Haiti's Martelly seeks new taxes to help schools

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti's president-elect announced Tuesday that he intends to impose taxes on money transfers and international cellphone calls to help finance schools across the chronically impoverished country.

Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly, who last week was declared the official winner of a March 20 presidential runoff but will not take office until May 14, said Haiti's three telecommunication companies have agreed to charge an additional 5 cents a minute to help bankroll schools.

The levy on international phone calls with companies Digicel, Voila and Haitel would raise roughly $36 million annually, Martelly said. The program, he added, would take effect June 1 if lawmakers approve the plan.

During campaigning, Martelly pledged to ensure that all children in Haiti receive a free education. Haitian parents now spend the bulk of their salaries on education but few of their children learn much because the quality of schools is considered so dismal.

Martelly said his government will also approach money transfer businesses to see if they would agree to donate a dollar for each remittance sent to Haiti to help fund schools. He also said that restructuring Haiti's popular lottery might generate income for bettering education. He disclosed few details of these proposals, however.

Martelly's education plans were unveiled at a press conference as international election observers sift through contested results for 19 legislative races from the March 20 runoff.

The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince and the United Nations expressed concerns over discrepancies between the final results released last week and preliminary results released April 4. The new results showed that candidates in 19 races received thousands of votes that they didn't have in the initial results, and expanded the presence of Haiti's ruling Unity party in parliament.

Martelly, a first-time politician who won 67 percent of the vote in the country's presidential elections, is not a member of Unity.

Martelly has called for an investigation into the reversals but said little on the matter Tuesday.

"The vote of the population should be respected," he said. "We can't build democracy with a stolen election."

Fin de la Continuité d'un Régime ? - Par Ray Killick

24 avril 2011

RayHammertonKillick-conscience@yahoo.com

Préval tente désespérément de réaliser au moins une partie de son plan électoral machiavélique de domination de l'échiquier politique qui prévoyait:

1) Le retour de Jean-Claude Duvalier pour détourner l'attention des résultats du premier tour du scrutin et propulser Jude Célestin au deuxième tour

2) Un second tour : Célestin vs. Manigat

3) Un Célestin triomphant au second tour (Cependant, le plan déjoué par l'international, Préval a dû adopter Mirlande Manigat qui embrasse à son tour l'Inité et sa continuité. Erreur stratégique monumentale qui lui fait perdre la confiance de supporters puissants du premier tour.)

4) Le retour d'Aristide pour influencer le second tour (pawol de gren gòch: Malanga pou Manigat, etc. Lèt bèf pi bon pase lèt manman)

5) Le détournement des résultats à la faveur de Mirlande Manigat (Qui-perd-gagne-et-perd était le moyen le plus sûr de réaliser la récupération du pouvoir. On a fait croire à la candidate malheureuse qu'on allait éliminer une telle quantité de PVs qu'elle serait l'heureuse élue avec ses 31% qui deviendraient alors comme par enchantement 51% des résultats validés par le CEP magouilleur.)

6) Éventuellement le contrôle du parlement et donc du prochain gouvernement.

Évidemment, tout cela se concoctait sans prendre au sérieux la détermination de l'international d'élever la voix et de faire des pressions directes où cela fait mal :

1) Révocation par l'ambassade américaine des visas des petits-jouisseurs du parlement et du gouvernement inconscients de leurs responsabilités en tant que serviteurs publics. Résultat : Jude Célestin est éliminé

2) Pression de dernière heure de l'international à la veille du 5 avril (déclaration des résultats préliminaires) pour faire respecter le vote populaire et éviter au pays des jours sombres : les résultats préfabriqués qui ont bercé d'illusion le camp Manigat sont écartés, Martelly remporte le deuxième tour, car le coup "pa konpran'n" est avorté.

L'ambassade américaine vient d'émettre un communiqué condamnant les magouilles de Préval et du CEP pour catapulter 18 "triple J" au parlement. (entendez "député j'approve"). Décidément, Préval et consorts ne veulent donner aucune chance à ce pays même après avoir amassé des fortunes colossales et détruit des relations internationales qui auraient permis de tirer avantage de la bonne disposition de certains gouvernements à notre égard. (Où sont passés les $270 millions de Chavez ? Où sont les autres usines électriques que Chavez avait promis ? )

Bertrand Woldson du CERESS écrit : "Il faudra qu'à l'avenir, il n'y ait plus d'amateurs au CEP. Il nous faut travailler pour que soit nommé dans les hautes fonctions au niveau de l'institution électorale, des hommes et des femmes de caractère, probes, honnêtes, crédibles, compétents, sérieux et travailleurs."

Je suis d'accord avec la deuxième partie concernant un CEP d'hommes et de femmes crédibles. Quant à la première partie, elle est beaucoup trop gentille à l'égard de magouilleurs et de valets du pouvoir apatride, car il ne s'agit pas d'amateurs ici, il s'agit bien de vauriens qui nous attirent la honte de l'étranger et leur intervention permanente dans nos affaires pour nous rappeler à l'ordre comme des gamins qui n'ont pas encore atteint l'âge de la raison. C'est une situation extrêmement grave. J'espère qu'au moins le prochain pouvoir saura restaurer l'autorité et la compétence de l'État à tous les niveaux pour mettre fin à cette continuité de régimes démissionaires depuis 1957, régimes de "san-manmans", de "m'fè sa'm vle, sa'm pi pito".

