13249: Karshan: Haiti: Concretizing Democracy, Highlights of achievements Sept 1 to 15 2002 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

Michelle Karshan, Foreign Press Liaison
National Palace, Haiti
mkarshan@aol.com
(011509) 228-2058

CONCRETIZING DEMOCRACY

Highlights of Government of Haiti achievements
September 1 - 15, 2002

OAS RESOLUTION 822 EMBRACES INITIATIVES & COMMITMENTS MADE BY PRESIDENT
ARISTIDE.  The OAS unanimously voted to pass Resolution 822 demonstrating
their acknowledgment that the Government of Haiti has thus far taken concrete
steps to resolve the political impasse.  The resolution embodies many of
President Aristide's initiatives such as calling for parliamentary and local
elections, disarmament and the formation of a new electoral council.  The OAS
will work with the government of Haiti as it continues to move forward to
take all necessary steps to reinforce democracy.  Many points have already
been underway such as the disarmament campaign, reparations for those whose
suffered losses of property or injury in the aftermath of the attack on the
National Palace on December 17th.  The resolution supports the normalization
of economic cooperation between the government of Haiti and the international
financial institutions.  In passing this resolution, the OAS reinforced the
principle that the normalization of relations between the government of Haiti
and the international development banks is vital to the strengthening of
democratic institutions in Haiti.

JUSTICE REPORT ON EVENTS OF DECEMBER 17th, JULY 28th, AND OTHER JUSTICE
MATTERS.   After a lengthy investigation, the Ministry of Justice released
its preliminary report on the December 17th attack on the National Palace
finding that heavily armed individuals penetrated the Palace in three
vehicles, one mounted with an M-50 machine gun.  The assailants shot up
different areas inside the Palace, including the President's private office.
As a result one assailant died, one assailant was captured and imprisoned,
two police officers were killed, six police officers were wounded, several
civilians were wounded and killed, an M-50 and other heavy artillery were
seized by the Police. Opposition headquarters, public and private
institutions, homes and cars were damaged.

DECEMBER 17th INVESTIGATION MOVES FORWARD THROUGH JUSTICE SYSTEM TOWARD
PROSECUTION.  Following a comprehensive investigation, interrogations,
issuing of warrants, arrests and detentions, the prosecutor forwarded the
December 17th case to the courts who assigned a judge to hear the matter.

GOVT OF HAITI BEGINS PAYING REPARATIONS TO VICTIMS OF DECEMBER 17th.
After investigating complaints of damages incurred, the government began
paying reparations to victims of December 17th.  Requests for reparation came
from different locations in the country and includes claims by opposition,
bystanders, and police.

JUSTICE REPORT INCLUDES FINDINGS ON JULY 28th ATTACK.  The report found that
on the night of July 27 into 28, 2001, heavily armed individuals attacked and
occupied the Petionville Police Station, seizing the police academy, killing
three and seizing a large quantity of weapons.  Assailants attacked police
stations in Mirebalais, Hinche, and Belledere killing police officers. Two
civilians were killed and large quantities of weapons and ammunition were
seized by the attackers.  The Prosecutor transmitted the July 28th file to
the Court who assigned the matter to Judge Pierre Josue Agnant.  The judge
completed his investigation and returned the file to the Prosecutor for legal
follow-up under Haitian law.  The report also reviewed progress in the
investigations and judicial proceedings in the cases of Jean Dominique and
Brignol Lindor.

POLICE EFFORTS DECREASE INSECURITY IN DOWNTOWN PORT-AU-PRINCE.
Crediting the efforts of the National Police, small and large businesses
reported a marked decrease in insecurity in the downtown business section of
Port-au-Prince.

MODERNIZATION OF JUDICIAL SYSTEM.  Twenty-nine new judges were assigned to
posts throughout the country immediately upon graduating from the 3rd
promotion of the School of Magistrate after 13 months of intensive training.
President Aristide announced sweeping judicial reforms in a May speech,
including the delivery of justice in rural areas.

REINFORCING THE POLICE IN RURAL AREAS.  Eight hundred new recruits to the
National Police have begun training at the Police Academy and are being
assigned in rural areas upon graduation.

PRESIDENT ARISTIDE COMMITS TO PROVIDING SECURITY FOR ELECTORAL CANDIDATES.
In an attempt to encourage full participation in the electoral campaign,
President Aristide announced that the government would guarantee security for
political parties who participate in the upcoming parliamentary and local
elections scheduled for 2003.

