Newton St. Juste - Haiti Observer Blog

This Monday, December 16, 2013, two of the most outspoken critics of the Martelly government have a date at "the Barreau de Port-au-Prince. André Michel and Newton St-Juste are to appear there to explain why they accused both President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe in being involved in corruption and Drug trafficking.

What will likely happen?

By asking attorneys André Michel and Newton Louis St-Juste to come at the Barreau de Port-au-Prince they actually provide a new forum for them to publish their message. Most likely they will come up with new accusations on the government.

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This is the latest on the case of Attorney Andre Michel as the day of October 23, 2013 will likely be remembered as one of the hottest day for the Martelly-Lamorthe government.

"Dife Ya Cho"

As Attorney Andre Michel was awaiting hearing where the judge was preparing to serve him an order to be transferred to the state penitentiary, supporters broke into the courtroom. It was reported that legislator Arnel Belizaire and other supporters drove Andre Michel to the Haitian Parliament for security purpose.

"Kouri Nan Potoprins"

Several supporters shut down several blocks in the streets of Port-au-Prince by putting up barricades and burning tires. The Haitian government later that day issued a statement condemning the removal of Andre Michel from the courthouse.

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Based on the latest action of Magistrate Lamarre Belizaire, he is in possession of information that implicate both Enold Florestal and Andre Michel in the assassination of the 4 year law student Frantzi Duverseau.

Recentlly, a "Mendat D'Amener" was issued to Magistrate Lamarre Belizaire, inviting both Enold Florestal and Andre Michel to appear in front of his court to answer questions regarding the case. By measure of precaution, the Human Right lawyer, Andre Michel elected not to appear stating that the magistrate is not neutral in the case and would likely use this as an opportunity to get back at him for his ongoing opposition to the Martelly's government.

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Haitian attorneys André Michel and Louis Newton St. Juste arrived in the U.S. recently to meet with representatives of human rights organizations (HRO). The reason for the visit was to obtain support for Michel and St. Juste's allegations that President Martelly's family has been engaging in corruption practices.

Michel and St. Juste, who are practicing members of the Port-au-Prince Bar Association, spoke before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights about the continuing problem of corruption in the Haitian government. They met also with representatives of the U.S. State Department, Congress, and the Haitian Diaspora.

Together with HRO legal counsel, Michel and St. Juste have begun preparations to prosecute Sophia and Olivier Martelly, the president's wife and son, for diverting funds allocated to state programs for their personal use. Other government officials are said to be involved in the corruption scheme as well.

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Three Haitian human rights attorneys have been targets of death threats for their criticisms against the government of Haiti (GOH) over the last several months. Mario Joseph, Newton St. Juste and André Michel have also turned up on a list of dissidents the Ministry of Justice wants to arrest for unknown reasons.

The advocacy organization, Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L), along with Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) have appealed to Haitian law enforcement, pressuring them to look into the sources of threats and scare tactics. They are also asking for a security detail to guard the attorneys.

Mario Joseph, Director of the International Lawyers Office, has been working on cases involving Jean-Claude Duvalier, former dictator of the GOH; the United Nation's part in the uptick of cholera cases; and illegal tenant evictions following the 2010 earthquake.

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Haitian human rights attorney Louis Newton St. Juste attended a hearing presided over by Port-au-Prince's Chief Prosecutor, Jean Renel Senatus, regarding mis-handling of state monies by First Lady Sophia Martelly and son Olivier. He and his colleague André Michel have spoken with U.S. authorities about the Martellys and corruption within the president's administration at large.

In a press release issued by the Government Commissioner's office after the hearing, Senatus declined to bring charges against the Martellys. He referred to the Code of Criminal Procedure Article 21 that, according to Senatus, forbids prosecution of both Martellys. He called St. Juste's tactics illegal because he has not filed the correct paperwork that would begin an action against the First Lady and her son.

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