Cette dernière version du régime de 1957 que nous vivons depuis 1994 avec le retour d'Aristide a produit les pages les plus sombres de toute l'histoire nationale depuis 1804. Les sinistres auteurs de l'histoire de ces dix-sept dernières années ont tellement tout chambardé que nous ne savons plus ce que c'est que l'État, le rôle du serviteur public et l'État sine ira et studio, etc. Voilà ce qu'on obtient quand un visionnaire de l'Enfer sur Terre, François Duvalier, croit que le meilleur moyen de promouvoir la Classe (les noiristes) est de lui permettre de piller l'État au détriment des masses, au détriment du public, leur propre détriment en fin de compte. Voilà où nous amène la politique de la peau. Voilà pourquoi nous avons une logique de régime dont la finalité ne pouvait être que la destruction complète de l'État. En d'autres termes, le duvaliérisme, le noirisme et lavalas ne sont qu'une seule et même chose issue d'une conception originale de la chose publique qui une fois matérialisée ne pouvait qu'amorcer la chute libre de l'État-nation.  Voilà pourquoi 1986 était irrécupérable dans un vacuum de leadership, 1991 un leurre d'un vulgaire orateur de carrefours, 1994 une illusion made in White House de Bill Clinton, et 2004 une trahison de peuple par le Groupe des 184. Que sera 2011 au regard de 2016 ?

Tout dépend des forces rivales qui ont amené Michel Martelly au pouvoir et surtout de la capacité de leadership de ce dernier. Si Martelly se contente tout simplement de n'être qu'un instrument ou un cheval de bataille de ces forces, Haïti est foutue. Si par contre Martelly a suffisamment de dextérité politique, il saura rebattre ses cartes et refaire ses alliances pour assembler les forces capables de transformer l'État en État de droit et le mettre au service du public. Le camp de l'honnêteté et du service public est le camp de la solitude en ce pays de misères où les plus vocaux se posent en patriotes pour enfin régler leurs petites affaires, leurs petites patates, une fois arrivés au pouvoir. J'ai lu une fois Martelly paler de la culture d'exécution. J'espère qu'il y croit et qu'il saura se hisser à la hauteur de l'enjeu de l'heure et poser pour la postérité en implantant cette culture au sein de l'État. Ce serait un tour de force à nul autre pareil et qui vaudrait à son architecte et réalisateur le titre de pater patrii (le père de sa patrie).

Toutes les fois que ce pays a eu une opportunité de négocier un redépart, les forces du moment se sont crues invincibles et pérennes. Elles croyaient pouvoir gérer le pouvoir que par la force et la démagogie au lieu d'émanciper ce peuple et gagner sa confiance en le ramenant "des bois" vers la civilisation . Elles ont perdu le pouvoir évidemment sans que le régime de la Classe ne change. Le meilleur moyen d'évincer les forces de la Classe (noiriste, pilleuse, anti-public, anti-patrie, anti-émancipation) est de faire vivre au pays un nouveau contrat social et non lui dédier un morceau de papier bourré de mensonges comme en 2004. La Caravane de l'Espoir des riches ne doit pas être un leurre, un moyen vers des fins inavouées et inavouables, "ban'n de san-manman". À bon entendeur, salut ! À 2016 !

Haiti’s ‘Sweet Micky’ Martelly turns presidential - Washington Post

Washington post - 4/23/11
Haiti’s president-elect, Michel Martelly, known universally to his countrymen as “Sweet Micky,” is — let’s be delicate about this — a new kind of political figure.

Wildly popular during his two-decade career as a singer, he was notorious for wearing a diaper during performances, for mooning his audiences and for gleefully leading his fans in obscene chants and taunts. Given that stage persona, Haitians barely batted an eye at revelations during this year’s presidential campaign that Martelly used to snort cocaine and that several homes he owned in Florida were foreclosed on.

But the “Sweet Micky” of yore was gone last week when he arrived in Washington for meetings with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and international aid organizations. In his place was a spruced up president-elect, wrapped in a dark suit, sporting a sober tie and escorted by an entourage of thin-skinned advisers who bristled at questions about his past.

Martelly wants to be taken seriously. And thank goodness.

“Sometimes I feel like people don’t give me credit — I didn’t win the Lotto. There were 19 candidates, and I debated them and I beat them all,” he said during a visit to The Post.

If ever a country needed no-nonsense leadership, it’s Haiti right now. And if ever a country has suffered from an onslaught of political calamity combined with cataclysmic disasters, it’s Haiti for the last, well, pick your time period.

The earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince in January 2010, on the heels of devastating back-to-back hurricanes, crippled the hemisphere’s poorest nation. No amount of media marveling at the resilience of the Haitian people or the full-court press of international relief efforts could change the facts: hundreds of thousands of kids orphaned and out of school, a million people left homeless, a capital city carpeted in rubble and an economy on life support.

Even as Haiti skirted post-quake fears of looting and violence, it was further ravaged last fall by one of the world’s worst recent outbreaks of cholera, an epidemic that has killed 5,000 people, infected a quarter-million and is still not finished claiming victims.


Haiti’s already weak government, which lost at least a third of its senior civil servants when the ministry buildings collapsed, was rendered almost irrelevant. The listless President Rene Preval, his term coming to a close, all but disappeared.

That sets the bar low for Martelly, who promises a new start when he is inaugurated next month. He is busy fleshing out his mostly vague campaign promises, stressing the rule of law, free public education, jobs and new homes for the throngs still living in tent cities, and help for poor farmers.

“I must admit that my popularity [as an entertainer] has helped me,” he said. “But the election was not about my popularity. It was about my character traits — honesty, determination, combativeness and preparation.”

It was also about being a fresh, vital force on the political scene, bringing with him energy and a new (mostly untested) crop of advisers, unbeholden to any recent political establishment. Little wonder that in the runoff election, Martelly, who is 50, beat a professorial 70-year-old former first lady 2 to 1.

The president-elect has a troubling reputation for having pals that include some of the worst thugs and coup-plotters from Haiti’s dark recent decades. But in person, many of his instincts seem spot-on. I asked about his plans for Haiti’s gleaming white presidential palace — long a symbol of opu­lence and repression — which collapsed in the earthquake. “I must say, that’s the least of my worries,” he answered with a shrug. “I can stay at my house.”

