-force-opening-of-the-22nd-promotion.html

Source :HL/ HaitiLibre 

Haiti - Politic : Michel Martelly has designated Daniel-Gérard Rouzier as Prime Minister

The President Michel Martelly, has designated this Friday, the entrepreneur Daniel-Gérard Rouzier, as Prime Minister. The announcement came after a series of meetings between the new Head of State and leaders of the Parliament. Beforehand, the President Martelly had written to the Presidents of both Houses of Parliament to inform them of the choice of Mr. Rouzier as Prime Minister. Saurel Jacinthe, the President of the Chamber of Deputies confirmed that Mr. Daniel-Gérard Rouzier had been designated by the Head of State as Prime Minister.

So that the nomination of the Prime Minister be ratified, it must now obtain a favorable vote in each chamber where the party INITE holds a comfortable majority. However, this formal designation, indicates that the President Martelly and the Presidents of both chambers have reached an agreement. The nomination of the Prime Minister should be, barring unforeseen developments of last minute, a mere formality parliamentarian...

Learn more about Daniel-Gérard Rouzier :
Married and father of 3 children, Mr. Rouzier is CEO of Sun Auto, a leading car dealership, he'is also the President of the power plant E-Power, first project of electric power realized by the private sector in Haiti.

He made studies in management and accounting, Ivy League graduate of Dartmouth and Georgetown University, Rouzier is deeply religious. Author of "Believe, Love and Hope" through which he explains his intimate relationship with the Christ, his wife and his children, and two essays "The Power of Ideas" and "Vision or Illusion" in which he addresses important issues such as : the economic conjuncture, economic policy and political Government, sociology. Daniel-Gérard Rouzier has a strong presence in the political environment and has developed a good relationship with the Haitian political class.

His biography presents him as the owner of one of the most comprehensive libraries of Haiti and as an insatiable collector of Haitian art.

Source HL/ HaitiLibre 

Haiti - Inauguration : Congratulations from Canada to Michel Martelly

On the occasion of the inauguration and swearing-in of new President of Haiti, Michel Martelly, Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada sent his congratulations to the President and to the Haitian people.

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I am pleased to offer my sincere congratulations to Michel Martelly on his inauguration as President of Haiti.

"The people of Haiti have shown patience and resolve in expressing their will and demonstrating their commitment to democracy and the electoral process. This transition marks an important step on the road to recovery from the January 2010 earthquake and a milestone towards long-term stability and development.

"Canada shares deep and long-standing ties with Haiti, and more than 100,000 Canadians have roots in the Caribbean nation. We will continue to stand alongside Haiti as it rebuilds its communities and strengthens the rule-of-law.

"I look forward to working with President Martelly as he rises to meet the challenges ahead of him."

Source : HL/ HaitiLibre 

Haiti - Inauguration : First Speech to the Nation of President Michel Martelly

In a speech of about 20 minutes, in French and Creole, the President Michel Martelly declared this May 14, 2011, that his government would be at the service of the population, but the population, in exchange must respect its obligations to the State. "We will restore the authority of the State"...

First Speech to the Nation of President Michel Martelly :
"My dear compatriots, by assigning me by your vote on 20 March, the destiny of the Republic of Haiti, you made ​​me the first servant, I measure the solemnity of the day and especially the immense responsibility that falls to me, the responsibility to represent you all, yes all girls and son of this land full of history so often proven, but so proud of its glorious past..."


See also :
http://www.haitilibre.com/article-2954-haiti-investiture-les-moments-les-plus-importants-du-te-deum.html (in french)

Source :HL/ HaitiLibre 

Haiti - Politic : The strange silence of Jean-Bertrand Aristide..

Thousands of Haitians have welcomed the former President Aristide after his return in Haiti (March 18, 2011) after 7 years of exile in South Africa. After a short speech at the airport, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, then went directly to his house, greeting the crowd that awaited him before disappearing behind the high walls of his property to retreat into a silence from which he has never released...

Since his return, he has made no speeches and granted no interviews. He hasn't taken a tour of the devastation from last year's earthquake, nobody has seen it in a restaurant... "It's rare that the president steps out of the house and says hello", said Jean-Max Maxime, a mason helping to increase the height of the towering concrete walls that surround the house near the Port-au-Prince airport. "He's always inside."

