7923: Haiti: Highlights of Radio Metropole news (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Max Blanchet <maxblanchet@worldnet.att.net>

Haiti: Highlights of Radio Metropole news 1145 gmt 16 May 01
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; May 16, 2001

"The Morning News"; figures in brackets show the time elapsed since the
start of the programme

1. [00] Headlines.

2. [02] Heavy rain fell last night in the metropolitan area of
Port-au-Prince. The extent of the damage caused by the rain is not yet
known. Traffic was at a standstill in certain areas, like the Kenscoff road,
at Freres, and some streets are full of rubbish.

3. [03] While the chance for a quick solution is fading following the
failure of the OAS-Caricom mission, the president of the Republic will reach
his first 100 days in power on 17 May. On 7 February, Jean Bertrand Aristide
was very hopeful about his economic development programme. Now, it is time
to make an assessment.

4. [08] The blackout that has hit all the metropolitan regions has affected
the attitude of the people to the point where they are physically attacking
technicians from Electricity of Haiti, EDH. The citizens do not accept the
fact that they are being disconnected for not paying their bills, while they
have spent days without electricity. The EDH technicians said they are not
responsible for the situation. The government is to blame for the situation,
according to the EDH trade union.

5. [09] The vote on the new investment code, which was to be ratified
yesterday in the Senate, was not held due to administrative problems. The
investment code represents an important tool and is considered a pillar to
boost the economy.

6. [12] Ads.

7. [17] Opinion poll on Aristide's first 100 days in office.

8. [18] The interim director general of the Haitian National Police, PNH,
Jean-Nesly Lucien will go once again to the Senate today to answer questions
following the presentation of the report by the Senate Justice Committee on
police and security matters.

9. [18] Ivoirian journalist Abdoulaye Guedeouengue was released on the
evening of 14 May. His kidnappers took the 450,000 dollars he was carrying,
plus his vehicle. The kidnappers hit him and ordered him to stop his
investigation into the murder of Jean L Dominique.

10. [21] Another case of kidnapping took place in Saint-Marc. Agnus Estinvil
[phonetic] was abducted on 13 May. His relatives condemn the attitude of the
police in that region.

11. [21] The Ministry of National Education announces an awareness week on
the occasion of the 198th anniversary of the Haitian flag. Activities will
take place on the theme of A Flag of Peace for a Peaceful Haiti. The
Education Ministry launched the commemorative activities yesterday and hopes
that this campaign will allow the Haitian people to revive the flames of
patriotism. A patriotic night vigil will take place on Champ-de-Mars.

12. [26] University students will also celebrate the anniversary of the
university on 18 May. Diverse activities are scheduled for the occasion.

13. [28] Ads, followed by international news.

14. [43] News summary, followed by ads.

15. [50] Economic segment by Kesner Pharel.

16. [55] Humor segment by Francois Latour.

17. [59] An international colloquium on the problems of the cooperative
movement in Haiti ended yesterday after a two-day session. According to
statistical reports, more than 1,000 cooperatives are functioning throughout
the country with more than 500,000 members.

Source: Radio Metropole, Port-au-Prince, in French 1145 gmt 16 May 01

/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.