Senate to Verify Nationality of President Martelly and Members of Government

Saturday, 29 October 2011 10:25

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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - The Senate approved Friday the establishment of a commission of nine members with a mandate to investigate the citizenship of President Michel Martelly and all members of the government, which could, by the constitution create cause for impeachment of the president and all the members of the government.
In the context of the 'political crisis' that has transpired from the arrest of Deputy Arnel Bélizaire (Delmas & Tabarre/Veye-Yo) and by the initiative of Senator Moïse Jean-Charles (Nord/Inite), the commission, which includes representatives of all affiliations, is composed of Senators:

Joel J. Joseph (Ouest/Inite),
Joseph Lambert (Sud-Est/Inite),
Yvon Buissereth (Sud/Inite),
Steven Benoit (Ouest/Alternative),
Youri Latortue (Artibonite/AAA),
Nènèl Cassy (Nippes/Inite),
​​Evallière Beauplan (Nord-Ouest/Pont),
Simon Dieuseul Desras (Centre/Lavni)
and Moïse Jean-Charles.

On the proposal of Senator Riché Andris (Grande Anse/Alternative)and Youri Latortue, the office of the Senate decided at a special session devoted to the arrest of the deputy of Delmas & Tabarre, to achieve an internal vetting in which the nationality of all commissioners will be combed through before being allowed to examine the records of members of the Executive.

In his reflections on the need to ensure that those placed at the helm are above all suspicion, Senator Jean-Charles said that the course members of the new cabinet have had no serious study, during the ratification process. Jean-Charles took the opportunity to blame the passivity of the Senate meeting against the excesses of power.

"If the Presidents Aristide and Préval had committed excesses that President Martelly has already accumulated, they [senators] would already have been up in arms," ​​noted Jean-Charles listing the Haitian leader's attacks against the press and Parliament.

For his part, his colleague Simon Dieuseul Desras said to the attention of all members of the commission that they should carry the heavy responsibility by agreeing to participate in the control of the nationality of those who govern us.

"Everyone will be under the supervision of a global satellite," warned the representative of the Central Plateau (Centre) in the presence of Arnel Belizaire who attended the meeting.

The President of the Republic left Haiti on the day of the arrest of Bélizaire. Opponents point to the president's ease and selection of travel on days where he is challenged by parliament e.g. the vote to ratify the first and second Prime Minister-designates, Daniel Rouzier and Bernard Gousse.

The Haitian constitution, in the version currently in effect, prohibits dual citizenship and provides for the impeachment of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, Ministers, Senators and Deputies if they find themselves in such situations.