13408: Karshan: Highlights Sept 30 to Oct 6, 2002/Concretizing Democracy (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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

CONCRETIZING DEMOCRACY

Highlights of Government of Haiti Achievements
September 30 to October 6, 2002

OAS RESOLUTION 822 - JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE, OAS & PRESIDENT ARISTIDE:
Following his meeting with President Aristide, OAS Ambassador David Lee told
the press that the government of Haiti has acted satisfactorily on many
points committed to in the OAS Resolution 822, which provides for legislative
and local elections in early 2003 and is designed toward the reinforcement of
democracy.

Many of these points were initiatives proposed by President Aristide
throughout the negotiation process as well as goals committed to as far back
as during the President's presidential campaign and contained in the Fanmi
Lavalas White Book plan for action.

Citing progress, Amb. Lee noted that a preliminary report on the events of
December 17th (day of attack on National Palace) was published as promised
and the reparation process for damages incurred that day has begun.  In
addition to his recommendations for further action on the part of the Haitian
government, Amb. Lee urged all sectors to name their representative for the
formation of a new electoral council, as called for in the initial draft
accord agreed to by Fanmi Lavalas to which the Convergence is still not on
board with.

Amb. Lee reiterated once again that the OAS Resolution 822 does not include
re-election of those senators elected in November 2000, as these elections
were not in dispute, although the Convergence is trying to make their
participation in upcoming elections contingent on demands  extraneous to the
OAS resolutions.

On the government of Haiti's side, the disarmament campaign is now in its
second phase and the President announced that the electoral council will be
created prior to November 4th to allow parliamentary and local elections to
be held in early 2003.

REPARATIONS FOR VICTIMS OF DEC. 17th ASSURED.
President Aristide's chief of staff said during a public event that, "In
order to have social peace, we must have justice and reparationFor all those
victims of the December 17th events who have filed complaints with the
inter-ministerial commission, they will have their chance to receive their
reparations."

PRESIDENT RECEIVES HUNDREDS FOR WORLD TEACHERS' DAY:
The President received hundreds of school principles and teachers from
throughout the country, as well as other special guests such as frequent
contributor to Le Monde, Christophe Wargny of France) to celebrate World
Teachers' Day.  President Aristide urged the guests to encourage their
students to participate in the national literacy campaign by taking training
to be literacy monitors as hundreds of other students have already done.
Recently some high school students were recognized for their outstanding
contributions as literacy monitors and were given credit toward their high
school state exam.

Recognizing the constraints teachers face in their work, particularly in
light of the two year old financial sanctions against Haiti, the President
and the Minister of Education paid tribute to the guests for their sacrifices
and dedication to the development of Haiti's youth, giving special
recognition to a few long time teachers from the West, the Southeast, and
Nippes.

POLICE MEET WITH BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN NORTH.
Responding to recent insecurity, the police have taken numerous actions to
reinforce security including stepping up patrols in business section and also
identified one of the main culprits in the recent rise in crime.  The police
believe that 12 criminals, with histories of zenglendo activity, who escaped
recently from the state prison in Cap Haitian are responsible for recent
crimes.

STRENGHTENING THE PRESS AND PRESS RELATIONS.  President Aristide, his chief
of staff, the Minister of Culture & Communications and the Secretary of State
for Communications, met with eight owners of radio stations to reinforce
respect for the liberty of the press and the ability of the media to operate,
at the same time asking that the media respect professional standards for
balanced reporting.

NEW MINISTER OF JUSTICE.  Following the resignation of Jean-Baptiste Brown,
Calixte Delatour was installed by the Prime Minister as the new Minister of
Justice.   The Prime Minister pointed to achievements in justice such as a
new tribunal, the recent graduation of judges from the School of
Magistrature,  police operations against drug traffickers, etc.  The new
minister committed to work for reform of the judicial system and said he
would work for a state of right, reinforcement of judges, and
non-interference with internal affairs of the courts. The press were asked to
continue their coverage of justice issues which serves to educate the public.
 The press was also asked to participate in the development of democracy.

