Jean Bertrand Aristide - Haiti Observer Blog

The field is getting crowded. The next election in Haiti is definitely going to be something interesting. According to The Associated Press, Richard Morse, manager of the Hotel Oloffson and the leader of the musical band RAM, already met with Former Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide three times in the past two weeks to discuss the possibility of his wife, Lunise Exume Morse, to run for the Senate seat under Fanmi Lavalas banner.

Richard Morse is a first cousin to president Michel Martelly. He left the government last January for what he called "corruption" in the National Palace. The Morses are considering for Lunise Exume Morse to run as candidacy for the west department in the next election likely to take pale in 2013 or 2014.

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This is no longer a rumor. According to lematinhaiti.com, judge Yvickel Dabrezil who has been working on the case regarding the assassination of the CEO of Radio Haiti Inter, John Leopold Dominique and Jean Claude Louissaint has confirmed that to be a fact. The Lavalas Leader and former President of Haiti Jean-Bertrand Aristide has received an invitation to answer questions around the assassination on April 3rd, 2000 of John Leopold Dominique and Jean Claude Louissaint

President Jean-Bertrand Aristide will be present at the cabinet of instruction, Wednesday, April 24, for questioning in the case following the invitation that was delivered to his residence of Tabarre.

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Jean-Bertrand Aristide, two-term president of Haiti, went into exile in 2004. A polarizing figure in politics, his strong push for democracy put his life in danger several times. He survived six assassination attempts. In 2011, Aristide returned from South Africa, keeping out of sight since then.

But his appearance in public after being summoned to testify on the death of a political colleague has observers wondering if he intends to re-enter politics. He spoke to supporters about upcoming elections and Haiti's food crisis. He believes if Haiti's Electoral Council can hold "free, fair, and transparent" casting and counting of ballots, Fanmi Lavalas could win a significant number of seats in the senate.

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Jean Dominique spent his early career first educating farmers on how to be self-sufficient under the thumb of wealthy land-owners. He then went on to making two notable firsts in the broadcasting world, opening the first film club in Haiti as well as Radio Haiti, the first station to broadcast in Creole. He went on to have multiple run-ins with the Duvalier regiments and was exiled in New York until his return in the mid 80's when he became a member of the Lavalas party which won the 1990 election.

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After the historic court presentation of Former Haitian Dictator Jean Claude Duvalier last week which brought lots of comments, it is now the time for another Former Haitian President to face the Haitian justice. According to information obtained, former President Rene Preval has been invited by judge Ivikel Dabrésil to answer some questions regarding the assassination in April 2000 of journalist Jean Léopold Dominique. The court date is set for March 7th, 2013 or exactly one week after Jean Claude Duvalier court Date.

This has been one of the longest investigations in the history of Haiti. Many important personalities have already been heard in regard to the investigation into the death of Jean Dominique. Some of the people who have already been heard include: Michele Montas, the widow of Jean Dominique, the former chief of the National Police Mario Andresol and former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune.

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Throughout the history of Haiti, only a few political parties have had a strong organizational structure. In the 1870s and the 1880s, the Liberal Party and the National Party were the two dominant political parties in Haiti reflecting the social and class division that exists in the country. On one side, you see the Liberals party composed mainly of the wealthier and better-educated mulatto minority in Haiti. On the other hand, the Nationalists Party, made mainly of the lower-and middle-class black majority.

Following the United States occupation (1915-34), the nationalist parties organized around the issue of resistance to foreign occupation. The political parties in Haiti started multiplying during the presidential campaign of 1946. Many candidates were participating, including: Parti Socialiste (PSP), Parti Democrate Unifi (PDU), Mouvement Ouvrier Paysan (MOP) and many more. During the Duvalier reign, most political leaders had been silenced.

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Security for Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the former President of Haiti, was removed as a part of an administrative decision made by Martelly administration. This decision came 48 hours after the appearance of the former president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide in court on May 8. This decision was made despite the fact that former heads of state are entitled to get security. Garry Pierre-Paul Charles, host of Scoop FM Radio, confirmed this news on Friday, May 10.

Garry Pierre-Paul Charles reported that this decision was made by the Martelly administration because Aristide took the role of political arrival by making declarations on Thursday, May 9. The declarations made by the former head of the state included the possibilities of electoral sweep by the political party of Jean-Bertrand Aristide - Fanmi Lavalas but he did not mention the name of Jean Leopold Dominique during his declarations. The Martelly administration removed the security because political arrival is in direct violation of the laws of the Republic of Haiti.

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Emile Jonassaint was born on May 20th 1913 and became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in Haiti and later served as the president for a short period. Earlier the military regime had forced Jean Bernard Aristide to move out of the country.

Crimes by the Army

After a few years from May 12th to October 12th 1994, Emile Jonassaint functioned as the Head of the Provisional Government. During his tenure it is alleged that some of the most inhuman crimes were meted out by the Haitian army.

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The Haitian government is led by a president, who shares his/her executive power with the prime minister. Once elected by popular vote, the president will run the country for five years. After the term, the president could not run in the next election. He/she has to wait for five years in order to seek a second term. Haiti presidents can only serve for a maximum of two terms.

Not everyone can run for president as there are certain qualifications and requirements to be eligible for the seat. Only candidates with Haitian citizenship by birth can run for the position, as well as those who are at least 35 years of age. Jail sentence, loss of civil rights and lack of property ownership and residency can make a candidate ineligible to assume the position.

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Port-Salut is the Haitian tourist industry's best-kept secret. Located on the southern-most coastal part of the Tiburon Peninsula, it lies close to the western tip of it. Ironically, though it contains paved routes, very few tourists know of its existence. Beaches that embrace the village are made of white sand, fine and almost sugar-like in texture. Favorite beaches of the Haitian residents living there include Plage Macaya and Kalico.
A famous personage, who was born, raised, and resides there is former Haiti President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Electrical service is not dependable in Port-Salut and the natives retire and arise, according to the sun's setting and rising.

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