Asked about Jean-Claude Duvalier and Jean-Bertrand Aristide — divisive former presidents who have recently returned to Haiti from exile and who might face prosecution — he passed, saying he preferred not to interfere with any judicial proceedings.

Martelly was quizzed about his plans to resurrect the Haitian army, an infamously cruel, corrupt and repressive institution abolished by Aristide in 1994. At that, his advisers got their backs up, especially at the suggestion that a reconstituted army would be a Praetorian Guard used, as in the past, as muscle to enforce the president’s personal will. They insisted that this time around, the army would fight smugglers and stay clear of politics — with the added benefit of providing jobs. But it is not clear that money exists for an army, and foreign donors are not likely to pay for one.

Questioned about his future as an entertainer, or his one-time pledge to perform naked on the palace roof if he were elected president, Martelly demurred, presidentially. “After three or four years, if I see everyone in school and people with jobs and progress,” he said, “I’ll be happy enough to sing a song.” Fully dressed, one suspects.

UN, donor nations voice concern over Haiti vote fraud

The United Nations and Haiti's major donor nations, including the United States, have voiced concern over allegations of fraud in final results of the country's legislative elections.

Haiti's president-elect Michel Martelly, pictured at a press conference in Washington DC, urged the international community to "not recognize the results of legislative elections" tainted by fraud to benefit the ruling party.

Reversals in 18 legislative races raised doubts about the legitimacy of the voting process, according to Haiti's main benefactors.

The concerns coincided with outbreaks of violence in parts of Haiti that left at least one person dead during protests over the final election tally.

A UN statement issued in Port-au-Prince Friday congratulated president-elect Michel Martelly on his victory but noted concerns over the final tally in legislative elections, which overturned 17 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and one in the Senate.

"The final results have therefore raised serious concern about the transparency and legitimacy of the process," said the statement released by the United Nations on behalf of the United States, Brazil, Canada, Spain, France, the European Union and other major donors.

The statement said the United Nations and donor nations "continue to stand with the people of Haiti" and urged all Haitians "to remain calm and work through peaceful means to address this issue."

Martelly called Thursday for an independent probe into alleged fraud by outgoing President Rene Preval's ruling party in the legislative vote.

On Friday, he urged the international community "not recognize" the results of the legislative elections.

"These results are unacceptable and don't reflect the will of the people," said a statement from Martelly's office.

The United States voiced concern over alleged fraud in the legislative elections and said authorities must explain how some of the final results came to be reversed.

"We have found no explanation for the reversals of 18 legislative races in the final results, which in all except two cases benefited the incumbent party," the State Department said in a statement, adding it had reviewed official data from the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), the United Nations and observers.

"The United States calls upon the government of Haiti and the (CEP) to provide a thorough, public explanation for the reversals in these 18 races" following the second-round legislative elections on March 20, it added.

Without a public explanation and a review by outside observers, "the legitimacy of seating these candidates is in question."

UN peacekeepers were placed on maximum alert in Haiti as violence flared following publication of the fraud-tainted results.

"There have been additional incidents of violence since yesterday in rural areas... Our troops have been redeployed and are using extreme caution," UN spokeswoman Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg told AFP. "Our forces are on maximum alert."

While Martelly won the presidency with a resounding 67.5 percent of the vote, the ruling Unity Party expanded its presence in the Chamber of Deputies, taking 46 of the 99 positions, and gained an absolute majority in the upper Senate with 17 of the 30 seats, according to final results announced Thursday.

Martelly's fledgling Reypons Peysan party won only three parliamentary seats, and to enact the reforms Haiti needs he will have to forge deals with Unity.

According to the US State Department, the discrepancies included a Unity Party candidate who placed third in the preliminary results finishing first according to the final results.

Total votes in that race increased by 55,000 votes, from 90,000 votes in the preliminary results to 145,000 in the final results, the State Department said.

The latest fraud allegations followed similar concerns after the first round of voting that initially saw Martelly excluded from the run-off, placing third.

Only after international pressure and street protests were those results modified, allowing Martelly to qualify in place of ruling party candidate Jude Celestin.

Washington called on a joint electoral observation mission by the Organization of American States and Caribbean Community CARICOM to witness the documentation of the final results in the interest of transparency and fairness.

"The Haitian people, who have participated with great patience in the two rounds of elections, deserve nothing less," the US statement said.

Martelly faces the daunting task of rebuilding a Caribbean nation still trying to recover from a January 2010 earthquake that killed more than 225,000 people, displaced 1.5 million and left the capital in ruins.

Note de Presse du bureau du President elu Michel J. Martelly{ Suite aux elections legislaTIVES

Note de Presse

Le président élu Michel Joseph Martelly prend note de la publication des résultats définitifs des élections du 20 mars 2011 par le Conseil Electoral Provisoire consacrant officiellement sa victoire en cette nuit historique du 20 avril 2011.


Le président élu constate que ces résultats ont été étrangement manipulés quant aux législatives où des sénateurs et députés élus qui étaient largement en tête au premier tour sont systématiquement écartés au profit de candidats proche de INITE, le parti actuellement au pouvoir. Ces résultats sont inadmissibles, et ne reflètent pas la volonté populaire.


Le Président élu Michel Joseph Martelly demande que les résultats des législatives tels que publiés par le CEP ne soient nullement reconnus par la communauté internationale. Le peuple Haïtien a voté pour le changement et son vote doit être inévitablement respecté.


Le président élu Michel Joseph Martelly constate qu’il y a des protestations et dérapages un peu partout à travers le pays et lance un appel au calme tout en partageant l’indignation de la population.


