haiti prime minister

Haitian President Jovenel Moïse nominated the two-time presidential candidate Jean Henry Céant, leader of the political party Renmen Ayiti (Love Haiti), to be his next prime minister.

On Sunday, August 5, 2018, Haitian President Jovenel Moïse following a two-day consultation with the presidents of the two branches of parliament, and many sectors of the society in 3 earlier weeks, nominated Jean Henry Céant (61) to be his next prime minister. Jean Henry Céant, a leader of the Renmen Ayiti (Love Haiti) party was two-time presidential candidate in 2010 and 2016 .The announcement came three weeks after the former Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant resigned amid violent and deadly protests sparked by a proposed plan to significantly raise fuel prices.

Jean-Henry Céant was born on September 27, 1956 in Goureau, a district in the Croix-des-Missions, at the commune of Tabarre (Haiti). Céant has a genial personality. A one-time notary by profession and former presidential candidate, but is known to many Haitians as a "land thief" (volè tè) for his conduct as a notary. It is a common practice in Haiti that the notaries, a cross between accountant and lawyer, instead of safeguarding the titles to their clients' land, manipulate them for own benefit. Céant is also remembered for his alleged involvement as notaire helping former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide to purchase land in the Port-au-Prince suburb Tabarre for his residence and the Aristide Foundation for Democracy and its university (UNIFA).

Jean Henry Céant has a controversial background. Former Ambassador Kenneth Merten (who now heads the U.S. State Department's Haiti Desk) described Céant in Wikileaks as "Aristide's notary and a personal friend. An early supporter of Aristide, and is thought to have helped Aristide in meeting property ownership requirements so he could run for President. Céant's wealth went up significantly after his ties with Aristide."

Henriot Dorcent, a Haitian political analyst described him as an "opportunist." "Under the dictatorship of Gen. Prosper Avril, he worked closely with lawyer Réné Julien, who was Céant's mentor and Avril's cousin But when the political winds shifted, he joined Aristide and the Lavalas, acting as Aristide's notaire and managed jobs for his wife as Aristide's private secretary and his brother in CONATEL. Then he jumped into the Martelly camp. When Jovenel came to power, he jumped to Jovenel's defence to save him from money-laundering scam through his business Agritrans.

Permalink | Comments

On Saturday, July 14, Haiti Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant declared in the lower house of Haiti's legislature: "I submitted my resignation to the president of the republic", who has "accepted my resignation". With this statement, the Prime Minister had managed to avoid a likely vote of no confidence to stepped down.

Mr. Lafontant took office less than one year and half ago, in February 2017. On Saturday, the Haitian parliament had been debating whether or not to give Lafontant a vote of confidence for more than three hours. With the resignation of the prime minister, Haiti now has no functioning government. President Jovenel Moise will need to dominate a new Prime Minister.

Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant resigned Saturday, on July 7, 2018, amid calls for him to step down over his handling of a failed plan to raise fuel prices. The announcement of the government's plan to raise fuel price set off a wave of deadly protests and took at least 7 lives. Lafontant resigned on second day of violent protests sparked by the now-abandoned plan to raise fuel prices. He submitted his resignation before the call of a no-confidence vote, which had the possibility to lead his removal. The prime minister is the second highest official in Haiti, after the president. While speaking in the lower house of Haiti's legislature on Saturday, he said, "Before coming here, I presented my resignation to the president of the republic."President Moise confirmed via Twitter that he had accepted Lafontant's resignation along with those of other Cabinet members.

Mr. Lafontant, a 57-year-old doctor, was relatively unknown until he was handpicked by President Jovenel Moïse 16 months ago. In this light, chamber president Gary Bodaeu wrote on his Twitter account that the legislature "is at a crossroads in history; it must assume its responsibilities."

Plan to hike the fuel price is a part of the plan to reduce subsidy under an agreement with the government with the IMF for granting a low interest loan amounting to $96 million under "Staff-Monitored Program (SMP). The opposition MPs in Congress warned that if the price increases were reinstated there would be more violence and protests on the streets. On Thursday, July 12, 2018, the IMF has suggested for a more gradual approach, a step-by-step withdrawal of subsidy which will ultimately generate the exchequer a fund totaling around $300 million (£226m). The IMF said scrapping the fuel subsidies would allow more money to be spent on key areas including health and education.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Dr. Jack Guy Lafontant. He is a medical Doctor who was selected by President Jovenel Moise in March, 2017 to become the new Haiti's Prime minister.