Many Haitians expect that Jean-Bertrand Aristide plunged back into politics, doubting that he only wanted to rebuild the university and his foundation. Students of the university that he founded and the staff of his foundation says that he had not come visit the establishment, yet located at short distance from his residence...

"He seems to have disappeared off the radar screen," said Robert Maguire, a longtime Haiti scholar who teaches at Trinity University in Washington, D.C. "I'm surprised we haven't heard from him. I don't know what to make of it."

Nobody expected that the former President, one of the most popular leaders of Haitian history, adored by a largely of poor in the country, hated by the elite, keep as low a profile... Neither Kenneth Merten, Ambassador of the United States nor the former U.S. President Bill Clinton have met Aristide.

On most days, a stream of SUVs passes through the gates of the Aristide compound, but it's unclear with whom he meets. Aristide's U.S. lawyer, Ira Kurzban, said the former president is meeting with old friends, deciding his course of action [?] "I think he's trying to listen to people and find out what's going on in education and in the country in general [...] think it would be odd if he came back and started making statements, instead of listening to the people of Haiti about what's happened the past seven years."

Hard to know what Aristide prepares, his close collaborators refuse to answer questions and security guards turned away journalists...

See also :
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2552-haiti-aristide-back-home.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2555-haiti-politic-first-speech-of-aristide.html

Source :HaitiLibre 

Haiti - Inauguration : Michel Martelly, 56th President of Haiti

Before receiving the presidential sash, the President-elect Michel Joseph Martelly, had made solemn the oath "I swear before God and the Nation, to faithfully observe the Constitution and laws of the Republic, to respect and enforce the rights of the Haitian people, to work to the greatness of the Fatherland, to maintain the National Independence and territorial integrity."

Then, the outgoing President René Garcia Préval handed the presidential sash to the President of the National Assembly, the Senator Jean Rodolphe Joazile, which has given it to President elected Joseph Michel Martelly, who thus becomes the 56th President of Haiti.

A ceremony that took place partially in a semi-darkness due to a power outage...

HL/ HaitiLibr


source:www.haitilibre.com/en

Haiti - Inauguration : Course of the day, official schedule

Fritz Jean-Louis coordinator of Committee has confirmed yesterday that "the activities will take place on three sites, first part will be in Parliament more particularly on the Place of the United Nations where we have a premises that we built to accommodate the activities of the oath, then the President will move, as the tradition wants it, at the Musée du Panthéon national haïtien (MUPANAH) to lay a wreath. Then he will visit the National Palace to attend the Mass which will be followed by a Te Deum, then the President will make his first address to the nation. Then, as the tradition wants it he will make a review of the troops before leaving the National Palace in direction of the Karibe Hotel where there will be a reception for dignitaries and personalities.

Official schedule :
7:00 am : Opening of the extraordinary sessions of the Constitutional oath of President-elect Joseph Michel Martelly
8:00 a.m. : Formal sitting in National Assembly during which the president-elect will make the constitutional oath.
9:30 a.m. : The President of the Republic, accompanied by the first lady will lay a wreath at the monument of the MUPANAH.
11:00 a.m. : Solemn Mass followed by "Te Deum" on the lawn of the National Palace.
11:30 a.m. : Address to the Nation of the President of the Republic on the lawn of the National Palace.
12h00 p.m. : Review of Units of the National Police of Haiti by the Head of State accompanied by the Director General of the HNP.
2:00 p.m. : Lunch offered by LLEE the president of the Republic and the First Lady in honor of foreign delegations at the Karibe Hotel.
4:30 p.m. : Private audience granted to heads of delegation who requested it.

Follow the inauguration of President Joseph Michel Martelly Live


www.livestream.com/martelly


Source :www.haitilibre.com/en

Haiti - Energy : Solar energy arrives in the villages

Six trailers containing modular photovoltaic generating systems are about to be shipped from Long Island, N.Y., to Haiti. These solar arrays are the product of an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) humanitarian initiative, in which volunteer work by a handful of dedicated and visionary engineers has been key.

