The Morning after Garry Conille: Steps for Moving Haiti Forward

The Morning after Garry Conille: Steps for Moving Haiti Forward

by Harvey Dupiton, New York

That Michel Martelly holds an American passport, even if it were true, should not be the chief concern of the Haitian Parliament in those trying times. There are too many ills to cure in the country at present- joblessness running rampant at over 80%, the capital of the country a vast grave yard, too many children wandering about, too many youngsters finishing grade school without the prospect of a job, too much poverty, and worse no end in sight. If I must choose between observing our democratic principles of late and endorsing a provisional strategy, albeit extra-constitutional, to allow the business of the people to be addressed, I will choose the latter. Besides, every country has had to grow into its actual stage and shape of a democracy and so does Haiti.

For now, the country can ill-afford a political stand-off or worse a reshuffle of the cards as some opponents and bad-wishers lurk at a striking distance. The resignation or the impeachment of the government on the basis of technicalities is not an option, but if a sweeping grass-roots mobilization is not put in place to outpace the mounting electoral hurdles, tensions and crimes will ultimately force an alternative. On the other hand, a forceful dismissal of the Haitian Parliament is also not an option. Too many times in recent past, Haiti has had to gamble on elections without a foresight of the outcome and almost always the end result is a fiasco. Lessons of that past should teach by now that our system of elections, as conceived, may either be flawed or inadequate. Be that as it may, those who are now holding an elected seat should not take the people’s vote for granted and should seek to earn their legitimacy by rolling up their sleeves to deal with the plight at hand.

As a Haitian who grew up living in New York since grade school, my immediate expectations from both the Haitian executive and legislators are other than the contested issue of dual nationality consuming valuable time. Instead, I would like to be in a position to tell my circle of international friends that the country is on track to meet certain key objectives like creation of jobs, governance, rule of law, political stability, sustainable development, education for all. I would like to have that sense of security from time to time that there is not just another group of guys taking a crack at the nation’s public trust like it’s just another gig, but that there is a machinery of Haitian institutions, scholars, elders, youth, communities on board with the national program. The world of financial institutions and donors are also watching with a similar curiosity before placing their bets.

If we must forge ahead, it should certainly not be in the direction the country is heading. Life in Haiti should not be consumed by politics and not very much else. We must always hold our leaders accountable and our leaders must always take full responsibility for their actions or inactions.

The Morning after Garry Conille is a critical juncture which can serve as a turning point in our young democracy. Here are some of my suggestions as a concerned countryman for steps to be taken Moving Haiti Forward:

On the Political Front

1. The President must act quickly establish a political framework through which key issues can be dealt with. The former Interim Haitian Reconstruction Commission (IHRC) comes to mind. The IHRC had already met with parliament blessings and international support.

2. The President must act swiftly within days to designate a replacement to Mr. Conille. To expedite the process of Parliament ratification, a person already vetted can come from the pool of sitting ministers. The designee can be appointed as a care-taker of the IHRC.

3. A timeframe for Parliamentary elections should be on the table as a bargaining tool to agree on areas of common ground since there are irreconcilable differences between the two sides, Executive and Legislature.

4. The international community can assist by the commitment of resources for the process.

At the Policy Level

5. Plans to restore the Haitian Armed Forces must be put to rest for the time being in order to commit time and resources to job creation and the creation of a safety net for the disenfranchised.

6. Our foreign policy of late is a mockery. The President must restore the trust between the United States while maintaining friendly relationships around the world. Haiti must project a credible face before the international community if there is any chance of future assistance.

On the Development Front

7. The President could use his core asset, his popularity, to keep the country mobilized in a “Carnavalesque” mode. Thousands stood up for the carnival a week ago and thousands more can be mobilized behind a series of quick-impact, quick-win projects inside every local community. The key to win heart and minds is to empower. Although there may be a lot of NGO activities and others happening, people may not be fully engaged. Small projects like street cleaning, tree planting, street games, are just some examples of ways through which communities can be kept engaged, feel empowered, and partake in the solution. Let’s not forget the Diaspora in those projects. They need to be involved. They have direct linkages to local communities and the financial resources.

8. Haiti’s biggest endowment is its people. The focus should not be on donations from countries but on hands-on support by the Haitian people. Billions can be mobilized within the Haitian Diaspora if they are sold on the vision of the leadership. The Diaspora could have easily shared in that vision of education-for-all if engaged.

9. Focus on Resources from the Haitian communities to build political capital and project another round of meeting with international donors and lenders to leverage people power with money from other sources.

That is it for now--- God Blessings to all. Harvey Dupiton.

