a466: BBC: The Lavalas regime is preparing the post-Cherestal (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Robert Benodin <r.benodin@worldnet.att.net>


Haiti: Highlights of Radio Metropole news 1145 gmt 22 Jan 02
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jan 23, 2002


2. The Lavalas regime is preparing the post-Cherestal period following the
anticipated resignation of the head of government yesterday. President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who is also the head of the Lavalas Family, FL, met
last night with the contested senators at the presidential palace.
3. Prime minister Jean-Marie Cherestal finally resigned after a long fight
between a group of senators who blamed his governmental management. The head
of government was also facing great difficulties within his ministerial
cabinet where his authority was being tried. Aristide kept a low profile in
the controversy. Jean Numa Goudou gives a summary of the conflict from its
start. (4 min)
4. Diverse sectors of the population are not indifferent to the resignation
of Jean-Marie Cherestal. There have been reactions everywhere in the
capital. Some people are happy because the prime minister, they said,
//"never did anything for them, and never considered the living conditions
of the people. Cherestal was there to satisfy the desires of the president
of the Republic. Now, we need somebody who cares about the problems of the
masses."// (4 min)
5. The Democratic Convergence considers the resignation of Prime Minister
Cherestal an inter-Lavalas quarrel. Convergence leaders explain that
Cherestal is a victim of the obvious willingness of President Aristide to
lead the country alone regardless of the Constitution. (2 min)
7. The Haitian National Police, PNH, claims to be determined to fight
kidnapping, which is on the rise in Port-au-Prince. Police officials
presented more than a dozen kidnappers who operate in diverse points of the
metropolitan area. There have been 14 reported kidnapping cases from
November 2001 to mid-January 2002,. One alleged kidnapper was killed and 14
others were arrested. According to police officials, four kidnapping
networks were discovered in the following areas: Cite Soleil, Petit-Place
Cazeau, Petion-Ville, and the La Plaine area. (4 min)
8. The contested parliamentarians disagree about the financial scandals that
overwhelm the ruling party. In the lower house, certain parliamentarians
have again raised the issue of 2m gourdes that were lost by members of the
current executive office. Port-au-Prince Deputy Simson Liberis maintains his
accusations against his colleagues, and insists that light should be shed on
this case. (3 min).
9. [25] Canadian journalist Mathieu Prudhomme was shot in the arm yesterday
while covering a violent event in the Cite Soleil area. The 27-year-old
journalist is undergoing training at Haiti Press Network. The Cite Soleil
police station had warned Prudhomme to avoid the scene for his own safety.
(1 min)
10. [25] Robert Menard of Reporters Without Borders, RSF, reacts to the
death threats issued by people's organization, OP, members against Guyler C.
Delva of the Association of Haitian Journalists, AJH. (2 min)
11. [27] Dany Toussaint claims to be willing and ready to collaborate with
justice on the Jean Dominique murder investigation. Toussaint said that
Examining Judge Claudy Gassant was not impartial in the investigation. (4
min)
Source: Radio Metropole, Port-au-Prince, in French 1145 gmt 22 Jan 02
/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.