Each village unit of the SunBlazer system destined for Haiti consists of six photovoltaic panels, capable of generating 7 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day and charging a 40 12-Volt lead-acid battery pack. Each pack will service a lighting kit in a home.The modular systems consist largely of off-the-shelf technology provided by two cooperating companies,Nextek Power Systems and Russell Engineering.

Ray Larsen conceived the SunBlazer program in the context of the IEEE Humanitarian Technology Challenge, a three-year initiative that sought to drive development of new technology for reliable electricity, electronic health records, and health data transmission. Toward the end of last year the SunBlazer volunteers obtained $50,000 from the Humanitarian Challenge, and then got $75,000 more from the IEEE Nuclear Plasma and Sciences Society, Larsen's main affiliation. The IEEE Power and Energy Society has provided an additional $20,000 to support related work.

Almost all the money raised to support the solar program--about $125,000 for the initial phase--has gone to purchase parts. Engineering and planning has been done on a pro bono basis. The business plan the volunteers developed through Sirona Cares, an NGO committed to business development in Haiti, is perhaps more innovative than the technology. A private company, Sirona-Haiti, will own all the equipment and franchise it to village entrepreneurs. They will repay the cost of the equipment out of proceeds collected from villagers and raise venture capital to support large-scale production in Haiti.

"Ultimately, Sirona-Haiti's goal is to build up to 4,500 trailers serving a million Haitians in the firsts five years" says Ray Larsen, the father of the program.

ntil SunBlazer becomes self-sustaining as a business, it will continue to rely mainly on contributions from societies and foundations, says Larsen, But it also is happy to receive individual donations.


Source:HL/ HaitiLibre 

Obama rejects releasing bin Laden death photo

he streets around bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad
remain sealed off and guarded by police [EPA]

US president decides against releasing images of al-Qaeda leader's body as some raise concerns over legality of raid.

Barack Obama, the US president, has told an American television channel that he has decided not to release photos showing the body of Osama Bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader, after he was killed by US commandos.

Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, said Obama had consulted members of his national security team before making the decision.

Carney said that in the interview with CBS, Obama had stressed it was important to keep photographic evidence from "floating around as incitement or propaganda tool".

"That is not who we are. We don't trot this stuff out as trophies," Obama was quoted as saying in the interview for the channel's "60 Minutes" programme.

"There is no doubt that we killed Osama bin Laden. You will not see bin Laden walking on this Earth again," the president said.

"It is not in our national security interests to allow those images, as has  been in the past been the case, to become icons to rally opinion against the United States," Carney said.

Raid photos

US officials who have seen the pictures taken of bin Laden's body have described them as "gruesome".

Kelly Ayotte, a Republican senator, said on Wednesday that she had seen one picture showing bin Laden's face and that she believed it confirmed his identity.
Obama's decision cames as the Reuters news agency released photographs it said were taken about an hour after the US assault on bin Laden's compound.

Reuters said it bought the images of three men killed in
the US raid from a Pakistani official [Reuters]

The pictures show three dead men lying in pools of blood, but no weapons.

The photos, said to have been taken by a Pakistani security official who entered the compound after the early morning raid on Monday, show two men dressed in traditional Pakistani clothing and one in a t-shirt.

The official, who wished to remain anonymous, sold the pictures to Reuters, the agency said.


'National self-defence'
The US attorney general has said that killing bin Laden was an act of national self-defence, countering allegations that the raid by US forces on his Pakistani hide-out was illegal.
Eric Holder said on Wednesday that the al-Qaeda leader was a legitimate military target and that he had made no attempt to surrender to the commandos that stormed his fortified compound.
"It was justified as an act of national self-defence," Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee, citing bin Laden's admission of being involved in the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.


