a1636: BBC: There are still problems in La Saline where rival groups are involved in armed confrontations... (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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

Haiti: Highlights of Radio Signal FM news 1230 gmt 11 Apr 02
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Apr 11, 2002


2. Report by Kenson Jean-Louis: There are still problems in La Saline where
rival groups are involved in armed confrontations... One resident wonders
whether President Jean-Bertrand Aristide is out of the country. This La
Saline resident says she expects him to find a solution to this problem. She
explains that the Fort Touron people have announced that they will attack
them at 0100 with heavy weapons. Another resident denounces police
cooperation with Fort Touron.
3. Franco Camille, brother of Ronald Camille (Cadavre) and director of the
Market of the Port, denies accusations brought against him by Fort Touron
people. He explains that he was appointed by city hall and those who are
hostile to him were controlling the market illegally. He denies having shot
at people in La Saline.
4. Lavalas senators have decided to convene Justice Minister Jean-Baptiste
Brown for explanations regarding land conflicts in Haiti. Senator Yvon
Feuille explains that squatters occupy other people's lands illegally on the
basis of their weapons, political influence, and connections. The senator,
who says he does not want to name names, mentions several land conflicts and
adds that the issue has not been given enough importance.
5. The Senate of the Republic yesterday passed three laws creating a Court
of First Instance in each of the following communes: Miragoane,
Croix-des-Bouquets, and Coteaux. These new courts should facilitate
residents' access to justice.
7. Report on a conflict between the current and former leaders of the Union
of Electricity of Haiti Employees. A spokesman for the union says Jean Harry
Clerveaux is the legitimate leader at this time. Clerveaux explains that he
will remain in this position until the holding of a general assembly that
should either reconfirm him or elect someone else to lead the union.
9. Economic segment by Georges Henry, Jr on the signing of a cooperation
agreement between the Association of Approved Haitian Accountants and the
Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CCIH, to improve their
performance. These two institutions understand the necessity to train and
supervise their members for better effectiveness. This agreement is aimed at
assisting small and medium enterprises.
10. Report by Carl Dieudonne on the Haitian Medical Association, AMH,
conference. The main topic is infectious diseases, in particular AIDS,
tuberculosis, and polio.
11. Report on an open house at the Centre for Computer Learning, CAINFO, on
its 15th anniversary. The school director explains that CAINFO has three
branches. He explains that people with computer problems can bring their
computers for a free diagnosis, but they will have to pay for repairs. The
director explains that they have a placement programme that allows their
best students to get jobs at the end of their studies.
12. The Ministry of Social Affairs yesterday inaugurated a children's art
museum, called Children's Home, in Carrefour. Minister Eudes Saint-Preux
Craan explains that most of the toys the government distributed to deprived
children at Christmas were made by other children. "Children's Home belongs
to all of us. All children can get services there," Craan says.
14. Report by Cavaillon correspondent Yves Delva on a meeting that was held
between justices of the peace and civil registrars in the Palace of Justice
in Aquin on 8 April. The public prosecutor, who took the initiative of
holding this meeting, wanted to know how the courts of peace and civil
registrar's offices are doing. The Aquin public prosecutor took the
opportunity to give general information on the policy of the Justice
Ministry.
15. Report by Mirebalais correspondent Patrick Pierre-Louis: Peasants living
in Boucan Carre complain about the terrible state of the road to Thomonde. A
resident thinks it would be a good idea if the technicians of the National
Centre for Equipment, CNE, could use their tractors to level the road while
renovating National Road No 3.
16. Report by Rio Jean on the drought in the Jeremie region caused by lack
of rain. As a result, farm products are very expensive. In addition, there
is no electricity. Jean discusses economic difficulties in the Grand'Anse
Department.
BBC Monitoring/ ¸ BBC