13409: Karshan: Highlights Sept 23 to 29, 2001/Concretizing Democracy (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

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

CONCRETIZING DEMOCRACY
Highlights of Government of Haiti Achievements
September 23-29, 2002

AT FANMI LAVALAS GATHERING FOR ANNIVERSARY OF 1991 COUP D'ETAT, PRESIDENT
ARISTIDE SPEAKS OF MANIPULATION BY PRESS,
In the wake of police findings that the alleged kidnapping of Jacky Cantave,
which received international coverage, may have been staged, President
Aristide said, "When you use lies and scenarios to try to make people believe
that the press is muzzled, and when certain sectors utter threats against the
press to throw people into disarray, it is again an extension of the coup
d'etat."  At the same time the President reiterated his commitment to liberty
of the press and stated that the government will not tolerate threats against
the press. The President appeals to all members of Fanmi Lavalas and the
government to show solidarity in order to prevent destabilization and efforts
to discredit the government's image.  The President called on everyone to
respect Haiti's Constitution, appealed to the police to resist corruption and
reminded them to remain neutral in their work and independent of political
parties, and urged them to stay away from drugs and not succumb to abuse of
power by force.  Once again, President Aristide stated that the police must
guarantee security for all and for the electoral process.

SUPPORTING LIBERTY OF THE PRESS.
Demonstrating both solidarity and support for the press, the Prime Minister
and the Secretary of State for Communications visited Radyo Kiskeya when they
closed citing verbal threats.  The government urged the station to file a
complaint with the police and a full investigation was underway by the
police.  A police patrol was placed in front of the radio station.  It was
revealed that L'Union, the government newspaper, had received threats and had
filed a complaint with the authorities against the culprit.  An investigation
by the police regarding the alleged kidnapping of radio journalist Jacky
Cantave found inconsistencies in statements made by Mr. Cantave and the
police learned that there were in the vehicle at the time that Mr. Cantave
was alleged to of been kidnapped. Mr. Cantave left the country prior to the
conclusion of the investigation.

HAITI PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE HURRICANE LILY.
In anticipation of Hurricane Lili hitting Haiti has either a hurricane or as
a tropical storm, Haiti's Office of Civil Protection intensified their annual
public information campaign, via radio, television and newspaper, advising
the population of weather conditions and instructing on public safety
measures.  The government of Haiti released 4 million gourdes for preparation.

FANMI LAVALAS POLITICAL PARTY INVITES THE CONVERGENCE TO PARTICIPATE IN
UPCOMING ELECTIONS.
Consistent with prior declarations relating to elections and the formation of
an electoral council and in sync with the spirit of the OAS Resolution 822,
Fanmi Lavalas political party invites the Convergence to participate in
upcoming parliamentarian and local elections.  However, the Convergence
continues to state that they will not participate in upcoming elections
instead demanding conditions outside of the OAS resolutions.

FIGHTING THE ELM BARK BEETLE TO SAVE HAITI'S COFFEE.  Together with IICA, the
Ministry of Agriculture held a forum on the devastating impact of the Elm
Bark Beetle on Haiti's coffee, and the progress in combating the pest. Last
year's yield was reduced by 90% causing rise in coffee prices, however, there
has been a marked increase in production over the last year since this
project began.

FIRST LADY MILDRED ARISTIDE REFLECTS ON AIDS, GLOBAL FUND, POVERTY, OAS
RESOLUTION 822, FINANCIAL SANCTIONS AND YOUTH.
In her address to the annual conference of spouses of heads of states, held
this year in Mexico, First Lady Mildred Aristide said, "On behalf of the
Haitian people I take this opportunity to thank every member of the
Organization of American States which voted unanimously for OAS Resolution
822.  Resolution 822 is intended to trigger the resumption of international
development loans wrongly withheld from Haiti, for over three long years, a
country that the world is so quick to call the poorest in the Western
hemisphere.  We are hopeful that projects to increase access to potable
water, decentralize and strengthen the healthcare system, construct secondary
roads and build schools - projects already approved by the Haitian Government
and the Inter-American Development Bank will be reactivated quickly, because
these projects are the backbone of any environment favorable to the
development of our youth."

Regarding HIV/AIDS in Haiti First Lady Mildred Aristide pointed out that,
"'Youth and poverty lie at the heart of the most pressing issues facing my
country, Haiti.  Because 40% of our population of 8 million people is below
15, this means that nearly 50% of Haitian society exposed to the hardships of
the country's crippling economic poverty is its children.