Celebrating Hope: Philanthropist Fabrice Armand Keeps the Spotlight on Haiti 

During this Black History Month, Haitian-American philanthropist and businessman, Fabrice J. Armand is focusing his time and energy on planning his 30th birthday. Unlike most of his peers who typically celebrate such a milestone by throwing a fabulous fete, Fabrice has committed himself to an unselfish purpose. Inspired by famous columnist, Liz Smith, who uses her annual birthday bash to bring attention to philanthropy, Fabrice will use his March 3rd celebration for his 2nd Annual Haiti Cherie: Pride. Love. Commitment fundraiser. The event will celebrate Haitian culture, honor those that perished during the 2010 earthquake, and raise money to benefit Wings over Haiti and the Haiti Cultural Exchange.

Fabrice became an advocate for his homeland long before the 2010 earthquake. Fabrice's intense passion for Haiti began during his formative years in Port au Prince. He came to America in his early teens but a sense of pride in his heritage kept him connected to Haiti. Fabrice was disturbed by constant media coverage of Haiti as an impoverished, third world nation teetering on social and political collapse. There was rarely an emphasis on its rich history and culture. Instead of throwing up his hands in frustration, Fabrice got involved with organizations making a positive impact. More important, he took out his address book and started a personal campaign to educate and encourage his friends as well as business contacts to invest in Haiti's future.

As part of his ongoing commitment, last December Fabrice lead a documentary film production team in Haiti to bring attention to the rebuilding efforts and spread goodwill through the New York-based Haiti is Me Campaign. Haiti is Me is a grassroots campaign aimed at engaging and empowering everyday people to help Haiti rebuild. Accompanying Fabrice on his philanthropic mission was author and Essence.com columnist Demetria L. Lucas and photographer-filmmaker Mackenten Petion.

The team spent nearly three weeks chronicling the social and economic accomplishments made after the 2010 earthquake. Their destinations included Port au Prince, Kenscoff, Les Cayes, Camp-Perrin, and Port Salute. They volunteered, visited tent camps, and interviewed diverse leaders in infrastructure rebuilding, tourism, government, education, healthcare, and agriculture. The team also met with program directors of organizations that received aid from Mr. Armand's Haiti Cherie fundraising campaign. The documentary will premier in July 2012. Thereafter, it will be available online.

Filming the documentary presented an opportunity to give dignity and respect to the daily struggle of the Haitian people. Fabrice wants people to understand that the citizens of Haiti are seeking self-sustaining job opportunities. He hopes the documentary will help spread the word that Haitians are hard working, eager, and resilient people that are not looking for a handout. The Haitian people want to earn their income and want to use their funds to uplift the nation once known as The Pearl of the Antilles. When he is confronted by people who point out the political scandals and violence in Haiti's past, he quickly tells them that he has the audacity to hope and believe that his people have a bright future. While on the trip, Fabrice noticed that the people of Haiti have more faith in their government. Fabrice and his companions attended a government function where the people were yelling their approval.

That is a sign of progress.
Fabrice is ecstatic that hospitality powerhouses such as the Marriott Corporation and Best
Western are making multimillion-dollar investments in his homeland. Miami-based entrepreneur Michael Capponi and renowned designer Donna Karan are creating job opportunities in the city of Jacmel. During Fabrice's visit celebrities such as Oprah, Neyo, Louis Farrakhan, and Kim Kardashian were using their notoriety to motivate other influential individuals and entities to see the long-term value of investing in Haiti.
During his visit, Fabrice was impressed with two locations. The waterfalls and mountainside landscapes Aux Cayes is just one example of the natural beauty of Haiti. The other area is in Furcy where Rustik, an eco-friendly resort and lounge, provides a peaceful escape into the mountains.

Fabrice hopes that five years from now Haiti will flourish as a tourist destination. He anticipates the government will continue creating job opportunities in the Northern and Southern regions of Haiti. Moreover, new investors coming to Haiti will help create sustainable job opportunities for all Haitians of all background and social classes.

Haiti's success also depends on the ability of the young people to be educated and competitive. As a person educated in his homeland as well as the United States, Fabrice admonishes Haiti's youth to focus on their education and keep their minds open to different opportunities. Traditionally, parents wanted their sons and daughters to become doctors, lawyers or architects. Youths should keep their eyes open and look into other fields that can be lucrative like marketing, engineering, hospitality management, tourism, and design. Fabrice would like colleges and universities in countries such as the United States, France, Spain, and Canada to create exchange programs so the flow of knowledge and discourse can continue.

Fabrice is looking forward to using his birthday to celebrate Haiti for many years to come. He remains optimistic that the sacrifice and fortitude of Haiti's people will move them towards a bright and brilliant future.