It was lawful to target bin Laden because he was the enemy commander in the field and the operation was conducted in a way that was consistent with US laws and values, he said, adding that it was a "kill or capture mission".
"If he had surrendered, attempted to surrender, I think we should obviously have accepted that, but there was no indication that he wanted to do that and therefore his killing was appropriate," Holder said.
Washington's acknowledgment on Tuesday that bin Laden was unarmed when shot dead had raised accusations that the US had violated international law.
Geoffrey Robertson, a prominent London-based human rights lawyer, said the killing "may well have been a cold-blooded assassination" that risked making bin Laden a martyr.
'Intelligence failure'
Pakistan has welcomed bin Laden's death, but its foreign ministry expressed deep concerns about the raid, which it called an "unauthorised unilateral action".
The CIA said it kept Pakistan out of the loop because it feared bin Laden would be tipped off, highlighting the depth of mistrust between the two supposed allies.
Pakistan's prime ministeer blamed worldwide intelligence lapses for a failure to detect bin Laden, while Washington worked to establish whether its ally had sheltered the al-Qaeda leader, which Islamabad vehemently denies.
"There is an intelligence failure of the whole world, not just Pakistan alone," Yusuf Raza Gilani told reporters in Paris.
"[If there are] ... lapses from the Pakistan side, that means there are lapses from the whole world."
Pakistan has come under intense international scrutiny since bin Laden's death, with questions on whether its security agencies were too incompetent to catch him or knew all along where he was hiding, and even whether they were complicit.

National 'embarrassment'

Holder, the US attorney general, said bin Laden's
killing 'was justified as an act of national self-defence' [EPA]

The Pakistani newspaper Dawn compared the incident with the admission in 2004 that one of the country's top scientists had sold its nuclear secrets.
"Not since Abdul Qadeer Khan confessed to transferring nuclear technology to Iran and Libya has Pakistan suffered such an embarrassment," it said.
The streets around bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad remained sealed off on Wednesday, with police and soldiers allowing only residents to pass through.
"It's a crime, but what choice are you left with if I'm not handing over your enemy who is hiding in my house?" said Hussain Khan, a retired government official living nearby, when asked about the apparent violation of Pakistan's sovereignty.
"Obviously you will go and get him yourself."
A New York Times/CBS News poll showed Obama's approval ratings jumped 11 points to 57 per cent after the operation, though many Americans fear revenge attacks.



Source :Aljazeera Agencies

Osama bin Laden killed

US president confirms that al-Qaeda leader has been killed in operation in Pakistan and that his body is in US custody. Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, is dead. US president Barack Obama said bin Laden, the most-wanted fugitive on the US list, has been killed in a US operation in Pakistan. "Tonight, I can report to the people of the United States and the world, the United States had carried an operation that has killed Osama Bin Laden, a terrorist responsible for killing thousands of innocent people," Obama said in a statement. A US source told the Reuters news agency that bin Laden had been killed in a house outside Islamabad in a US operation. His body is apparently in the possession of the US. Qais Azimy, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Kabul, said that Afghan officials have confirmed that bin Laden had died and that his body was with the United States. The officials said the death of the al-Qaeda leader was more of a "symbolic victory", as he was no longer directly connected to the group's field operations, Azimy reported.  It is a major accomplishment for Obama and his national security team. Obama's predecessor, George Bush, had repeatedly vowed to bring to justice the mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, but never did before leaving office in early 2009. He had been the subject of a search since he eluded US soldiers and Afghan militia forces in a large-scale assault on the Tora Bora mountains in 2001. The trail quickly went cold after he disappeared and many intelligence officials believed he had been hiding in Pakistan. While in hiding, bin Laden had taunted the West and advocated his views in videotapes spirited from his hideaway. Besides September 11, Washington has also linked bin Laden to a string of attacks -- including the 1998 bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and the 2000 bombing of the warship USS Cole in Yemen. Having the body may help convince any doubters that bin Laden is really dead.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Haiti - Social : "My passport is Haitian I'm Proud" dixit Martelly

On a radio of the capital, the President elected Michel Martelly has denied some rumors that suggest that he has a foreign nationality.

"I feel that it is a campaign that is organized by people who can not even believe that Michel Martelly is the country's President [...]

I'm Haitian, I never renounced to my citizenship, my passport is Haitian I'm proud, by the way I sang Haiti throughout my career. I'm not ready to renounce to my nationality, on the contrary I am ready to ensure that the Haitian people is proud of its nationality.

For people who start these rumors I told them that it is unfortunate, because firstly the person that they do not want to see is there, Michel Martelly is President of the Republic [...], the second thing is that I am as their President, I am there to serve them, so even when they are sending me negative vibes, as bull I will absorb them and I'm not going back to them, I will send love and I'll send them my participation to change the country."

HL/ HaitiLibre