THE FIRST STAGE OF CONSTRUCTION OF A DORMITORY CAMPUS AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY
FOR AGRICULTURE AT DAMIEN ON 107 HECTARES OF LAND.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION LAUNCHES INTER-SECTORIAL PLAN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST
HIV/AIDS VIA EDUCATING SCHOOL STUDENTS.
Breaking the wall of silence, the fight against HIV/AIDS will now be waged on
the school front where 2 million students and 45,000 teachers will receive
education on sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS enabling students to
make educated  decisions about their behavior.  Hundreds of students from
public and private schools participated in this inauguration of the education
campaign held at the Alexandre Petion public school in Port-au-Prince.   The
students wore tee shirts declaring a war against HIV/AIDS and large red
ribbons covered their faces. The Minister of Education asked all schools in
the country to organize their school activities in such a way that sensitizes
students to this very critical issue. Partners in this effort are FOSREF,
UNICEF, UNESCO, PSI/HAITI, VDH, and the Ministry for Women's Affairs and
Conditions,

PRESIDENT'S CALL TO END CORRUPTION IN ALL SECTORS REFLECTED IN NEW DEMAND BY
CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION TO END CORRUPTION IN AREA OF IMPORTATION.
The Customs administration says the majority of importers are regularly
understating their import goods although Customs has repeatedly issued
directives to stop this practice that is harmful to free commercial
competition and deprives the country of resources needed for development.
Customs has put agents of importers, manufacturers, customs, transport, banks
and financial institutions' agents on notice of their campaign against
undercharging.  A team of investigators will spot check these businesses
checking commercial documents and the records of enterprises involved in
importation.  Names of those found to be using fraudulent practices, as well
as their accomplices, will be released to the press for publication.  Those
importing agencies operating without authority are urged to register prior to
October 15.

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON COOPERATIVES opened an office in Cap Haitian to receive
complaints by those who lost money in cooperatives.

PRESIDENT ARISTIDE CONVOQUES PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE.
In a special decree, the President has convoqued Parliament to convene on
October 7th to vote on 17 laws including proposed law on the State University
which has been embroiled in conflict recently and on the fiscal budget.
Modifications of some old laws relating to taxes and motor vehicles are
expected as well.

PRIME MINISTER ON ELECTIONS AND OPPOSITION PARTICIPATION.
"The School of Democracy is open all year long.  The students are never on
holiday.  All students, all students without distinction in the School of
Democracy, must do their duties.  They must take part in preparing for and
passing the exams aimed at testing democracy's state of health.  The biggest
test to control democracy's state of health is elections.  The more the
students of democracy are served by justice, the more security prevails, the
more extreme poverty recedes, the healthier democracy will be and the
stronger democracy will be.  The people, all of us Haitians, must use our
intelligence and not let the violence of hunger, the violence of unemployment
make us stand against ourselves, against our own interests."

The Prime Minister also addressed the public on their civic responsibilities,
"You Haitians who love your country and who have chosen democracy as an
instrument for peace and progress, we encourage you to take part in creating
conditions to allow each citizen and all citizens to do their civic duties.
It is through doing our civic duties that we shall manage to enjoy the
guarantees of our rights as provided for by the Constitution, our
constitution which a great majority of us voted for."

NATIONAL LITERACY CAMPAIGN CONTINUES TO TAKE ROOT.
In Archaie, recent training of trainers has allowed for the opening of 273
new literacy centers bringing the total for this commune to 450.

TELECO PROVIDES INTERNET SERVICES TO SCHOOLS.
Committed to getting as many public and private schools online, the
government, through its telephone company, is providing free installation and
subsidized access to internet.  There are more than one thousand subscribers
to Teleco's dial-up access.  There are 100,000 wireless lines available
throughout the country, 20,000 of those dedicated to Teleco's cell phone
service, Ti-Teleco 2004. 10,000 wireless lines are currently being installed
in the North with 500 already available.

INAUGURATION OF SOCIAL/CULTURAL CENTER IN PETIT GOAVE.
As promised by President Aristide during his recent visit to Petit Goave, a
social/cultural center, featuring internet services, was inaugurated.

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON COOPERATIVES INFORMS PUBLIC ON REPARATIONS.
The CNC reported that 546 checks were prepared for distribution to
cooperative depositors of 22 cooperatives (CEI, CECI, SOTIKOM, SOGOGEM,
SOFADEC, CADEC) in varying amounts ranging from 600 to 15,000 gourdes. The
CNC invites the press to verify the issuing of these checks which are being
issued weekly.  To date, 1,660 dossiers have been treated by the CNC out of
35,000 complaints filed.