PRESIDENT ARISTIDE CONTINUES TO REACH OUT TO COVERGENCE.  President Aristide
recently telephoned Convergence members in his ongoing efforts to reach a
resolution to the political crisis. "I will continue to dialogue with the
leaders of the opposition." The Convergence still has not signed onto a draft
accord that Fanmi Lavalas has already agreed to.  The President has appealed
to the Convergence to have representation on the electoral council which
oversees the elections process as well as to participate in elections as
candidates.  Prior to departing for Earth Summit, President Aristide
addressed the nation, "People in the political sector, let's hold the flag of
peace together, because only peace can give us political stability so there
can be economic growth."

REMEMBERING THE TRAGEDIES OF SEPTEMBER 11th & THE QUEST FOR JUSTICE.
Together with victims and their families of the St. Jean Bosco massacre,
President Aristide held a memorial service on this 14th anniversary of the
1988 massacre and the 1993 assassination of Antoine Izmerry, and also spoke
of the tragedy that occurred on this same date in New York in 2001. A Haitian
priest, whose sister worked in the World Trade Center and narrowly escaped
with her life, attended the memorial event.  Fourteen persons who were born
in Haiti lost their lives at the World Trade Center. President Aristide
appealed again for unity in Haiti saying, "Today I call on all citizens of
goodwill to form a chain of solidarity," so that the nation can go forward
towards its 2004 bicentennial commemoration of independence.  The
investigation leading to prosecution for the massacre at St. Jean Bosco
advanced with the assignment of Judge Bernard Saint-Vil to the matter.

PRESIDENT ARISTIDE ADDRESSES 2nd EARTH SUMMIT.  Addressing the Earth Summit
conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa, President Aristide said,
"Anyone who wants to promote sustainable development throughout the world
must acknowledge the direct correlation between the deterioration of our
environment and abject poverty." Regarding Haiti, the President said, "…only
20% of a population of 8 million people have access to drinking water.
Diseases related to this precious liquid cause one-third of all registered
deaths in developing countries…Between 1940 and 2002, the forest cover in
Haiti decreased from 40% to 1%.  Each year we continue to lose 36 million
metric tons of land.  Our fellow citizens, fleeing from the disastrous
consequences of the unjust economic sanctions against Haiti, flee, just like
the earth, to the seas." President Aristide said, "By building a state of
right, a good government, the respect of human rights, a partnership between
the public and private sectors, the fight against the AIDS pandemic and the
ecological deterioration, the fight against corruption, drugs and impunity,
we progressively open the road to a world socially fair and economically
free."

PARLIAMENT CLOSES 4th SESSION of 47th LEGISLATURE SUMMING UP WORK ACHIEVED.
At its closing session, Parliament, which is made up of 83 deputies and 27
senators summed up its accomplishments from August 2000 to present.  They
ratified 13 agreements, contracts and conventions and passed 15 laws that
were published which the President of the Senate stated serve to concretize
democracy and lead to improved quality of life for the Haitian people.  These
acts include a contract with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on
expanding access to education, an accord between Haiti and the US on
combating drug trafficking, an accord on a loan with IDB re: expansion of
access to potable water, a law creating an increase in courthouses, passed a
comprehensive law against money-laundering and creating a financial control
unit, passed a law regulating cooperatives, and a ground breaking law
prohibiting corporal punishment against children.

CUSTOMS RECEIPTS.  The Customs office reported that their August receipts
increased by 3.79% over the previous month although this reflects a 13.2%
decrease of receipts over August 2001.

TAX OFFICE REPORTS LARGE INCREASE IN FISCAL RECEIPTS.  The tax office (DGI)
credits a 24% increase in this year's annual fiscal receipts to the increased
training their tax agents received throughout the country. Additional efforts
for increased efficiency are underway and the tax office is working on the
dossiers of 108 companies in arrears who have been asked to pay their taxes
or their files will be advanced for collection. The newly created
municipalities, such as Tabarre and Cite Soleil, will soon have their own tax
offices. The tax office held its 4th annual seminar at which it focused on
fiscality, combating corruption, and the recent integration of Haiti into
CARICOM.

LITERACY CAMPAIGN IN ACTION:  YOUTH & ELDERLY, LITERATE & ILLITERATE WORK
TOGETHER.  On International Literacy Day, President Aristide received 5,000
people who are actively engaged in the literacy campaign to the National
Palace. The highlight of the event was the presenting of medals and
certificates to 447 high school students who were cited for their outstanding
contribution through their work as literacy monitors.  These students
received extra credit towards their statewide exams because of their work.
So far the Secretary of State for Literacy has trained 30,000 such monitors
and has distributed 700,000 literacy manuals.