Prime Minister Conille Resigns

Haiti’s Prime Minister Quits After 4 Months Haiti, whose recovery from the January 2010 earthquake has been stalled in part by political turmoil, has been dealt yet another setback with the resignation on Friday of its prime minister after weeks of mounting tension with President Michel Martelly and his cabinet.The prime minister, Garry Conille, who served for only four months, was Mr. Martelly’s third choice and the only one who met with approval from a Parliament dominated by political opposition. At the time, his appointment was seen as an important compromise, endorsed by former President Bill Clinton, to help jump-start foreign investment and $4.5 billion in promised aid. Only half of that has been delivered by international donors squeamish about Haiti’s political instability. Diplomats trying to quicken the pace of rebuilding saw the crisis brewing with growing worry — on Thursday, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti called for all parties to work things out — but apparently could do little to stop it. Mr. Martelly and Mr. Conille had long had an awkward relationship. Mr. Martelly, who campaigned on shaking up the system, saw Mr. Conille as too bureaucratic and officious, while Mr. Conille, who runs the day-to-day operations of government and answers to Parliament, began complying more with its members’ demands, at the expense of angering ministers. Their tension, a kind of tradition in Haiti with a revolving door of prime ministers in years past, began spilling out in public. Mr. Conille, who did not respond to requests for comment, had insisted on an audit of millions of dollars in post-quake contracts from the previous administration, while Mr. Martelly’s office balked, saying the country needed to move forward. A few weeks ago, Mr. Martelly angrily interrupted a private meeting that Mr. Conille was conducting with Parliament members, suggesting they were collaborating against him, according to Western diplomats and government officials. How explicitly Mr. Martelly showed his anger is in dispute, but, while playing down the tension to reporters later, he conceded there was yelling. A Parliament commission is investigating whether government officials hold other nationalities, which the Constitution bars for their positions, and Mr. Conille, over Mr. Martelly’s objections, had pressed administration officials to submit passports and other documents. Mr. Martelly has been dogged by rumors he has an American passport, which would disqualify him as president. Damian Merlo, a senior adviser to the president, said Mr. Martelly was once a legal resident of the United States but surrendered his green card to the embassy before he took office in May. “The president does not have, nor has had, U.S. citizenship,” he said Friday. It was unclear when Mr. Martelly would appoint a new prime minister, amid speculation that he would turn to his foreign minister, Laurent Lamothe, or another cabinet member. Mr. Martelly, in a brief address to the nation Friday night, said he would act quickly to replace Mr. Conille, saying he regretted the departure came “when the country is taking off.” “Both domestic and foreign partners who want to invest in the country and create jobs, I ask them to remain calm,’’ he said. Mr. Martelly has said coping with an opposition Parliament has been one of the hardest adjustments to his job, but political analysts said it was bound to happen, given the president’s career as a bandleader not used to having his orders challenged. Some analysts wondered whether he would await the possibility of a more favorable Parliament in May elections before submitting his choice of Mr. Conille’s successor for approval. “President Martelly, as an artist, leads our country also as such,” said Jean-Junior Joseph, a blogger and former aide to prime ministers. “When no one expects, he has the ability to twist things around artistically in his favor while the band keeps moving on.” Still, diplomats urged Mr. Martelly and Parliament to move quickly, with so much at stake for the country, where chronic poverty persists and half a million people displaced by the quake still live in tent camps. “We continue to believe that political stability in Haiti is critical to its ability to attract the domestic and foreign investments needed to increase economic development and create jobs,” the United States Embassy said. MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Political chaos reigned in Haiti Friday and into Saturday after Prime Minister Garry Conille resigned from office shortly before he was to meet with the country’s president and ministers at the national palace, according to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald. Conille had been under pressure for days to resign after just four months in office. Many in the international community and top Haitian politicians had tried to stave off the prime minister having to leave office, but they were unsuccessful. Conille and Haitian President Michel Martelly have been feuding over issues of nationality of government officials, including Martelly himself, an investigation into post-Earthquake contracts, and who controls government ministers, according to the Herald. The resignation of Conille further delayed much of Haiti’s reconstruction efforts along with other government initiatives. While negotiations have been ongoing about a replacement, outside observers said there is no timeline when Haiti will get a government working again, according to the Herald. It took five months when Conille was appointed as prime minister, which was the third different choice from Martelly. But, much in a similar manner to the political gridlock in Washington, there’s no guarantee any pick from Martelly will be approved. According to the Herald, Parliament has been at odds with President Martelly since his May 2010 inauguration over who is actually in charge of the country and over power sharing. VIDEO REPORT dd President Martelly Speech About Resignation Of Prime Minister Conille Friday February 24, 2012 09:55 PM ET Haiti President Michel Martelly addressed the nation regarding the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille. Here is the transcript... My fellow Haitians This morning, Prime Minister Gary Connille submitted to me to his letter of resignation, I accepted it. I take this opportunity to thank him for his commitment. Of course, I regret that the resignation occurs at a time where where the country is beginning to move forward.   But I want to reassure you, I have already contacted the Speakers of both Houses, who had already received a copy of this letter. We're committed to harmonize our efforts for a quick exit from this situation and I propose a new prime minister. To both domestic and foreign partners who want to invest in the country and create jobs, I ask them to remain calm. All arrangements were made for the state to meet its commitments vis-a-vis the population. The Executive and Parliament are working to strengthen their relationship, as we should, already putting together an immediate exit out of this crisis. My fellow Haitians, you know you can count on me, as I can count on you. I made you promises, I will respect them. Like it or not, the victory belongs to the people. Thank you. Last Minute Announcement (Click image to follow) T-Vice management announcement on the tragic death of Rocky Cardozo, brother of James Cardozo. Also the cancellation of the Santo Domingo tour... Read it Here..

