Haiti Votes to Allow Dual Nationality

MAY 9, 2011

by America Quaterly Online

Haitian lawmakers voted yesterday evening to allow dual nationality for Haitians living abroad—extending them political rights such as the ownership of land and the option to run for public office. There are over two million Haitians living in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere, and yesterday’s parliamentary votereverses a provision in Haiti’s 1987 constitution which banned dual nationality.

Prior to yesterday’s vote, Haitian expatriates were permitted to remit funds back to their homeland and even donate to presidential candidates, but they were barred from running for public office.  Dual nationals under the new rules will not be allowed to run for president, or to hold the offices of prime minister, police chief or Supreme Court judge, but supporters of yesterday’s changes say they will still help to redefine what it means to be Haitian.

This legislative move has the support of the U.S. government. United States Representative Frederica Wilson, whose Miami district encompasses the largest constituency of Haitians in the United States, endorses the plan. Wilson also supports the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) which allows Haitians to live and work in the United States legally, albeit temporarily, in the wake of the January 2010 earthquake. The TPS extension is set to expire next month.

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Haiti - FLASH Constitution : Dual citizenship has been voted
Haiti Libre - 09/05/2011 07:08:28

Millions of Haitians from the Haitian Diaspora can now have dual nationality.

Gathered Sunday in National Assembly Senators and Deputies have voted the amendment of the Constitution which prohibited the dual nationality. In an overwhelming vote: 84 votes for, 2 against and 4 abstentions. The articles 12.1, 12.2, 13, 14 and 15 (Article 15. Dual Haitian and foreign nationality is not allowed in any case) prohibiting the dual nationality have been deleted from the Constitution of 1987.

This amendment in favor of the multiple nationality, will come into effect after publication in the official newspaper "Le Moniteur". Edwin Paraison, Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE) declared "this is a historic step in Haiti-Diaspora relations."

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Haiti - Constitution : A historic step in Haiti-Diaspora Relations
Haiti Libre - 09/05/2011 09:40:46
"The Ministry of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE), following with great interest the debate that began in the parliament to revise the 1987 Constitution. The Ministry expresses its satisfaction with the voting which was done on the night of Sunday, May 8, which eliminates a series of articles which were a barrier for the descendants of Haitian who have taken another nationality so they always stay Haitian citizens.

According to what has been voted in Parliament, the articles, 12.1, 12.2, 13, 14 and 15 who said "dual Haitian and foreign nationality is not allowed in any case", will now allow the Haitians to have multiple nationalities.

For History, 84 parliamentarians were in favor of the removal of these articles, 2 against and 4 abstentions. This vote is a response to one of the most important demand of the diaspora, a demand that it made for a long time. Among other things, a Haitian who has another nationality may enjoy of its civil and political rights, as long as it is in compliance with the law.

The level of participation in the political affairs of the country of our compatriots who are living in the diaspora, is a theme that Senators and Deputies will debate during the day on Monday, May 9, 2011. The MHAVE recalls that in many other countries, the diaspora have their representatives in parliament or citizens who have another nationality can become a candidate as Deputy or Senator in their country. In this sense, the MHAVE asks parliamentarians to give more importance to this matter, so they support the provisions of the "Law on the privileges" for Haitians who have another nationality, law that was passed in Parliament in August 1, 2002.

The MHAVE, greets several sectors that have supported the reform of the constitution. The Government Préval-Bellerive who put this issue in the reform. Many civil society organizations and the media from here and outside who have supported it. Organizations of the diaspora who have made ​​a long battle as the "Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti" (Chicago) and the movement "Dwan Bam" (Miami) for their special participation. This vote represents for the MHAVE an important page of history in Haiti's relations with its children who live in the diaspora."