HAITI'S 200th ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE IN 2004 TO KICK OFF THIS NOVEMBER.
The Inter-Ministerial Commission on 2004 announced that it had come to
agreement on what goals the government hopes to achieve by 2004: Literacy,
full access to schooling for children (which calls for a school in each of
the 565 communes) and infrastructure development.  The bicentennial will be
launched on the historic date of November 18th and a list of scheduled events
will be released.

REGISTRY FOR SKILLED HAITIANS ANNOUNCED BY MINISTRY OF CULTURE &
COMMUNICATIONS.  The Ministry of Culture and Communications announced the
creation of a registry of Haitians with technical skills for possible
collaboration with the government.

HAITIANS ABROAD TO PARTICIPATE IN MONTH OF THE TENTH DEPARTMENT.
Numerous activities are being scheduled for October's month of the Tenth
Department.  Haitians living abroad in the US, Canada, Europe, etc., are
expected to participate.

SOCIAL AFFAIRS:  HOUSING, FOOD, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, DISASTER RELIEF, &
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS!  Social Affairs and Labor reported that the government has
created 142 new housing units, is providing 2,491 hot meals daily through 83
community restaurants linked with literacy training, is providing 1,200 hot
meals in various regions through its canteen program, distributed basic
school supplies to more than 4,000 families throughout the country,
distributed dried foods and emergency supplies to victims of recent flooding
in the South. More than 12,000 people are receiving emergency assistance
through its Social Assistance Fund.  Social Affairs expects to expand
subsidized housing (there are currently six housing projects underway to
provide 1,437 lowcost/subsidized units) as well as carry out a public
information campaign to address and raise awareness about the plight of
children living in domestic servitude (restaveks).

POLICE ARREST DIRECTOR OF LARGEST COOPERATIVE IN HAITI AT BORDER.
Police arrested the director of the largest cooperative (20,000 depositors)
Coeurs-Unis Savings and Credit Cooperative, while he was allegedly attempting
to flee the country via the border to the Dominican Republic and is being
held for allegedly defrauding depositors and abuse of confidence.

GOVERNMENT STARTS PROCESS OF COMPENSATION TO COOPERATIVE DEPOSITORS.  The
Ministry of Finance released 10 million gourdes to begin the compensation
process for those small shareholders who lost money in cooperatives.  27,000
complaints and applications for compensation were recently filed with the
government.

TIGHTER CONTROL OVER COOPERATIVES IN EFFECT.  Following recent legislation
regulating cooperatives, the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) created a
commission charged with oversight of cooperatives.  The commission works
jointly with the National Council of Cooperatives (CNC).  The BRH has a
one-year deadline to complete its task of working on the dossier of failed
cooperatives.  Cooperatives are required to adhere to the same regulations
governing banks in conformance with earlier legislation designed to thwart
money-laundering.

TIME EXPIRES FOR COOP ADMINISTRATORS TO COME FORWARD TO DO RIGHT BY
SHAREHOLDERS.  Even going so far as offering them security, President
Aristide, at a meeting with depositors in July, appealed to those
administrators of cooperatives who had already fled the country or were in
hiding to come forward to reorganize their cooperatives and set things
straight with their depositors.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT.  The Director of Mines visited sand mines in
Croix-des-Bouquets and Malpasse and announced that tighter control would be
exercised to assure that regulations are abided by with regard to location of
excavation. According to government requirements, excavators must first
obtain permission before mining for sand to give the government the
opportunity to decide whether it would be detrimental to the ecology,
watershed, safety or tourist development, etc. The government is evaluating
these sites and may force excavators to relocate.

MAKING THE ROADS SAFER.  To curtail speeding, the Circulation department will
begin using radar guns to control drivers.  Daily television programs
instruct drivers on conduct, safety and circulation lines on the roads.

SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS!  Government subsidized textbooks and school supplies were
sold in various locations of the country, and schools opened one week later
than originally scheduled.  On the occasion of the new school year,
Circulation, Public Works and Environment announced their efforts to
alleviate garbage accumulation, clear the streets of abandoned cars, and make
road repairs. Road repairs are also scheduled in the near future in Cap
Haitian, Cayes, and Gonaives.

MIGRATION.  Haiti's National Office on Migration, reported that it assisted
8,000 repatriated refugees this year, which is 1,000 more than the previous
year.

TELEPHONES INSTALLED IN PETIT GOAVE.  In keeping with President Aristide's
promise to Petit Goave during his recent visit there, 250 of the 3,000
telephone lines committed have already been installed.


For press releases and speeches in French, please visit the National Palace
website at http://www.palaisnational.org
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