16128: Concretizing Democracy - July 11, 2003 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

Date:  July 11, 2003
Contact:  Michelle Karshan, Foreign Press Liaison
Tel: (011509) 228-2058
Email:  mkarshan@aol.com

CONCRETIZING DEMOCRACY - July 11, 2003

Highlights of recent accomplishments

Haiti and Dominican Republic Efforts Against Trafficking of Children
Haiti's First Lady, the director of the Office of Citizen Protection, members
of the new police special unit for the protection of minors, and other
government officials participated in a conference held by UNICEF and attended by
officials and NGOs from Haiti and the Dominican Republic to advance the fight
against trafficking in children, particularly via the border.  Haiti recently
passed legislation prohibiting trafficking in persons.

President Aristide Again Calls for Resolution of Crisis
President Aristide once again appealed to the political sectors to put aside
their personal interests, initiate a frank dialogue and move toward unity
pointing out that the government has already made numerous concessions in this
vein.

Moving to Elections
The Haitian government once again appealed to the opposition and civil
society to participate in the creation of an electoral council so that necessary
legislative and local elections may be held in 2003, as laid out in OAS
Resolution 822. The office of the Security of State for Public Security stated that
there are sufficient security measures in place to hold elections.

Former Judge Named as Haiti's First Woman Police Chief
The former head judge of Port-au-Prince's civil court system was appointed
interim police chief making history as the first woman director of Haiti's
national police force.  Ms. Pierre, most recently was division commissioner within
the police.  She received practical instruction on police work and
constabulary in France. Ms. Pierre sees her role as reinforcing confidence in police work
and professionalization of the institution of the police.

Conference on Disarmament and Campaign on Sensitizing Public Continues
The Haitian government participated in a 5-day conference on disarmament
together with twenty human rights groups and members of civil society and a
consultant from the UN Bureau for the Construction of Peace and Control of Arms, and
participants from   Geneva and Trinidad.  Conference was organized by the
Americans Friends Service Committee and the Haitian Episcopal Commission for
Justice.  A public campaign for disarmament continues on the airways including a
recently televised debate.

Prime Minister Reports on Government Before Parliament
At opening of second session of Parliament the Prime Minister revealed that
during last two quarters of this year the fiscal administration and customs
already collected more than 5 billion gourdes which is a 17% increase over the
same period last year, attributing this increase to success in administrative
measures to counter fraud. He stated that the public treasury accumulated
arrears payment of 73 million dollars (external debt), investment expenses reached
2.3 billion gourdes at 24% of total expenses, 50% of it went to infrastructure
development (construction/rehab of roads and schools). The Minister of
Agriculture coordinated 12 major lines of action that mobilized almost 130 million
gourdes and generated 75 thousand work slots.

Police Work to Protect Residents in Border Area of Central Plateau
The police continue to reinforce their efforts in the Central Plateau region
to combat weekly terrorist acts and acts of sabotage by armed groups who
identified themselves as former military.

Fighting Drug Trafficking and Abuse
Government of Haiti held seminar on the International Day Against Drug Abuse
and Trafficking during which the Prime Minister stated that Haiti has
experienced an increase in drug abuse. Haiti's National Commission to Fight Illegal
Drugs called on everyone to participate in the war on drugs, more specifically
through a public awareness campaign, and announced publication of a document
regarding a national plan, which will emphasize prevention, and rehabilitation
of individuals addicted to drugs.  The decrease is drugs transshipping through
Haiti, as well as surveillance and arrests made by the Haitian government were
cited as examples of some of the concrete actions taken in combating illegal
drugs. The office of the Secretary of State for Public Security stated that
additional resources are necessary to reinforce the Police in their efforts
against drug trafficking and asked that the US provide more assistance in this
regard citing the recent arrest in Haiti of a presumed drug dealer wanted by the
US authorities as evidence of good results that can be achieved through
increased collaboration and resources.

