Concretizing Democracy
Highlights of Government of Haiti achievements
September 1 - 15, 2002
OAS RESOLUTION 822 EMBRACES INITIATIVES & COMMITMENTS MADE BY PRESIDENT ARISTIDE.
The OAS unanimously voted to pass Resolution 822 demonstrating their acknowledgment that the Government of Haiti has thus far taken concrete steps to resolve the political impasse.
The resolution embodies many of President Aristide's initiatives such as calling for parliamentary and local elections, disarmament and the formation of a new electoral council.
The OAS will work with the government of Haiti as it continues to move forward to take all necessary steps to reinforce democracy. Many points have already been underway such as the disarmament campaign, reparations for those whose suffered losses of property or injury in the aftermath of the attack on the National Palace on December 17th.
The resolution supports the normalization of economic cooperation between the government of Haiti and the international financial institutions. In passing this resolution, the OAS reinforced the principle that the normalization of relations between the government of Haiti and the international development banks is vital to the strengthening of democratic institutions in Haiti.
JUSTICE REPORT ON EVENTS OF DECEMBER 17th, JULY 28th, AND OTHER JUSTICE MATTERS.
After a lengthy investigation, the Ministry of Justice released its preliminary report on the December 17th attack on the National Palace finding that heavily armed individuals penetrated the Palace in three vehicles, one mounted with an M-50 machine gun. The assailants shot up different areas inside the Palace, including the President's private office.
As a result one assailant died, one assailant was captured and imprisoned, two police officers were killed, six police officers were wounded, several civilians were wounded and killed, an M-50 and other heavy artillery were seized by the Police. Opposition headquarters, public and private institutions, homes and cars were damaged.
DECEMBER 17th INVESTIGATION MOVES FORWARD THROUGH JUSTICE SYSTEM TOWARD PROSECUTION.
Following a comprehensive investigation, interrogations, issuing of warrants, arrests and detentions, the prosecutor forwarded the December 17th case to the courts who assigned a judge to hear the matter.
GOVT OF HAITI BEGINS PAYING REPARATIONS TO VICTIMS OF DECEMBER 17th.
After investigating complaints of damages incurred, the government began paying reparations to victims of December 17th. Requests for reparation came from different locations in the country and includes claims by opposition, bystanders, and police.
JUSTICE REPORT INCLUDES FINDINGS ON JULY 28th ATTACK.
The report found that on the night of July 27 into 28, 2001, heavily armed individuals attacked and occupied the Petionville Police Station, seizing the police academy, killing three and seizing a large quantity of weapons. Assailants attacked police stations in Mirebalais, Hinche, and Belledere killing police officers. Two civilians were killed and large quantities of weapons and ammunition were seized by the attackers.
The Prosecutor transmitted the July 28th file to the Court who assigned the matter to Judge Pierre Josue Agnant. The judge completed his investigation and returned the file to the Prosecutor for legal follow-up under Haitian law. The report also reviewed progress in the investigations and judicial proceedings in the cases of Jean Dominique and Brignol Lindor.
POLICE EFFORTS DECREASE INSECURITY IN DOWNTOWN PORT-AU-PRINCE.
Crediting the efforts of the National Police, small and large businesses reported a marked decrease in insecurity in the downtown business section of Port-au-Prince.
MODERNIZATION OF JUDICIAL SYSTEM
Twenty-nine new judges were assigned to posts throughout the country immediately upon graduating from the 3rd promotion of the School of Magistrate after 13 months of intensive training. President Aristide announced sweeping judicial reforms in a May speech, including the delivery of justice in rural areas.
REINFORCING THE POLICE IN RURAL AREAS
Eight hundred new recruits to the National Police have begun training at the Police Academy and are being assigned in rural areas upon graduation.
PRESIDENT ARISTIDE COMMITS TO PROVIDING SECURITY FOR ELECTORAL CANDIDATES
In an attempt to encourage full participation in the electoral campaign, President Aristide announced that the government would guarantee security for political parties who participate in the upcoming parliamentary and local elections scheduled for 2003.
PRESIDENT ARISTIDE CONTINUES TO REACH OUT TO CONVERGENCE
President Aristide recently telephoned Convergence members in his ongoing efforts to reach a resolution to the political crisis. "I will continue to dialogue with the
leaders of the opposition." The Convergence still has not signed onto a draft accord that Fanmi Lavalas has already agreed to. The President has appealed to the Convergence to have representation on the electoral council which oversees the elections process as well as to participate in elections as candidates. Prior to departing for Earth Summit, President Aristide addressed the nation, "People in the political sector, let's hold the flag of peace together, because only peace can give us political stability so there can be economic growth."
