a715: Highlights of Radio Signal FM news

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JD Lemieux <lxhaiti@yahoo.com>

Haiti: Highlights of Radio Signal FM news 1230 gmt 07
Feb 02
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Feb 8, 2002



Figures in brackets indicate length of time of each
item

1. Introduction and headlines. (8 min.)

2. One year after Jean-Bertrand Aristide's return to
power in Haiti, several sectors have expressed their
disappointment in his management. Some people think
that the country is on the brink of disaster, while
others believe that there is still reason for hope.
Still others say that prices for foodstuffs have
increased and everything has become more difficult in
the country. The promises that President Aristide made
in his inaugural speech have not been respected, they
say. This, however, does not prevent Lavalas officials
from speaking of success. Yvon Neptune speaks of
achievements such as roads that have been built. (7
min.)

3. Paul Raymond, leader of the Saint-Jean Grassroots
Church Communities, TKL, says that in spite of the
economic sanctions taken against the country, the
government managed to achieve many things. "The
Haitian people voted for democracy, peace, security,
transparency, and participation. Economic terrorists,
however, stand in the way of the people," Raymond
explains. He recalls that they said that 2001 would be
"really good" and that despite the difficulties they
managed to do many things. He speaks of health centres
that have been created. He criticizes the Democratic
Convergence and human rights organizations, in
particular the National Coalition for Haitian Rights,
NCHR. He took the opportunity to criticize civil
society as well. A people's organization, OP, member
says he does not understand why people say that no
progress has been made in the country. He calls on
everyone to stand behind Aristide. No official
ceremony is announced for today. (4 min.)

4. According to the opposition, all the economic
indicators are on red. Professor Hubert De Ronceray
recalls some of the promises that Aristide made in his
inaugural speech. He explains that 12 months later,
the country's situation is worse than it was before.
Lavalas just continued and even precipitated Haiti's
fall, according to De Ronceray, who criticizes the
Lavalas elected representatives in allusions to the
rice scandal involving senators and the corrugated
iron scandal involving deputies.(3 min.)

5. Ads. (4 min.)

6. Senator Neptune speaks of the achievements of the
Lavalas government on the first anniversary of
Aristide's inauguration. He explains that other
efforts will be made to improve the situation of the
Haitian people. He speaks of infrastructure projects
such as roads that have been built in spite of the
economic difficulties. (2 min.)

7. One year after Aristide's inauguration, Civil
Society Initiative Group, GISC, officials say they
have noted no improvement in the Haitian situation.
GISC official Edouard Paultre calls on Aristide to
open his eyes this year so as to satisfy the people's
needs. He explains that during a January 2001 press
conference he had predicted that if a political
agreement were not reached between the government and
the Convergence, the country would move towards the
deterioration of human rights, the devaluation of the
gourde, the absence of economic growth, the worsening
of the unemployment rate, and the deterioration of
public security conditions. "We think that what we
predicted happened," he added. (5 min.)

8. Ads. (1 min.)

9. Economic segment by Georges Henry, Jr on austerity
measures adopted by the Argentine Government. (3 min.)

10. Ads followed by international news.(6 min.)

11. In a report published on Tuesday, the NCHR says
that Aristide's first year in office is characterized
by a deterioration of human rights in the country. The
NCHR deplores the fact that only pro-government people
are allowed to mobilize. NCHR official Viles Alizard
laments having to publish such a report. He recalls
that the president assured in his inaugural speech
that human rights would be respected regardless of
political affiliations. "Public freedoms, which
represent a victory for the Haitian people, have been
violated in a systematic manner," he says. (2 min.)

12. The US assistant secretary of state for western
hemispheric affairs is concerned about Haitian
democracy. Ambassador Otto Reich, who spoke with
Convergence members in Washington last week, said that
he was particularly alarmed by the deterioration of
human rights in Haiti. He encourages the government
and the opposition to work towards the signing of a
political agreement to make a change in the country.
(1 min.)

13. Professor De Ronceray criticizes the Caribbean
Community, Caricom, decision to demand the lifting of
economic sanctions against the current government. De
Ronceray thinks that Caricom should consult the two
protagonists in order to gather all the necessary
information before taking such a stand. De Ronceray
explains that Caricom remains a prisoner of the
Lavalas government, which explains why it always
supports the Lavalas regime. De Ronceray deplores this
Caricom proposal and invites Caricom leaders to try to
get information from other sources. (3 min.)

14. Ads. (3 Min.)

15. Report by Evelyne Dacilus: The Haitian National
Police, PNH, announce that various measures have been
taken to ensure the people's security during Carnival.
All policemen on duty will be wearing their regular
uniforms, according to Hermione Leonard, PNH
departmental director of the West Department. She
points out that nobody will be allowed to carry
weapons during Carnival except policemen in uniforms,
and she explains that policemen have been ordered to
avoid brutality while doing their jobs during
Carnival. Carel Alexandre, another high-ranking member
of the PNH, calls on policemen "to keep their cool"
while performing their duties. (4 min.)

16. Economist Kesner Pharel, director of the
Croissance Group, gave a lecture on the economic
aspects of Haiti's Carnival. He wonders why only 20
million gourdes have been allocated to the event. (2
min.)

17. ANPCH, The National Association of Port-au-Prince
Drivers, demands justice for one of its members who
was killed on 29 January. A spokesman for ANPCH
comments. (2 min.)

18. [59] News summary. (3 min.)

Source: Signal FM Radio, Port-au-Prince, in Creole
1230 gmt 7 Feb 02

/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.



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