"In Haiti too, AIDS is an enormous obstacle - with an infection rate of
between 4 and 6%, over 300,000 Haitians are living with AIDS, and
approximately 80,000 of them are children.  Successful, but limited programs
to prevent the vertical transmission of the virus from mother to child have
reduced the risk of infection from 30 to 9%.  However, the continuity and
efficacy of these life sustaining programs is severely threatened by a cutoff
in the supply of artificial milk, the only viable alternative to
breastfeeding for mothers who are HIV positive.

"A country with a long and difficult history with AIDS, today in Haiti we
have a National AIDS Commission which I chair that is mult-sectorial and
builds upon the public/private partnership that has evolved in the struggle
against AIDS.  Haiti is the first country to receive a mission from the
Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculoses and Malaria, in anticipation of funding
before December.  Concrete action to treat those inflicted with these
diseases, prevent and educate against their spread will, not only promote
health, it will nurture hope.  Hope and belief that the path of democracy
that Haiti chose twelve short years ago when it organized it's first ever
free and fair elections, is the path to greater social justice for her
children."

REGIONAL DRUG OPERATION CARRIED OUT IN HAITI:
The second phase of a regional effort, "Operation Hurricane," was carried out
from Sept. 16th to 28th by the Police special unit combating drug trafficking
(BLTS).  Searches included hundreds of cars, dozens of boats, businesses,
private residences,  etc.  Several arrested.

HAITI'S ELECTRIC COMPANY REACHES OUT FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS.
In an effort to generate operating capital, EDH has set a goal of enlisting
18,000 to 40,000 new subscribers in Cap Haitian area.  Transformers not
working have been replaced and electrical lines installed.

POLICE PRESENT IN MARTISSANT TO QUELL UNREST.
Following days of tension in Martissant, the police remained present to quell
further unrest.  The Prime Minister said, "Whenever such situations occur,
the police try to develop strategies to confront them. They are trying to
control the situation while trying to protect lives and property there is a
continuing campaign to control the illegal weapons which are circulating in
the country."

67 NEW NURSES GRADUATE FROM HAITI'S STATE UNIVERSITY FROM THREE YEAR PROGRAM.

EXPANSION OF COURTS IN RURAL AREAS.
Haiti and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) opened three
experimental courts in rural Jacmel, Fort Liberte and Port-au-Paix aimed at
strengthening capabilities of justice system as well as widening its
availability to the public and to reverse impunity.

STRENGTHENING AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development, pleased with work
already accomplished by the government of Haiti on FIDA projects already
underway, has signed an agreement with Haiti to provide financing for a ten
year period.  This follows an accord made in Rome and the ratification by
Haiti's parliament in August. Starting in early 2003, 500,000 people, in 80
communities, are estimated to benefit, starting first in the Northeast,
Northwest and the Central Plateau, will include collaboration and
participation at local and grassroots level. The balance of funds needed to
achieve this work is being provided by the Haitian government.

A LARGE COOPERATIVE STARTS PAYING ITS DEPOSITORS.
One of the largest cooperatives is in the process of reimbursing its
depositors and took out an ad in the daily newspaper with the names, account
numbers of those shareholders they would like to present themselves at their
offices according to the schedule published in the paper which allows for 50
persons a day.  In July, President Aristide asked for the directors of the
cooperatives to
come forward and work out a reasonable process to make good to their
depositors.

PRESIDENT ARISTIDE TALKS ABOUT EFFORTS TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING.
In an interview with journalists from the Dominican Republic, President
Aristide said that transshipping of drugs through Haiti had decreased.  He
stated that Haiti is not receiving sufficient assistance to fight drug
trafficking and that the government of Haiti had to rent two helicopters to
use in the effort despite requests to the U.S. to provide proper materials to
aid in these efforts which include land, sea and air.  The US committed to
provide assistance ($650,000) and they publicized this but never provided any
of this assistance.

TOURISM SEMINARS SEEK TO GENERATE INTEREST AMONGST ALL SECTORS.
"Health, tourism and environment" were the themes of a series of seminars
held throughout the country which included students from the fields of
nursing, journalism, agronomy, environment, and tourism administration, as
well as representatives of the Ministry of Education.  A goal was to help all
sectors see the relevance and economic benefits from tourism.

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

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