7296: Events in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

(from Caribbean Insight newsletter)

(9 March 01)


Responding to international criticism, prime minister Jean-Marie Chérestal
took office on March 2 with a cabinet that included former opponents of
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, notably Marc Bazin, who he defeated in
the 1990 presidential election and who went on to serve as prime minister
(1992-93) under the military regime that overthrew him a year later.
        Bazin, an economist, was named external cooperation minister, while
Stanley Théard, who was trade minister under the Duvalier dictatorship, was
appointed again to the same post.  A former political prisoner, Antonio
Joseph, until now Haiti's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, became foreign
minister.  Chérestal called for "dialogue with all political sectors to
definitely resolve the political crisis ... to release frozen international
aid." 
        Aristide at the same time named a new nine-member Conseil Électoral
Provisoire (CEP), which included four Duvalierists, including former health
minister Volvick Rémy Joseph and the Duvaliers' longtime protocol chief,
Yves Massillon.  The CEP will organise run-offs for 10 disputed Senate
seats at the centre of foreign and domestic criticism of electoral fraud. 
It elected former Alix Lamarque, a former member of the opposition Konakom
party, as its president, seconded by Rémy Joseph.
        "The opposition and Lavalas need each other, so democracy can
flourish and bear fruit," said Aristide.  However, the new government and
CEP contain no member of the main opposition Convergence Démocratique (CD)
coalition, which immediately rejected both, saying Aristide was continuing
on a path towards dictatorship and calling for a month of anti-government
protests.  The CD has named its own "alternative president," former justice
minister Gérard Gourgue.
        Several hundred former soldiers, led by former Major Gérard
Dalvius, demonstrated in the capital on March 6 in favour of restoring the
army Aristide has dissolved.  They shouted denounced the government and
shouted support for the CD opposition, some of whom back the army's
revival.. 
        Sen. Dany Toussaint, a suspect in last year's murder of radio
journalist Jean Dominique, presented himself to the investigating judge on
March 5 after weeks of refusal and was questioned for six hours.
        At least 40 people, mostly children, have died in northern Haiti in
the past month from eating ackee fruit, which is poisonous when unripe.


The full cabinet:

Prime minister:  Jean-Marie Chérestal
Foreign Affairs and Religion: Antonio Joseph 
Economy and finance: Gustave Faubert
Interior: Henri-Claude Ménard
Justice: Gary Lissade 
Trade and industry: Stanley Théard 
Planning and external cooperation: Marc Bazin 
Public works: Ernst Laraque
Culture and communication: Guy Paul 
Education, youth and sports: George Mérisier 
Haitians living abroad: Leslie Voltaire  
Health: Henri-Claude Voltaire 
Social affairs: Eudes Saint-Preux Craan
Agriculture and environment: Sebastien Hilaire 
Women's affairs: Ginette Lubin
Civil service: Webster Pierre
Tourism: Martine Deverson 

Secretaries of state (deputy ministers) 

Literacy:  Maryse Guiteau 
Finance:  Jocelerme Privert 
Youth and sports:  Hermann Nau 
Social Affairs:  Pierre Richard Pierre