Il en appelle à l’OEA pour l’envoi d’une mission d’urgence en vue de la création dans l’immédiat d’une Commission indépendante de révision pour évaluer et faire la lumière sur ces résultats avec le support des autres organismes internationaux déjà engagés dans le processus. Il invite le président René Préval à ne pas entériner la publication de ces résultats avant la publication d’un rapport de cette commission.


Le président élu remercie le peuple haïtien de la confiance placée en lui en ce tournant historique et promet de tout mettre en œuvre pour améliorer, voire changer complètement ses conditions d’existence dans l’inclusion, la réconciliation, mais aussi et surtout dans le respect de son expression démocratique et son aspiration à un changement réel et effectif.
　
Bureau du Président élu Michel Joseph Martelly

Statement of the United States on the Final Results of the Second Round of the Elections in Haiti

22 April 2011
2011/17

The United States shares the concern referenced by the Organization of American States (OAS)/CARICOM Joint Electoral Observation Mission (JEOM) regarding the reports and allegations of fraud surrounding the final results announced by the Conseil Electoral Provisoire (CEP) for the March 20 second-round legislative elections as a result of the contestation process.

After reviewing the results and materials provided by the CEP, United Nations, and international observers, we have found no explanation for the reversals of 18 legislative races in the final results, which in all except two cases benefited the incumbent party. These reversals include, among other changes, a candidate from the Lavni party who placed second in the preliminary announced results that the CEP's final results now place first, with total votes cast in the race increasing bymore than 33,000 votes casts from 111,575 votes in the preliminary results to more 145,000 votes; and, two candidates from the incumbent party who placed second in the preliminary announced results, and for whom their CEP's final results double their preliminary vote total, one of whose new vote total exceeds the total number of votes cast in his district for all candidates. [The attached spreadsheet lays out the facts in the reversals that occurred.]

 

As a partner invited by the Haitian Government to support and participate in the electoral process, the United States calls upon the Government of Haiti and the CEP to provide a thorough, public explanation for the reversals in these 18 races. The United States also calls upon the JEOM to observe the documentation supporting the CEP’s final announced results for these 18 races to increase transparency so that the people of Haiti can be assured of their fairness.  The Haitian people, who have participated with great patience in the two rounds of elections, deserve nothing less.  Without a public explanation and review by the JEOM, the legitimacy of seating these candidates is in question.

(End of text) 

CNN Files Lawsuit Againt Haitian Broadcaster, Haiti Live Networks

CNN is picking a fight with a broadcaster from troubled Haiti over its choice of acronym. The cable news giant has filed a trademark suit against Haiti Live Networks, claiming that CNN already holds domain over "HLN" for its Headline News network.

Haiti Live Networks operates a website that describes its programming as the "first Network to broadcast live TV signals from Haiti to customers in markets outside the country 24 hours a day and 7 days a week."

CNN has doubts whether Haiti Live Networks was established in good faith. According to a complaint filed late last week in Georgia federal court, CNN says the domain name, HLNTV.com, as well as an affiliated Twitter feed, were registered with the intention to profit by creating confusion in the marketplace. CNN alleges the "deception" caused by use of a HLN logo is causing "irreparable harm" to its HLN brand.

CNN is suing for trademark infringement, unfair competition, and cybersquatting, and demanding profits, attorney's fees, punitive damages, and an order that the domain name be transferred.

CNN's HLN has been airing since 1982 with a couple name changes, and currently averages just over 200,000 viewers daily.

State Department Remarks With Haitian President-Elect Michel Martelly After Their Meeting

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Treaty Room

Washington, DC

April 20, 2011

---

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, good afternoon, everyone. It is a great pleasure and an honor for me to welcome the President-elect to the State Department on behalf of the United States Government, and to formally congratulate President-elect Martelly on his victory in the election.

I also congratulate the people of Haiti on the election. It not only affirmed and strengthened the foundations of Haiti’s democracy; it also helped shine light on the work that has been done and the work that still has to be done to recover from the damage of the earthquake and firmly set Haiti on a path to long-term stability and development. And perhaps most importantly, this election offered the people of Haiti an opportunity to give voice to their dreams for their country’s future. And now it will be up to Mr. Martelly and his government to do everything in their power to help achieve those dreams.

This election comes at a critical moment. In the 15 months since the earthquake, there has been progress in important areas. Twenty percent of the rubble, more than 2 million cubic meters, has been cleared, and that was through a program that employed more than 350,000 people that the United States was proud to support. A new industrial park near Cap Haitien, through a joint effort by the Government of Haiti, the United States, and the Inter-American Development Bank has been created. It has its first tenant, the global textile firm Sae-A, which alone is projected to create 20,000 permanent export-oriented jobs. And we expect more companies to be drawn to Haiti because of a very important piece of legislation passed by Congress last year called the Haiti Economic Lift Program, the HELP program, which significantly increased U.S. trade preferences for exports of apparel from Haiti. We also want to acknowledge the successful response by the Haitian Ministry of Health and Population and the international community to curtail the cholera epidemic.

Now these are successes that deserve to be celebrated, but we also know that there is a lot that lies ahead for the new president, for the government, and the people of Haiti. Still, there’s a lot of rubble to be cleared. There are still 650,000 people living in camps. The hurricane season is once again approaching. We want to do everything we can to be a good partner for Haiti as it takes steps that it must take, making it easier, for example, to transfer ownership of state-owned land for affordable housing, to streamline the process for registering new businesses, getting construction permits approved, attracting investment and encouraging growth. We also know that the prisons in Haiti are overcrowded. Eighty percent of those detained have yet to face trial. Updating criminal codes, processing the backlog of demands, and implementing other judicial reforms will go a long way toward creating a functioning and more humane justice system.