Infrastructure Development in Southeast Department of Haiti
The delegate of the Southeast department reported on achievements and others
underway such as the rehabilitation of Jacmel's port and airport, the feeding
of electricity into Côte-de-Fer, the significant increase in the number of
telephone lines in the city of Jacmel, the town park is under renovation in
Jacmel, studies underway to provide the whole region with drinking water, new roads
will be built to connect Southern cities permitting produce to more easily
reach the marketplaces, literacy campaign underway.

Criminal Trials By Jury
One of the two annual criminal trials by jury sessions held in Port-au-Prince
annually is scheduled to open in Port-au-Prince July 15t and is expected to
hear twenty cases in two weeks.

Venezuela Makes Gift of Gas to Haiti
Haiti received a gift of $500,000 worth of oil from Venezuela in celebration
of Haiti's upcoming bicentennial of independence and Haiti's role in the
abolishment of slavery in the region.

Haiti Pays Arrears to Inter-American Development Bank
Haiti paid $32 million in arrears to the IDB which should clear the way for
the IDB to  release loans and grants to Haiti which it was withholding
initially as part of the economic embargo on Haiti.  The loans are for increased
access to health care, expansion of potable water and road development.

A Call for Appropriate Behavior for Diplomats
The Minister of Communications issued a press release reminding all diplomats
credentialed in Haiti to respect the Vienna Convention with regards to limits
and constraints of diplomatic relations and their representatives.

Ministry of Planning Discusses Recent Achievements
The Ministry of Planning reported on their activities including the creation
of a national institute on coffee, the execution of five water projects, a
project of satellite imaging to assist in development (including for
reforestation), and 18 scholarships provided to government employees for advanced studies.


Infrastructure, Employment and Peace Efforts in Cite Soleil
After months of armed conflict in Cite Soleil, representatives from 34
districts of Cite Soleil came together to celebrate the new agreement between
leaders of the zones in conflict as part of ongoing peace efforts.  The Haitian
government working in partnership with the residents of Cite Soleil has
implemented infrastructure projects to better conditions.  There is general support for
disarmament and resident stated that there will not be more armed
confrontations in Cite Soleil, have handed over their weapons to the police and state that
the police are providing security.

National Telephone Company Gets New Director from Among the Ranks
A new director, who was promoted after serving as head of planning, was
appointed to head Haiti's national telephone company.

Health Reform Efforts
At a conference on health the Minister of Health revealed National Strategic
Health Plan for 2003-2007 and elaborated on efforts to reform health sector.

Access to Banking Reaches the Most Rural Areas
The National Bank of Credit (BNC) opened a branch in the rural area of Fonds
des Negres.

South Africa in Solidarity with Haiti
In an effort to reinforce relations between the two countries and reach a
trade accord, representatives from Haiti and South Africa met at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to reinforce the two countries' relations with workshops on
economics, technology and science. In his speech before CARICOM conference in
Jamaica, the President of South Africa articulated their support for Haiti and
the significance of Haiti's revolution.

Haiti and FAO Work Together to Counter Hunger
Haiti signed an accord with the UN's agriculture program (FAO) for the
reduction of hunger and poverty, which will include increased agricultural
production, improved conditions for rural families, including a credit program for
farmers.

Administration of State Exams a Success
600,000 students participated in state exams during June and July.  The
government hot lunch program provided hot meals for students taking exams for 5
gourdes near testing sites.

President Announces Larger Subsidy for School Text Books
During an event held at the National Palace on Children's Day, the President
announced that the government has allocated 241 million gourdes to increase
its subsidy for school textbooks to 70% this fall.  He also announced that funds
will be dedicated to educate restavek children and instructed families who
have restaveks to send them to school.

Increasing Haiti's Number of Departments
Nippes, a region in the South of Haiti, is on its way to becoming a
department after Parliament passed a bill, thereby opening the region to more
entitlements, including having its own representatives.

CARICOM Leaders Demonstrate Their Support for Haiti
At the CARICOM heads of states meeting held in Jamaica in early July,
Caribbean leaders urged the Haitian government to continues its efforts to implement
OAS Resolution 822 and committed to urging other parties to the resolution to
take their responsibilities as well.

