a1116: BBC: Haiti: Opposition, GISC do not agree that Neptune is"the man of the hour" (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Robert Benodin <r.benodin@worldnet.att.net>

Haiti: Opposition, GISC do not agree that Neptune is "the man of the hour"
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Mar 7, 2002


The designation of Senator Neptune as prime minister by President Aristide
is causing apprehension among the political class. The opposition and the
Civil Society Initiative Group [GISC] seem to be very critical and recall
the various stances that Neptune has adopted on the crisis that the country
is going through.
Reporter Jean Numa Goudou explains that, since his nomination as prime
minister, Neptune has become one of the most controversial personalities in
the country. If, according to his party, he is the man of the hour, the
[opposition] Convergence considers that choice a part of the government's
relentless pursuit of power. The Alternative for Change [AC] of Gerard Blot
says it is a provocation. And the GISC simply deplores the initiative.
Edouard Paultre of the GISC says the following:
[Paultre - recording] We are not trying to pass judgment but the facts have
proved that Neptune uses a peremptory, intolerant and exclusive language.
That is our opinion.
[Jean Numa Goudou] Normally, Neptune does not mince his words towards the
GISC. He once said: "//Those men should be disinfected.//" Neptune has been
head of the Lavalas delegation to the political negotiations for more than a
year now and he has made things very hard for the GISC.
[Paultre] We think that the situation is being complicated even more. But
with the arrival of the OAS missions, there are opportunities that we should
seize to reach an agreement and safeguard the democratic process that is at
stake.
[Goudou] Anyway, since the events of 17 December [an alleged coup attempt
against President Aristide] we are no longer in a period of negotiations. As
far as the OAS is concerned, it is time to investigate. And as for the
international community, it is time to criticize and to adopt measures
against Lavalas officials for drug trafficking, corruption and so on. And it
is within this context that the man whom the FL thinks is the man of the
hour is going to implement the party's programme, which is entitled:
Investing in People.
Source: Radio Metropole, Port-au-Prince, in French 1145 gmt 6 Mar 02
/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.