We know this takes leadership, which we have seen Mr. Martelly exhibit in his very vigorous campaign. We know it takes political will, which we know he has, a commitment to transparency and good governance, and to getting results for people. I am very encouraged by the campaign that Mr. Martelly ran, his emphasis on the people and their needs, his willingness to be very clear in what he hoped to achieve on their behalf, and now he has a chance to lead. And we are behind him. We have a great deal of enthusiasm. This is not only a goal of our foreign policy, but it is a personal priority for me, my husband, and many of us here in Washington.

Now some of you may know that Mr. Martelly’s campaign slogan was “Tet Kale.” Now I’m told the literal translation of that slogan is “Baldhead,” which doesn’t need any further explanation. (Laughter.) But “Tet Kale” is also an expression that means “All the way.” And the people of Haiti may have a long road ahead of them, but as they walk it, the United States will be with you all the way. Thank you, sir. (Applause.)

PRESIDENT-ELECT MARTELLY: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much. I would like to thank especially Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for having hosted me and my team. This is the second time that we meet since your visit in Haiti. I would like to extend my thanks to the Obama Administration and to the President himself. Once again, the elections of November and March demonstrated the fierce determination of the Haitian people to build its own democracy.
Now, it is up to me to transform my campaign promises into an action plan. Clearly, I have huge challenges in front of me, but I intend to meet them. In spite of the generous donations of the American citizens, which have reached $1.2 billion received by 53 NGOs, and in spite of the donation by the Government of the United States of $1.5 billion, we still have 1.7 million people who still live under tents after 15 long months of waiting. The cholera epidemic, if it is not contained and if Haitians are not vaccinated, this epidemic threatens to extend itself to the entire country during the upcoming rainy and hurricane season. In addition, starting on June 1^st, the country will have to confront up to 16 hurricanes scheduled – anticipated next summer. The reconstruction process is despairingly slow.

These were the complaints that were expressed by a desperate population throughout my election campaign. This is why recovering and restarting the economy is a fundamental necessity for my government. This is why I plan on working relentlessly towards the reconstruction of the framework of international aid, to give new life to the business sector, and to develop the capabilities of government institutions and of civil society.

Madam Secretary of State, I am truly counting on you to ensure that this restructuring of foreign aid be truly effective for Haiti. Bilateral cooperation also involves fighting against drugs and corruption, respect for human rights, the establishment of the rule of law, the increased and necessary role of our Diaspora community, TPS, deportees, good governance, recovering agriculture at a special moment where worldwide prices are drastically increasing, and the establishment of a climate favorable for potential and future investors. Our discussions focused on the urgent need to ensure that the aid will be effective for our citizens and to avoid waste.

Finally, I discussed with the Secretary of State President Barack Obama’s offer to create a partnership with Haiti. My new vision for my country is to engage in all of the useful and necessary reforms to ensure that Haiti will be a full member of the modernity of the 21^st century.

Thank you, Madam Secretary, for your very warm welcome. (Applause.)

MR. TONER: We have time for just a couple questions, first one to Jill from CNN.

QUESTION: Thank you. Thank you, Madam Secretary. On Libya, you, it was announced today, have decided to recommend the provision to the President – recommend nonlethal aid for the opposition. Why did you decide to do that, and why now? Isn’t this really a tacit admission that right now, this situation is a stalemate and you, in effect, must do this for an opposition that is incapable of doing it itself?

And then just a quick one on Syria – the emergency law is lifted, the killings go on. Where are we going with this? Isn’t it – the situation now going backwards? What just happened?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Jill, first with respect to Libya, we are moving to authorize up to $25 million in nonlethal commodities and services to support the Transitional National Council and our efforts to protect civilians and the civilian populated areas that are under threat of attack from their own government in Libya. Now the $25 million in goods and services will be drawn down from items already in government stocks that correspond with the needs that we have heard from the Transitional National Council. As you know, we have our special representative Chris Stevens in Benghazi, as well as a USAID team. They have been meeting continuously with representatives there as to what is required in order to support their needs and protect civilians.

Now some of the items are medical supplies, uniforms, boots, tents, personal protective gear, radios, halal meals. There are no new purchases. This is not a blank check. But this action is consistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which among other actions, authorized member states to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas. The Department of State and the Department of Defense are working closely together with other partner nations in order to coordinate on what kind of nonlethal assistance is most necessary, and who among the international community can provide which goods and services.

Now, I think it’s important to point out that this opposition, which has held its own against a brutal assault by the Qadhafi forces, was not an organized militia. It was not a group that had been planning to oppose the rule of Qadhafi for years. It was a spontaneous response within the context of the broader Arab spring. These are mostly businesspeople, students, lawyers, doctors, professors, who have very bravely moved to defend their communities and to call for an end to the regime in Libya, and we are going to continue to take actions consistent with UN authorization to try to fulfill the international commitment.

Now with respect to Syria, we strongly condemn the ongoing violence committed against peaceful protestors by the Syrian Government. We also condemn any use of violence by protestors. We have been consistent, ever since the events of the last months have begun and have continued, that we are calling for an end to violence, we’re calling for peaceful protests, and a political process that can respond to the legitimate needs, interests, and aspirations of the people of the region. And we regret the loss of life and extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of all of the victims.
We are particularly concerned about the situation in Homs, where multiple reports suggest violence and casualties among both civilians and government personnel. It is difficult to independently confirm these accounts because journalists are not being allowed free access to many of these areas. The Syrian Government must allow free movement and free access; it must stop the arbitrary arrests, detentions, and torture of prisoners; and it must cease the violence and begin a serious political process through concrete actions to demonstrate its responsiveness to the legitimate issues that have been raised by the Syrian people seeking substantial and lasting reform.

MR. TONER: From the Miami Herald.

