12473: Article: North Miami Councilman Desir resigns (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Dan Craig <dgcraig@att.net>

North Miami Councilman Desir resigns
BY NICK SPANGLER AND JACQUELINE CHARLES
jcharles@herald.com
Posted on Thu, Jul. 04, 2002

Ossmann Desir, the first Haitian American elected to the North Miami
City Council, has abruptly resigned in the midst of what friends say are
personal troubles.

Friends and colleagues say Desir is in the middle of a difficult divorce
from his wife, Magalie Joseph Desir. Earlier this year, Desir announced
a campaign to become the first Haitian American on the Miami-Dade County
Commission, but he said in his resignation letter that he now plans to
move to Atlanta.

However, the talk heating up Haitian radio focuses on allegations by
clients that Desir, who runs an immigration consulting business, hasn't
delivered on promises to help them.

Desir, who went on Radio Carnivale (WRHB-AM 1020) Tuesday afternoon to
defend his reputation, could not be reached by telephone for comment. He
said on the radio program that personal problems led to his resignation.

The allegations have prompted friends to come to Desir's defense. But
another prominent Haitian politician, state Rep. Phillip Brutus,
D-Miami, publicly chastised Desir during Brutus' weekly Sunday program
on WLQY-AM (1320).

Brutus would not repeat his comments to The Herald. ''At this point, I
really don't want to comment on this matter,'' Brutus said Wednesday.
"It's a difficult situation that we need to watch."

Herntz Phanord, a friend of Desir and host of Haiti Antennes Plus, a
well-known Creole radio program on WLQY, said Desir wouldn't hurt
anyone. "It's just a couple of his clients who may need some
confirmation papers," Phanord said. "The bulk of the work has already
been done."

The clients, Phanord said, have received appointments from the U.S.
Immigration and Naturalization Service, but complain that they have not
been able to get in touch with Desir because of his personal problems.

"The fact that you can get someone an appointment means you have been
working on their behalf," Phanord said.

North Miami Mayor Josaphat "Joe" Celestin, an ally of Desir, said "he's
been going through a bitter divorce with his wife" and intended to
resign anyway in an effort to start his life over. "Since having
problems with his wife, he hasn't been the same," Celestin said.

Magalie Joseph Desir could not be reached either by telephone or at
addresses listed for her in public records.

City records show that Ossmann Desir has missed four of the last eight
council meetings.

Reports filed with the North Miami Police Department and the Miami-Dade
Police Department in the past two years show a contentious relationship
between Desir and his wife.

In September 2000, Desir told North Miami police that his wife
threatened to make false accusations about him to get him in trouble.

Miami-Dade police were called by Magalie Desir on Oct. 30, 2001.
According to the police report, she told police there was an argument
between her and her husband over her whereabouts.

"There were visible bruises on [Magalie Joseph Desir's] left arm, thigh
and right eye," the report states. The report did not provide her
husband's response to the allegation, saying he was not there when
police arrived. There is no indication in court records that charges
were filed. Police spokesman Ed Munn said he could not
determine the outcome of the incident.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/3597537.htm