17850: Raber: Re: 17838: Kathleen: Re: 17835: Otello365: Aristide's wife (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: P&M Raber <raber@valkyrie.net>

I think that there are detrimental consequences to certain aspect of the
constitution regarding naturalized Haitians.  At the same time any amendment
should put some  limits to dual citizenship.  When I went back to Haiti in
1995, I applied for a  licence in a health profession much needed in Haiti.
The license was denied to me on the premise that I had to prove that I had
not been naturalized.  In just about any country in the world there are
limits on the positions that can be held by qualified naturalized
individuals but these are usually for government positions.  It may be good
to limit the types of ELECTED positions that can be held by individuals who
have acquired different nationalities or who have just become Haitian
citizens.   The limitations could be eased the longer the person has lived
full time in Haiti and of course the top prize like the presidency could
remain out of reach (as it is in the US right now).  I believe you must be a
US citizen for 9 years before you can be senator and 7 years to become a
representative.  To take advantage of the very talented Haitian-Americans
who curretnly may be working for the benefit of other countries, it would be
good if APPOINTED positions required less paperwork than elected positions.
And of course when it come to the private sector, Haiti should open her arms
to all her expatriates.  There are more than a million Haitian-Americans
outside of Haiti.  The great majority have experience living and working in
functional societies and the majority are educated (the old brain drain).
The system was established to prevent control of Haiti by outsiders.  Now it
is almost used as revenge against those who stayed by those who left
regardless of why the person left (schooling, marriage, politics, parents
left for economic reasons, international job offers etc....)   I know of two
others who like me studied abroad in my profession and were put through the
mill upon return.  After jumping through many hoops, they eventually went
back to the States where they specialized and are now very successful.  A
great loss for Haiti.