24094: Arthur (discuss - ha, ha) political class reacts favouorably to proposed pay (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tttnhm@aol.com

Hey, read this from a Signal FM web site news item dated 12 January 2005:

"The political class is reacting favourably to the proposed idea of funding
for political parties. The leader of KID welcomed Prime Minister Latortue's
declarations on the subject with some satisfaction. Evans Paul hopes however that
the international community would involve itself directly in this kind of
funding, and asks the government to make sure that the international aid money
received for political parties is disbursed without any favouristism.

For his part, Hubert de Ronceray suggests that the goverenment's intention to
financially assist the political parties is in line with reasonable
expectations of its duties. The leader of the Grand Front Centre-Droit expressed his
satisfaction and hopes that the Prime Minister Gérard Latortue keeps to his word.

In the same vein, the leader of the Front pour la Reconstruction Nationale
says he shares Gérard Latortue's idea. For Guy Philippe, it's a good idea if the
international community agrees. This financial assistance would help all
parties involved in the coming elections to organise themselves better. However,
Guy Philippe is worried that the international community will favour some
parties over others."


That is my rapid translation from the French. All those 'radio politicians' -
ones who are good for endless quotes but don't actually bother to draw up any
programme, let alone present it to the electorate - are licking their lips at
the thought of the possible pay-outs.

My question is why stop there? Presumably, Leopold Berlanger and his
'impartial election observers' will be getting a fair whack too. Why not get the
international community to fund those who are planning to vote, as well as those
planning to put up candidates? Why not fund those foreign media outfits planning
to report on the elections? Why not pay all of us on the Corbett list to
speculate about the elections? What better way to use the loans that future
generations of poor Haitians will have to pay back? What a joke!