T-Vice Mgt. Press Release on Cardoso tragedy

Fans, friends and family,

It is with a heavy heart that we send out this message. Many of you know that T-Vice is composed of a close knit family and when one member hurts we all hurt. On our way to the airport yesterday mid afternoon to board our flight to Santo Domingo for the FiestaPiscina Weekend, we lost one of our family members. In a terrible car accident James Cardoso lost his brother, Rocky. The shock has yet to wear off and we are still trying to understand why something like this could happen.



We ask our fans, friends and family to keep our brother in your prayers as well as his family. This is a hard loss to bear and we have decided to cancel our Santo Domingo tour. We do apologize to everyone and in this time of grief we ask that each of you take note of how precious life truly is. In a split second T-Vice can be on top of the world feeling amazing from an outstanding Kanaval 2012 in Aux Cayes and in one moment our joy, excitement and energy was taken from us as we lost one of our own.

Please keep James in your prayers for this is something none of the T-Vice crew ever expected to be going through today!

T-Vice Management
Feb. 25, 2012
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The RockMasters Entertainment team sends its sincere condolences to the Cordoso family and the T-Vice family. He is gone from sight, but never memories. Gone from your touch, but never your hearts. With deepest sympathy,

- RockMasters Entertainment

Martelly Kicked off Himself First Day Carnival in Les Cayes

From: Defend.ht

LES CAYES, Haiti (defend.ht)- President Martelly launched himself Sunday, February 19th, Carnival in Les Cayes, third largest Haitian city. He hosted the first day of the national carnival, heading up musical bands, mingling with the crowds in the streets and chanting to the delight of carnival-goers.

Tens of thousands of people from various departments of Haiti and abroad attended the first day fat (Sunday, February 19, 2012) of Haitian carnival, held for the first time in Les Cayes, the third largest city in Haiti, located about 200 km south of the capital city, Port-au-Prince.

Officials, tourists, foreign and Haitian journalists were present to launch this annual cultural event, interspersed with a few incidents that have not disturbed the feast.

President Michel Martelly kicked off the first day of fatty national carnival themed: “Haiti’s taking off, Les Cayes gets ahead”.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE

The president was traveling on a motorcycle sometimes, sometimes walking on foot through the carnival path, has seen the online agency AlterPresse.

Dance schools, youth clubs, musical bands, 18 bands and 11 floats paraded about 2 kilometers. The procession started from the street Toussaint Louverture Gabions (south of the city) to go to the Boulevard Des Quatre Chemins.

Martelly’s supporters waved placards to send messages to parliamentarians who, they think, prevent their president to work.

Meanwhile, several slogans against the head of state were noticed on some of the city walls. Some describe Martelly an "enemy of the people" and "domestic of bourgeois", “down with Martelly”.

Organizationally, sensitizers conveying messages of peace were mobilized. Health structures were reinforced and mobile and fixed teams were formed to care for any injured.

The National Police of Haiti (PNH) has visibly increased its workforce in the South. Police officers have maintained a constant presence throughout the journey.

Several arrests were made and firearms seized, a police source told. Some cases of injuries and traffic accidents were also recorded, according to this source. However, it is reported that a sailing ship trying to reach Les Cayes for carnival was wrecked causing five deaths.

Public Treasury has disbursed 50 million gourdes for the festivities. Disbursements have been considerable in the private sector, according to what was observed.

Economic benefits are expected in Les Cayes. This carnival is an opportunity for this city to show their potential cultural and tourism, said a representative of the city within the national committee.

He welcomed the progress of the first day fat, "despite some weaknesses related to setbacks." The carnival will continue Monday and end on Fat Tuesday.