Haiti Signs Onto Caribbean Court of Justice
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide signed an agreement to join the Caribbean
Court of Justice while at the recent Caribbean Community Heads of Government
meeting in Jamaica. Trade disputes between Caricom nations will be heard at this
tribunal when the region establishes its single market economy.

Haiti's Ambassador to the OAS Heads OAS Permanent Council
Haiti's Representative to the OAS, Raymond Valcin,  is currently serving as
the President of the Permanent Council of the OAS for this three-month rotating
term.

Legal Grounds for the Call for France to Pay Restitution
The government of Haiti is seeking $21.7 billion in restitution from France
for the
90 million gold francs that the Haitian state was forced to pay France in
1825 in exchange for recognition of Haiti's independence.  Haiti, together with
its attorney, Ira Kurzban is examining various strategies in the pursuit of
this debt of independence and believes that the claim is accurate and valid.

BICENTENNIAL 2004
The Minister of Culture announced several activities to be held for Hai6ti's
bicentennial in 2004. (Please write me if you wish to receive a list of the
activities announced thus far.)

Cruising Into History Boat Will Demonstrate Americans' Solidarity With Haiti
Ron Daniels, the coordinator of Cruising into History, visited Haiti to
promote this historic solidarity cruise from the US to Haiti scheduled for the
summer of 2004 to celebrate Haiti's bicentennial.

Historic Monuments
The annual Caribbean conference on the protection and promotion of historic
monuments was held in Haiti with representatives from 20 countries.

Working on Environmental Issues
The Ministry of Environment held activities on International Day of the
Environment and revealed that they are engaged on several fronts to prevent further
environmental degradation including efforts on reforestation, legislative
measures for protection of lakes, decongestion of main roads of PAP, plans for
new public marketplace on 5 hectares of land, major drainage work, training of
environmental agents, hydra-agricultural infrastructure projects in various
rural areas, which generated several thousand jobs.

Rights of the Physically Challenged
Haiti signed a convention for the protection of the physically challenged,
which has been put before Parliament for ratification.

Citizens' Fiscal Responsibilities
The tax office (DGI), which is under the Ministry of Finance, released a free
guidebook for the public outlining citizen's responsibilities/obligations
under the fiscal code.

Free Trade Zones
Citing the promotion of industrialization and job creation, the Haitian
government approved two free zone projects that will be carried with the Dominican
Republic  Dominican Republic and will be located in border towns Ouanaminthe
and Drouillard.

Haiti Deports Missionary Who Admitted to Bringing in Assault Weapon, etc.
After being convicted in a trial, the Haitian government deported an American
missionary who had admitted to and was convicted for bringing in an assault
weapon and other combat items to Haiti.

Haiti's Maritime Service
Haiti's Maritime Service of Haitian Navigation (SEMANAH) offered to assist
The Nautilus Foundation of Haiti, which officially launched their project
establishing Haiti's first museum dedicated to sea and navigation. The museum,
located in the St. Marc area, will display 576 objects.   SEMANAH's director is
also urging reform of the Haitian sea code, which was originally passed in 1989.

More Public Parks Open
Two new public parks were inaugurated in the popular area of Bel-Air.

Sports
The Secretary of State for Sports and Youth reported that the Park Jean Marie
Vincent was constructed and financed via Haitian-Taiwanese's cooperation, two
soccer fields were rehabilitated in Croix-des-Bouquets, and the Vincent
Gymnasium was renovated.

New Literacy Center
Another literacy center opened this time in Carrefour.

More Road Construction
Through the Haitian-Taiwanese cooperation a new accord has been signed for
the construction of a road from Cayes to Port Salut which will take 20 months to
complete.

2004 to be Internationally Recognized
The acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Haitian
authorities have agreed to work together to celebrate Haiti's bicentennial of
its independence that sparked an international movement for the abolition of
slavery. The UN press release states that this slave rebellion "played a key
role in the development of the concept of human rights for all peoples." 2004
has been declared by the UN as the International Year for the Commemoration of
the Fight Against Slavery and its Abolition.

- end -