QUESTION: Hi, thank you for taking the questions. This is for both the Secretary of State and the President-elect. One of the points of contention for the Haitian Government has been very interested in getting U.S. aid, direct aid, to the Haitian Government, and I was wondering if that was talked about, and also if there was any talk during your talk of – the President-elect has suggested some sort of a Haitian military group restarting, and if there was talk of that.


PRESIDENT-ELECT MARTELLY: (Via interpreter) With respect to the first part of your question, I would say that American aid has been coming to my country for decades now in various forms, via USAID or through other structures. We talked about various projects, projects that are underway, projects that are on the verge of completion. And I also talked about my priorities, the priorities that I emphasized during my campaign, which were education, relocation of the people who were living under the tents and, of course, restarting agriculture. So those are some of the priorities that I emphasized during my campaign.

As to the second part of your question, I would say that right now, MINUSTAH is the country, is in Haiti. It is playing an important role. It is safeguarding the peace, maintaining peace in the country. So when the time will come to consider a rebuilding of a new force, we will talk about those issues in a timely fashion.


SECRETARY CLINTON: I would only add to what the President-elect has said, that the United States has pledged not only a partnership, but one where we look to assist him in achieving his priorities for the people of his country. We have also suggested that we can work with the large international and NGO community together so that everyone is committed to pursuing in a transparent, open way the priorities that the President-elect has determined will make the biggest difference in the lives of Haitians. He is committed to results, he wants to deliver for the Haitian people, and we are committed to helping him do so.

Thank you all, very much

Note de presse mardi 19 avril 2011 du President elu Michel Martelly

Fructueuses rencontres entre le Président élu Michel Joseph Martelly et les représentants des institutions financières basées à Washington.

Le Président élu Michel Joseph Martelly a bouclé sa première journée de travail ce mardi, à Washington, où il s’est entretenu avec le Président de la Banque Mondiale, Monsieur Bob Zoellick, et celui du Fonds Monétaire International, Mr. Dellyominique Strauss Kahnn.

Le président élu Michel Joseph Martelly, qui se donne pour mission de faire la promotion d’une nouvelle Haïti, a, entre autres, sollicité des dirigeants de ces institutions financières, un rapport complet sur leurs programmes actuels et les projets en cours. Le président élu entend, par cette démarche, s’assurer que les priorités de ces institutions financières sont aussi celles d’Haïti et que ces programmes puissent effectivement contribuer au développement durable du pays.

Le président élu a rencontré des membres et représentants de la Chambre de Commerce des Etats-Unis en vue de les inciter à retourner investir en Haïti. Son message fut clair et direct　:　«　Haïti est désormais ouverte et propice à l’investissement　» et nous allons créer les conditions nécessaires à ces investissements en rétablissant la sécurité, en facilitant la création de sociétés et d’emplois, en accordant des avantages fiscaux aux futurs investisseurs.

Le président élu Michel Joseph Martelly s’entretiendra, ce mercredi, avec la Secrétaire d’Etat américaine Hillary Clinton.

Par cette visite de la capitale américaine, le Président élu, entend convaincre les membres de la communauté internationale qu’une autre et nouvelle Haïti est en train d’émerger et les invite à embrasser et à supporter sa vision pour cette nouvelle et fière Haïti. Les points essentiels de son administration sont axés sur l’éducation, l’agriculture, la création d’emploi, la sécurité et la santé accessible à tous.

Port-au-Prince, le mardi 19 avril 2011

Bureau de Communication

Contact　:

Hérold Israel

3914 2459

Martelly named winner in Haiti's Presidential Election

(CNN) -- It's official. The bad boy of Haitian music is now the troubled nation's new president.

Haiti's electoral council officially declared Michel Martelly the winner of a presidential election that was drawn out since the first round of voting in late November due to irregularities.

Martelly won the second round of the election with 67.57% of the vote, defeating rival Mirlande Manigat, a former first lady.

Martelly responded to the announcement on Twitter. "Begin to take our tools, to clean our country, to get to work," he said in Creole.

Martelly's candidacy was unexpected -- he was better known as Sweet Micky, the kompa singer with flamboyant stage presence. He appealed to voters who had grown weary with the status quo and what they perceived as a lack of progress after the devastating 2010 earthquake.

Even before his presidency had been made official late Wednesday, Martelly was making the rounds in Washington.

"Clearly, I have huge challenges in front of me, but I intend to meet them," he said after a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday.

"The reconstruction process is despairingly slow," he said, citing it as a key complaint of the electorate. "This is why recovering and restarting the economy is a fundamental necessity for my government."

Clinton pledged U.S. support for progress in Haiti, referring to Martelly by his campaign nickname: Tet Kale.

"Now I'm told the literal translation of that slogan is bald head, which doesn't need any further explanation," she said. "But Tet Kale is also an expression that means all the way. And the people of Haiti may have a long road ahead of them, but as they walk it, the United States will be with you all the way.

Many of Haiti's earthquake-affected residents are still without homes and living at risk in makeshift tent cities. Martelly will have to deal with the herculean tasks of rebuilding and restarting the economy.

He has promised transparency, and will have to deal with the corruption that has plagued previous administrations.

"This is why I plan on working relentlessly towards the reconstruction of the framework of international aid, to give new life to the business sector, and to develop the capabilities of government institutions and of civil society," he said.

Martelly will be inaugurated May 14 in Port-au-Prince

Michel Martelly songe à amnistier Duvalier et Aristide - La Presse

Publié le 18 avril 2011 à 07h08 | Mis à jour à 11h10 

Vincent Marissal
La Presse

Le nouveau président d'Haïti, Michel Martelly, ne prendra pas de décisions précipitées dans le cas des anciens présidents Jean-Claude Duvalier et Jean-Bertrand Aristide, mais il songe à leur accorder une amnistie dans le but, dit-il, de favoriser le processus de réconciliation dans son pays durement éprouvé.

