26066: Dailey re#26015- Simidor & Simeus (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Peter Dailey <phdailey@msn.com>

Evidently Daniel Simidor  looks with disfavor on the prospect of a conservative 
Republican and Bush crony buying his way into the National Palace, and asks 
"Who sent him?" Nobody, I submit.  Although Dumarsais Simeus seems to have 
spent the last 45 years in the U.S. I have no doubt that in his heart of hearts 
he is a true Haitian since he is apparently one of the thousands of men, 
including some on this list, who believe they have heard the call and wake up 
each morning convinced it is their destiny to be Haiti's president.

In the United States for the last twenty years or so, being a millionaire  has 
been a prerequisite for anyone aspiring to higher office and there have been 
any number of wealthy political novices whose supporters have argued that 
success in business is an adequate substitute or even preferrable to experience 
in government. Some of these candidacies, like Ross Perot's, have been 
downright bizarre and scary, others, like Donald Trump's periodic testing of 
the waters, have plumbed the very depths of brainlessness and vulgarity. And 
still others, like Jon Corzine or Mike Blumberg, who have purchased elective 
positions, seem to be competent public servants.

However, the argument that Simeus's wealth is a guarantee against corruption is 
specious. I have never heard of a rich man who wasn't seeking to enrich himself 
further and unless Simeus is prepared to place his vast fortune at the disposal 
of his associates with instructions to help themselves I doubt that the 
customary plundering of the public treasury will even be interrupted, much less 
halted.

"Haiti's problem" has never been a shortage of capable people but a political 
culture and dynamic that is capable of taking someone who has spent most of his 
life in a seminary, mentored by wise, courageous, and selfless liberation 
theologians and transform him into a corrupt and authoritarian ruler whose sole 
interest is holding on to power in a matter of only a few years.

Haiti needs a government of laws and not men. And since Article 135 is entirely 
straightforward and unambiguous, one sincerely hopes that some court or 
commission will issue a ruling disqualifying Mr. Simeus, and do it soon.

I for one hope that Simeus does return to Haiti. Let him apply his talents and 
invest his money in the economic development of the Artibonite. This should be 
a fulltime job. If he succeeds then it might be appropriate to consider a 
political role for him, a place in the cabinet or in the Chamber of Deputies. I 
am not aware of anything in the Haitian Constitution that would bar a blan with 
strong opinions about how things can be set right in Haiti from seeking those 
positions.

Pierre Dalais