7530: Morse replies to Cooke

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

>From Richard Morse

Dear Ms Cooke, 
I first heard of Manno Charlmagne because of a popular song he had back in 
1986 ("Michelle Bennet I am sorry for you" etc). My first real contact
with 
Manno was through an intermediary. A friend of mine had brought Ramsey
Clarke 
to Haiti to help negotiate Manno's departure from a foreign embassy where
he 
was staying to avoid persecution from the Haitian military. Mr Clarke came
to 
me and said he needed three thousand dollars, U.S., cash, to make a payoff
at 
the airport to guarantee safe passage for Manno. I provided that money and 
was later repaid. 
This same friend eventually provided a room for Manno (the musician) at my 
hotel after the return of Aristide and the demise of the Haitian army.
Once 
Manno became a politician, my friend no longer financed his hotel room.
The 
responsibility had shifted to Manno. Manno's first days as Mayor of 
Port-au-Prince were hectic because the Hotel de Ville had been stripped of 
furnishings, phones, computers, etc., by the previous mayor. I provided a 
place for Manno to get untracked in his first few weeks as mayor. Phones, 
administrators, meeting rooms, a car, cash advances, etc. were provided
free 
of charge. I did this without any consideration of payment or political 
favors. Just a helping hand during a new period in Haitian history. Some
of 
my friends were nervous about this sudden affiliation (I still didn't
really 
know Manno very well) because Manno's idea of cleaning the streets of 
Port-au-Prince was to go around with his thugs and beat up and threaten 
marchands. You do remember that, don't you Ms Cooke? As his hotel room and 
food bill began to mount a tension began to develop between us. Many of my 
guests were concerned with all the weapons that were coming in and out of
the 
Oloffson so indiscriminately. Eventually the real Hotel de Ville became 
functional and he moved out of my hotel. I never asked him for any favors. 
Didn't want any. Eventually he paid his room and food bill. He often
offered 
to have me go out for carnival ('97), sometimes he would do it over the 
airwaves, but when I actually started building our carnaval float, he sent 
his armed thugs and had us take it apart. In the meantime, Manno came out 
publicly and said I owed over a million dollars in taxes! 
The tension between us grew to the point that I felt my life was in
danger. A 
mediator came and brokered a settlement between me and DGI (taxation) for 
considerably less than a million dollars. I kept telling the mediator over 
and over that I shouldn't be paying taxes to a government that is
threatening 
my life. In the meantime President Preval came over to visit with his wife 
and the chief of police and told me I should perform during the upcoming 
carnaval('98). I said its not a good idea. They insisted. I knew they were 
putting my life in danger and I told them so. I told the mediator, after 
paying half of the tax settlement, that they were going to try and kill me 
during carnaval. I called the American Embassy and told them the same
thing. 
Interestingly enough, after carnaval, many dead, including my chief of 
security, THE MEDIATOR NEVER CAME BACK FOR THE BALANCE OF THE TAX PAYMENT.
He 
knew what had happened. 
I ran into President Aristide at the funeral of president Preval's father 
('99). He shook my hand and said he was going to make sure I came to see
him 
at Tabarre. When I went with my wife, he said I should ask him for favors
and 
that way he could ask me for favors in return. I was offended, left, and 
never asked him for anything. 
I don't sing songs or do things in exchange for political favors. I do
what I 
do when I believe its the right thing to do. 
I am an entrepeneur, don't get me wrong, but I didn't sing "Fey" and put
my 
family and musicians in danger, thinking I was going to cash in when
Aristide 
came back from exile. 
I was in Petionville one night and this dirty little street kid came up to
me 
and said 
"Si se lwa achte ou te ginyin, ou tap mourri sou cha'a" 
I employ about fifty people. I've survived coups, embargos, blackouts, no 
phones, no roads, no infrastructure and all kinds of other things you 
couldn't imagine. The fact that I like to go barefoot and wear ten dollar
Tom 
MacCann sandals probably helps me make it through tough economic times.
Don't 
get me wrong, I did buy a nice four by four for my wife, which is
wonderful 
for scouting trips in the provinces. 
Lavalas is trying to present itself as the hope of the people, but thats
just 
marketing. Thats not what they're about. They're trying to usurp power and 
major financial dealings. They're trying to circumvent the balances of
power 
provided by the constitution, not to build schools and provide jobs but to 
amass personal wealth. Local news organizations are still concerned about 
reporting the news in Haiti seven years after the return of Aristide.
There 
is much self censorship in Haiti. An investigation into the Jean Dominique 
assasination will be good for the country. Accountability. 
I hope this helps you understand me a bit better, Ms Cooke, 
yours, 
Richard Morse