Dans une entrevue exclusive à La Presse, via Skype, le populaire chanteur qui deviendra officiellement président dans les prochains jours, dit avoir un «plan pour l'avenir, pas pour le passé», tout en précisant qu'il respecte la douleur des victimes de ces régimes.

Cette position risque de faire des remous, en particulier auprès des centaines de Québécois d'origine haïtienne qui ont dû fuir leur pays pendant les années Bébé Doc (de 1971 à 1986), le plus souvent après avoir été arrêtés, torturés, menacés. Ces gens s'organisent pour faire condamner l'ancien dictateur, une démarche soutenue, notamment, par l'organisme Human Rights Watch.

On accuse Jean-Claude Duvalier d'être responsable de milliers de morts et de disparitions. À son retour à Port-au-Prince, en janvier, il a été accusé formellement de corruption et de détournement de fonds. Il a toutefois été relâché.

En entrevue, le président Martelly promet par ailleurs de mettre fin à des décennies de corruption et de gaspillage pour redonner confiance à son peuple et à la communauté internationale.

Il appelle en outre la diaspora haïtienne à revoir sa relation avec la mère patrie et reconnaît que les dirigeants de son pays ont cruellement manqué à leurs obligations dans le passé.

Voici, en blocs distincts, résumant les immenses défis qui se dressent devant Haïti, les réponses, le plan et la vision de son nouveau président.

1. Reconstruire le pays

Avant le tremblement de terre de janvier 2010, Haïti représentait déjà un défi incommensurable. Alors, maintenant, avec la dévastation en plus, peut-on encore y croire? Par où commencer?

«Les priorités sont multiples, reprend M. Martelly. On parle d'éducation, de relocalisation de ceux qui vivent sous les tentes, de la relance agricole, de la faim, de la crise alimentaire, de l'accès inexistant à la santé...

«Pour moi, le plus important, c'est de parler de la confiance qui n'existe plus entre la population et l'État et avec les partenaires d'Haïti. Il est impératif de rétablir cette confiance de telle sorte que l'on donne courage et force à la population. Redonner aussi confiance aux amis et partenaires d'Haïti parce que ça fait longtemps qu'ils se penchent sur la cause haïtienne et, malgré tout, on tarde à voir des résultats. On se demande même si c'est fait exprès. Et finalement on a réalisé que c'est le leadership haïtien qui n'a jamais donné la priorité aux intérêts d'Haïti, qui n'a jamais voulu donner ce développement durable, ce qui fait que l'on doit aujourd'hui vivre d'assistanat.»

Et que dites-vous aux Québécois qui pensent que ça ne vaut plus la peine de donner de l'argent à Haïti, que c'est un trou sans fond?

«D'abord, je leur dis merci d'avoir essayé, d'avoir fait ça avec leur coeur. Je connais bien l'amour que les Québécois et les Canadiens ont pour Haïti et je comprends aussi leur déception, parce qu'ils voudraient tous voir Haïti changer un jour.

«Je veux leur dire qu'Haïti va changer.

«Je veux voir Haïti progresser et non plus seulement collecter de l'argent. Cela m'intéresse beaucoup plus d'inviter les partenaires à faire des dons d'infrastructures, des hôpitaux, des centres de santé, des bibliothèques, de la machinerie agricole et mettre sur pied une structure de contrôle. Je suis beaucoup moins pour l'argent que pour les résultats.»

«On apporte une garantie: nous avons la bonne volonté. Sous ma présidence, la corruption ne sera pas de mise (...). Je vous garantis des résultats.»

2. Reprendre sa place et ses responsabilités

Qui doit diriger le colossal effort de reconstruction? La communauté internationale, Bill Clinton, le gouvernement haïtien?

«C'est le gouvernement haïtien qui doit mener, qui doit prendre sa place dans la reconstruction. Haïti est un pays libre et indépendant et a un président fraîchement élu. Il s'agit de donner la priorité aux besoins de la population.

«Il y a eu des doutes par le passé et parfois, par manque de confiance, on a même décidé pour Haïti. L'opinion des Haïtiens n'a pas toujours compté. Même au sein de la CIRH (Commission intérimaire pour la reconstruction d'Haïti), la représentation haïtienne était presque inexistante. Les projets sont choisis par la partie étrangère. Les Haïtiens ont été le problème par le passé, mais maintenant c'est une nouvelle approche. On est conscients d'être allés à reculons.»

3. Trop d'ONG, trop peu de surveillance

«La communauté internationale a tout essayé pour aider Haïti, mais malheureusement, la corruption, le manque de transparence, le manque de cadre. Ça n'a pas toujours marché, ce qui a donné naissance à cette vague d'ONG qui sont sur le terrain et qui reçoivent beaucoup plus d'argent que l'État haïtien.

«Ce qui fait que les institutions sont faibles et que les ONG ont beaucoup d'argent. Malheureusement, elles ne répondent à personne, on ne leur pose pas de questions et elles agissent comme elles lde veulent dans n'importe quelle zone. Il faudrait blâmer l'État parce qu'il autorise les ONG. L'État aurait pu au moins superviser ces ONG et s'assurer qu'elles oeuvrent dans des endroits bien précis et que leurs programmes intègrent un plan national. Je blâme le leadership haïtien et le manque de volonté et de transparence. Cela va changer dès que nous serons installés.»

4. Les cas Bébé Doc et Aristide

Que faire des anciens présidents Jean-Claude Duvalier et Jean-Bertrand Aristide récemment rentrés au pays, ravivant de douloureux souvenirs dans la population en plus de soulever des questions juridiques cruciales? Doit-on les arrêter et les juger pour les exactions et les fraudes commises sous leur présidence?

