a1244: BBC: Haiti: Premier-designate refuses to be drawn abouthis alleged dual nationality (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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

Haiti: Premier-designate refuses to be drawn about his alleged dual
nationality
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Mar 14, 2002


Immediately after he submitted his documents to the Chamber of Deputies'
commission, Yvon Neptune still proved to be very careful about [his alleged]
dual nationality. He refused to say whether the information circulating in
the Haitian press, which cannot verify it, is true or false. The
second-in-command within the [ruling] Lavalas Family [FL] says he will let
the commission in charge of examining his dossier as prime
minister-designate take care of that. Let us listen to Neptune's statements
to the journalists:
[Neptune - recording] The same answer as I gave before: The documents have
been submitted to the Chamber of Deputies, just as they were submitted to
the Senate. They are the ones who have the authority, on the basis of their
examination of these documents, to answer all the questions that arise as to
the constitutional requirements concerning me as prime minister-designate.
[Unidentified journalist] Some members of the commission said they would
question you. They said they would rely on your honesty to say whether you
have or do not have dual nationality. [words indistinct]
[Neptune] The answer is not words from my mouth but the documents.
[Journalist] Out of respect for the nation, which is waiting for the answer
yes or no, do you have the dual nationality that they say you have?
[Neptune] I am not obliged to answer the question yes or no, because I am
not the one who raised it. The senators and deputies did not raise it,
either. This means that the answer I have given is exactly the right one.
There are documents that I am supposed to submit. I submitted them and the
constitutional authorities that have to give a verdict on these documents do
exist: they are the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
[Journalist] How far have you got with the general policy statement?
[Neptune] The general policy statement is linked to government. This means
that we are working until we get to that step. The step we have to take now
is ratification.
[Journalist] Did you consult the opposition? Do you intend to consult the
opposition on the formation of the cabinet?
[Neptune] We have already said it. The head of state has been saying for a
long time that he is taking steps and he has sent out invitations so that we
can set up a government of opening up. We agree with the head of state.
Source: Signal FM Radio, Port-au-Prince, in Creole 1230 gmt 12 Mar 02
/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.