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Leonel Fernandez - Haiti Observer Blog

Leonel Fernandez, Haiti Observer Blog. Read the following articles about Leonel Fernandez


 

Ex-DR President Leonel Fernandez Turns Moderate on Citizenship Debate

Should Haitian migrant children who were issued birth certificates be granted citizenship in DR?

Ex-Dominican Republic (DR) President, Leonel Fernandez, considering another run for the presidency, has taken a moderate approach to the citizenship issue that has made the DR unpopular in the international community. The Constitutional Court decision last September outlaws citizenship for Haitian descendents of illegal immigrants. The DR stipulates both parents must be Dominican for a child to be a legitimate DR citizen. Many Haitian-Dominican residents cannot access their birth certificates, being held hostage by the government.

Leonel Fernandez says the government shouldn't have legitimized the births of Haitian descendents, but now it is too late. He adds, "We should . . . recognize it--the Dominican nationality of all those, who already have birth certificates." His position makes him seem a supporter of Haitians' citizenship rights. But in the streets outside a West Palm Beach economic forum Fernandez attended, Haitian-American protestors see through his guise. They know his moderate view is only for political gain.

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University Henri Christophe Gets Books From Leonel Fernandez

University Henri Christophe gets a donation of around 13,000 books from the former President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernandez. With the addition of these books, the number of books for reference available for students at the University has tripled.

These books have been offered by a book distributor group called Follett, based in the United States. Contribution to the donation to a lesser extent has been made by UNESCO as well.

Gratitude Expressed

Teachers and students of Haiti expressed their gratitude to Leonel Fernandez and the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic had helped the construction of the University Henri Christophe in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake at a cost of 30 million dollars. It was also assisted by Supervising Engineers Office of State Works of the Dominican Republic.

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Priest Francis Havel Criticism for Haiti's Dominion over Santo Domingo

A priest in the Dominican Republic has come up with some views that Haitians did something abhorrent for having dominated the Dominicans for 22 years. According to him, he said that Haitians have this high time to go down on their knees and beg forgiveness from the Dominicans. This is according to the fact that over the last 170 years, Haiti had exerted its dominion over the Dominicans a thing that made them to lag behind for 22 years. The priest, Francis Havel comes from the parish in the area La Caleta.

The priest was speaking during an inauguration of two housing projects in Guerra Municipality, Santo Domingo. One of the notable people in the government was the president of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernandez. He praised the president for the developments he has brought since he assumed power in Santo Domingo. He said that the country could have been far much ahead despite the fact that Haiti had suppressed the country for some period of time. Adding to his speech, he said that he was hopeful that the president could take back the position of a head of state for another term. He commented and said that the president is capable for leading the country for another 12 years.

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Haitians should beg for forgiveness for Dominican occupation, Priest Francis Haver

Haiti is part of the number of island nations in the Caribbean that have been succumbed to foreign rule for decades and centuries but mostly retained their independence by the 1900s. But ironically for the once conquered Haiti, the nation formally ruled over its neighboring country Dominican Republic in the early 1800s for more than twenty years. The Dominican were faced with poverty and violence under the Haitian military leader Jean-Pierre Boyer and his soldiers until it gained independence in 1844.

For the 22 years of Haitian occupation over the Dominican Republic, Haitian priest Francis Haver who claims to be a Dominican has recently stated that all of his countrymen should kneel before Dominicans and apologize. He mentioned this during the blessing of two housing projects of the Dominican Republic government in the presence of the country's President Leonel Fernandez in the Guerra municipality. With the advancements of the Dominican Republic's economy as compared to that of Haiti's, Father Haver believes that Haiti shouldn't have ruled over its neighbor in the first place. This is so both countries could have had a better working relationship in terms of economic growth and development. But should present-day Haitians apologize for the mistakes of their ancestors?

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Allegation of Kickbacks between President Martelly Dominican Senator Felix Bautista, Nuria Piera

According to Dominican Investigative Journalist Nuria Piera, President Michel Martelly received at least $$2.5 million in the form of Kickbacks by a Dominican construction firm owned by Dominican Senator Felix Bautista.

The winning Companies:
According to the report, one the companies owned by Bautista, HADOM Construction was awarded a $2.5 million contract to do reconstruction work in Haiti. HADOM received 75,466,638.08 HTG ($1.8 Million U.S.) on November 8, 2010 and another 5,000,000 HTG ($120,000 U.S.) on May 11, 2011. The contracts were signed by former Prime Minister and current Presidential Adviser, Jean-Max Bellerive

Aw!

The winning Haitian Politicians:
According to the Investigative Journalist Nuria Piera, companies owned by Senator Batista transferred $2,587,100.00 to Haitian President Michel Martelly and $250,000.00 to presidential candidate Mirlande Manigat.

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