STATE PRISON AUTHORITIES TOGETHER WITH A HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP HOLD ACTIVITIES
IN PRISONS FOR OCTOBER'S "MONTH OF  PRISONERS" FOR THE 4,000 PRISONERS HELD
IN 19 STATE FACILITIES.

PRESS CONFERENCE ON ECONOMY HELD IN NATIONAL PALACE.
The President's Cabinet together with the Minister of Finance held a press
conference to inform public on fiscality efforts employed by the government.
They said that while they will not increase taxes, they will reinforce the
collection of taxes and customs fees due and work to prevent misuse of public
funds.  Explaining that paying taxes is everyone's civic duty, they said it
is necessary to increase the tax base in order to finance projects in areas
of health care, security, justice and infrastructure.

Explaining tax requirements that anyone who makes 1,6666.65 gourdes a month
must pay taxes on their income under Article 128 of the Constitution.
Article 151 of the Constitution also discusses the TCA, the taxes charged by
businesses to their customers, which in most instances is limited to 10%.

The government spent 9 billion 600 million gourdes in fiscal year 2001-2002,
but only collected 7 billion 200 million gourdes.  The funds for reparations
for Dec 17th and compensation to depositors in cooperatives are contained
within the budget for fiscal year 2002-2003.  The message of the President
was reiterated:  No new taxes, no abuse, no misappropriation of funds!

PRESIDENT MET WITH THOSE LEADING CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE HAITI'S COFFEE,
INCLUDING OXFAM, WHO RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD BE PROMOTING HAITI'S
COFFEE INTERNATIONALLY.

ASSISTING VICTIMS OF TROPICAL STORM LILY.
The Office of Civil Protection and the Haitian Red Cross mobilized to provide
relief to victims of Tropical Storm Lily which left hundreds homeless,
particularly in the Southern region. Houses built near rivers were hardest
hit as rivers and ravines swelled. Gonaives also experienced problems because
of its deforestation.  "We have done our best to execute our plan, this is
why we are here to represent the first phase of emergency response."
Livestock was lost, extensive damage to farms, and four people lost their
lives.

Minister of Haitians Living Abroad released information that 8 million
Haitians live abroad, with 1 million residing in the US.  Currently Haiti's
population is said to be 8 million but it is about to undergo a census.
Latin America 10,000
Europe, 20,000
Turks & Caicos 20,000
Bahamas 40,000
France 50,000
Departments of Outre-Mer  70,000
Canada 200,000
Cuba 300,000
Dominican Republic 600,000

Haitians living abroad send approximately 800 million dollars to Haiti per
year.

GOVERNMENT STARTS REPAIRS ON ITS OFFICES THAT WERE DESTROYED DURING RECENT
TENSION IN GONAIVES.

LITERACY CAMPAIGN IN GONAIVES REGION.
62 monitors already trained, 55 literacy centers in 3rd communal section
Bayone in Gonaives.

ONE OF HAITI'S NATIONAL PARKS, MAYAKA PARK, ENFORCES LAW AGAINST CUTTING DOWN
TREES IN THIS NATIONAL TREASURE.

CARICOM TOGETHER WITH MINISTERY OF JUSTICE AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR PUBLIC
SECURITY HOLDS TRAINING SEMINAR IN HAITI TO BRING JUSTICE SYSTEM UP TO SPEED
ON FUNCTIONING OF THE SOON TO OPEN CARICOM COURT OF JUSTICE.

OCTOBER WILL CELEBRATE HAITIANS LIVING ABROAD WITH NUMEROUS ACTIVITIES IN
HAITI IN FOUR PARTS: Oct 1 - 7 art and culture, Oct 7-13 tourism, Oct 14-20
rights of Haitians living abroad, rights of Haitians living in foreign
countries, Oct 21-27 discussions on free trade zones, investments, etc.
Planning for 2004.

22 NEW SCHOOL BUSES.
School buses provided by government in line with plan for school year and in
line with the President's Universal Schooling program.  Each of the 22 new
buses cost $30,000.  Until now, 9,000 students use the Dignity buses was an
initiative of President Aristide in his first administration.

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

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