21036: Esser: Herard Abraham behind controversial fuel order (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

March 31, 2004

Herard Abraham behind controversial fuel order 

The [Haitian] Minister of the Interior, Hérard Abraham, confirmed that
he did
issue the controversial fuel order with company DINASA on March 12th
to the benefit of EDH, the Haitian electricity company. Abraham
stated that he intended to alleviate the problem of "black outs"
around Port-au-Prince as those became a security issue. The former
general was not yet a public official at that time and claims to have
acted as a "concerned citizen". He said he used his, quote, "moral
authority" to close the contract with full acknowledgement of
President Alexandre and interim PM Latortue. Meanwhile, Abraham
claims to have come to an agreement with DINASA's Gilbert Bigio and
Reynold Bonnefil in as much as the Haitian state has to either return
the fuel or pay the invoice. He ordered EDH to take care of the
administrative issues. [Source: Radio Metropole]
.