REMEMBERING THE TRAGEDIES OF SEPTEMBER 11th & THE QUEST FOR JUSTICE
Together with victims and their families of the St. Jean Bosco massacre, President Aristide held a memorial service on this 14th anniversary of the 1988 massacre and the 1993 assassination of Antoine Izmerry, and also spoke of the tragedy that occurred on this same date in New York in 2001. A Haitian priest, whose sister worked in the World Trade Center and narrowly escaped with her life, attended the memorial event. Fourteen persons who were born in Haiti lost their lives at the World Trade Center. President Aristide appealed again for unity in Haiti saying, "Today I call on all citizens of goodwill to form a chain of solidarity," so that the nation can go forward towards its 2004 bicentennial commemoration of independence. The investigation leading to prosecution for the massacre at St. Jean Bosco advanced with the assignment of Judge Bernard Saint-Vil to the matter.
PRESIDENT ARISTIDE ADDRESSES 2nd EARTH SUMMIT
Addressing the Earth Summit conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa, President Aristide said, "Anyone who wants to promote sustainable development throughout the world must acknowledge the direct correlation between the deterioration of our environment and abject poverty." Regarding Haiti, the President said, "Only 20% of a population of 8 million people have access to drinking water. Diseases related to this precious liquid cause one-third of all registered deaths in developing countries…Between 1940 and 2002, the forest cover in Haiti decreased from 40% to 1%. Each year we continue to lose 36 million metric tons of land. Our fellow citizens, fleeing from the disastrous consequences of the unjust economic sanctions against Haiti, flee, just like the earth, to the seas." President Aristide said, "By building a state of right, a good government, the respect of human rights, a partnership between the public and private sectors, the fight against the AIDS pandemic and the ecological deterioration, the fight against corruption, drugs and impunity, we progressively open the road to a world socially fair and economically free."
PARLIAMENT CLOSES 4th SESSION of 47th LEGISLATURE SUMMING UP WORK ACHIEVED
At its closing session, Parliament, which is made up of 83 deputies and 27 senators summed up its accomplishments from August 2000 to present. They ratified 13 agreements, contracts and conventions and passed 15 laws that were published which the President of the Senate stated serve to concretize democracy and lead to improved quality of life for the Haitian people.
These acts include a contract with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on expanding access to education, an accord between Haiti and the US on combating drug trafficking, an accord on a loan with IDB re: expansion of access to potable water, a law creating an increase in courthouses, passed a comprehensive law against money-laundering and creating a financial control unit, passed a law regulating cooperatives, and a ground breaking law prohibiting corporal punishment against children.
CUSTOMS RECEIPTS
The Customs office reported that their August receipts increased by 3.79% over the previous month although this reflects a 13.2% decrease of receipts over August 2001.
TAX OFFICE REPORTS LARGE INCREASE IN FISCAL RECEIPTS
The tax office (DGI) credits a 24% increase in this year's annual fiscal receipts to the increased training their tax agents received throughout the country. Additional efforts for increased efficiency are underway and the tax office is working on the dossiers of 108 companies in arrears who have been asked to pay their taxes or their files will be advanced for collection. The newly created municipalities, such as Tabarre and Cite Soleil, will soon have their own tax offices. The tax office held its 4th annual seminar at which it focused on fiscality, combating corruption, and the recent integration of Haiti into CARICOM.
LITERACY CAMPAIGN IN ACTION: YOUTH & ELDERLY, LITERATE & ILLITERATE WORK TOGETHER
On International Literacy Day, President Aristide received 5,000 people who are actively engaged in the literacy campaign to the National Palace. The highlight of the event was the presenting of medals and certificates to 447 high school students who were cited for their outstanding contribution through their work as literacy monitors.
These students received extra credit towards their statewide exams because of their work. So far the Secretary of State for Literacy has trained 30,000 such monitors and has distributed 700,000 literacy manuals.
HAITI'S 200th ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE IN 2004 TO KICK OFF THIS NOVEMBER
The Inter-Ministerial Commission on 2004 announced that it had come to agreement on what goals the government hopes to achieve by 2004: Literacy, full access to schooling for children (which calls for a school in each of the 565 communes) and infrastructure development. The bicentennial will be launched on the historic date of November 18th and a list of scheduled events will be released.
REGISTRY FOR SKILLED HAITIANS ANNOUNCED BY MINISTRY OF CULTURE & COMMUNICATIONS
The Ministry of Culture and Communications announced the creation of a registry of Haitians with technical skills for possible collaboration with the government.
HAITIANS ABROAD TO PARTICIPATE IN MONTH OF THE TENTH DEPARTMENT
Numerous activities are being scheduled for October's month of the Tenth Department. Haitians living abroad in the US, Canada, Europe, etc., are expected to participate.
For press releases and speeches in French, please visit the National Palace website at http://www.palaisnational.org