«Leur cas n'est pas aussi particulier que vous le pensez. La Constitution d'Haïti ne prévoit pas l'exil. Alors, ils sont bel et bien chez eux et je leur dis bienvenue. S'ils ont eu des problèmes ou s'ils ont mal agi par le passé, cela a à voir avec la justice.

«Je leur dis bienvenue et nous prônons la réconciliation et l'inclusion. Il ne s'agit pas de prôner l'idéologie. Mon gouvernement a un plan pour l'avenir. J'ai toujours évité de planifier sur le passé. Je dirais tout simplement que nous pourrons éventuellement penser à ça (l'amnistie) dans la mesure où ceux qui ont été blessés dans le passé comprennent la nécessité de se réconcilier. Avant de penser à ça, il faut faire un travail de sensibilisation et de réconfort pour comprendre les victimes et respecter leurs sentiments.

«Donc, on ne s'empressera pas de prendre des décisions, mais la tendance veut que je penche du côté de l'amnistie et de la clémence, de sorte que l'on puisse penser à demain et non pas au passé. Mais il faudra toujours tenir en compte du passé pour ne pas répéter les erreurs.»

5. Un nouveau rôle pour la diaspora

«La diaspora haïtienne envoie plus de 1 milliard et demi par année à des proches restés au pays. Un «apport considérable», mais mal dirigé et peu efficace.

«Cet argent arrive à coups de 100$ par personne ou 200$ par semaine. Il n'est pas utilisé pour des projets qui apporteraient le développement durable dans certaines villes. Je propose de créer une équipe qui prendra contact avec la diaspora, représentée elle aussi par une équipe, et ces deux équipes pourront travailler ensemble à des projets qui apporteraient du développement durable.

«La diaspora a un rôle à jouer. Elle doit revenir chez elle. Elle a eu peur de revenir à cause de l'insécurité. Le premier rôle serait d'être les premiers touristes, dont on a tellement besoin. Elle pourrait donner l'exemple. Elle pourrait aussi venir avec des projets solides qui puissent faire une différence. Il ne s'agit pas de payer l'écolage (NDLR: droits de scolarité) des petits ou d'envoyer 100$ pour la mangeaille.

«Parce qu'à ce moment-là, on ne voit pas les faits de cet apport. Je suggère que cette diaspora se constitue en force et que cela donne quelque chose de tangible.»

6. Message au prochain premier ministre canadien

«Il y a toujours eu une histoire d'amour entre Haïti et le Canada et je souhaite que le prochain premier ministre s'assure que les relations restent les meilleures. Je vous dis en plus merci pour toute l'assistance que votre pays a apportée par le passé et nous allons travailler à ce que vous ne regrettiez plus d'avoir fait tous ces efforts pour Haïti.»

Meeting Martelly - Preval, INITE will support the new President

Haiti - Politic : 
From: Haitilibre.com - 16/04/2011 12:17:59


The President René Préval received Friday at his private residence in Laboule the next President Michel Martelly. The meeting began around 8:30am. It was attended by two Presidents and their spouses, Elizabeth Débrosse Préval and Sophia St-Rémy Martelly and was followed by a working lunch, on major issues of the state, within the framework of the process of transition, the Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive was also present.

"...we are very happy [...] today is a great first one that a outgoing President invites the President-elect [...] we address the issues that confronting the country, at all levels. President Préval shared with me some files to facilitate the work that we will have to do [...] President told me that there are things that are complicated, others that we must avoid [...] I hope this honest collaboration continues, is of paramount importance for the country's future [...] We must not forget that to avoid past mistakes, we need to know how they occured. So I welcome the initiative of the President, I told him thank you [...] it's for Haiti once again, this is not just a case of René Préval and Michel Martelly, but it is to put everybody together in order that Haiti live better days"Michel Martelly reported.

For his part, President Préval said "I want to help [...] I am totally open, I'm available to help him to succeed [...] we do not need divisions, we want that the country succeeds [...] it is not only Michel Martelly or René Préval we must all come together, to make the country advance [...] I promises to Michel that I will work with Parliament so that there is an effective collaboration and for that the Parliament and the new President can develop the country and make it advance."

Remarks of good will confirmed by Jasmin Joseph, Minister and senior member of the presidential platform INITE whose all the leaders of the platform had met the previous day with President Préval "The President made us understand that the majority that we have, is a majority of cohabitation, of collaboration, of facilitation so that the presidency and Parliament can be put at the service of the interests of the people... [...] There will be no blockage or barrier to the President Martelly. We intend to lead with President Martelly. Him to the presidency, the rest of us to the Parliament... We will give him all contributions that can facilitate his task to serve the interests of the people ..."

After this important meeting, Michel Martelly indicated to the journalists "We discussed various issues, priorities, projects that are ongoing, problems that the state is facing, structural problems, the weakness of institutions, the public expectations, of the cooperation with the different friendly country of Haiti and donors so you can see that this meeting which lasted over two hours was very successful, we took breakfast and we took the opportunity to discuss various aspects and especially of a collaboration to ensure a smooth transition [...] We want to start take knowledge of the most important files [...] most of the projects I have in progress are projects funded by international [...] there are a lot of supervision to do at this level [...] We do not yet have the Government records, so we learn, this is a transfer of knowledge and records that will be done, President has already shown its good will, we hope that by next week when the results will be released, the transition will officially begin..."

Another meeting will follow the publication of the final results, when legally Michel Martelly will be President of the Republic of Haiti. It seems that the President Michel Martelly will have practically a parliament "to his cause". In addition of the parliamentary of INITE, the new president should also be able to count on the elected of the platform Alternative, since the senator Steven Benoît [one of the leaders of this organization], has never missed an opportunity to affirm his friendship with the President elected ensuring that he will not stand in front of Michel Martelly.