The choice of Jack Guy Lafontant to become the new Prime Minister was not expected. He has no government or political experience

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of the Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max-Bellerive as it illustrates his frustration with Foreign Charity organizations, NGOs.

The Haitian Prime Minister, wants to be able to record the How much money the Non-Governmental Agencies , NGO, receive and from which source.

Permalink | Comments

Vote of confidence on the general policy of Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles on March 24, 2016

On March 25, 2016, after receiving the vote of confidence on his general policy in the Senate of the Republic, the new Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles said, he felt honored because the Senators have bestowed confidence on his general policy. Earlier in the day, the Chamber of Deputies approved his general policy statement with 78-1 votes; 2 deputies remained abstained from voting. With this approval, now the country has a new Prime Minister and a 15-member cabinet. It is a definite positive move during the transitional period until a new president is elected as per February 5th, 2016 agreement and a critical step toward concluding postponed elections.

In Favor: 20 Senator, 78 Deputies
Against: 0 Senator, 1 Deputy
Abstention: 0 Senator, 2 Deputies

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe submitted documents to the Senate for ratification.

In March 2012, Laurent Lamothe, then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs, following his resignation from the ministry, and as a Prime Minister-designate, submitted his documents to a Special Commission in the Senate of the Republic to facilitate the inquiry on the nationality of the members of the Government. Some of his critics had alleged that Lamothe had not paid his taxes and he did not fulfill the residential status in Haiti to become eligible for Prime Minister. In a letter to Simon Dieuseul Desras, the President of the Senate, Lamothe stated that he had submitted 14 documents in connection with the ratification of a Prime Minister. The documents were: 3 Birth Certificates (self, parents and grandparents; Copy of National Identity Card (CIN); Copy of his tax registration card (NIF); Proof of residence for last 5 years issued by the Municipality concerned; Copy of a title or certificate of practice of a profession or industry in Haiti; Tax clearance (final statement of taxation); Police record issued by the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ) / Courthouse; Curriculum vitae; All valid and expired passports used during his trips abroad; Haitian nationality certificate issued by the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration; Proof of abandonment of all activities incompatible with the position of Prime Minister; and all other necessary documents not listed in this list.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a copy of the decree appointing economist Fritz Alphonse Jean as Prime Minister of Haiti.

On February 26, 2016, Jocelerme Privert, the interim President of Haiti has appointed well known Haitian economist Fritz Alphonse Jean (59) as the new Prime Minister of the provisional government. When Privert announced the name of Fritz- Jean as the new Prime Minister, former Prime Minister Evans Paul could not hide his dissatisfaction. He has openly stated that the accord signed between Jocelerme Privert and former President Michel Martelly has entrusted Privert the responsibility to complete the remaining election process, the final run off between Jovenel Moise and Jude Celestin within the scheduled date on April 24, 2016 and install a new President on May 14, 2016. Since Privert was the principal architect of the agreement with his erstwhile capacity as the Senate Chief, he must strictly respect that agreement. The announcement of Fritz-Alphonse Jean as the new Prime Minister by the new provisional president is contempt of the Haitian constitution. Such announcement was made without any confidence vote, without the approval of the presidents of the both houses of the Parliament, and without the confirmation of the eligibility of Fritz-Alphonse Jean as the Prime Minister. Professor Fritz Alphonse Jean is a Cap-Haitien born U.S. educated economist, politician and writer who had served as the governor of the Banque de la République d'Haïti between 1996 and 2001. He studied economics and mathematics in the United States, in New York. Since 2012, he had served as the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Professions of the North East Department. In his acceptance speech, Jean has acknowledged that his task is huge. It is something more than organizing a fair election; he has to re-establish the macro- economic stability in the country. All Haitians must set aside their differences for the sake of the country to take it out of the present social and economic difficulties.

After having multiple exchanges with various sections of the society for nearly two weeks, and having consultations with the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Cholzer Chancy, and Deputy Senate President, Ronald Larèche, the Provisional President Privert has chosen him as the new Prime Minister. Privet is of opinion that the appointment of Jean in no way contravenes the Haitian constitution. His appointment was made in accordance with the constitution in force and respecting the agreement of 6 February, 2016. The parliament, with supports from the both houses of the government, would confirm the eligibility of the consensus prime minister. Following the vote of confidence, the new Prime Minister will be installed to his functions.

Permalink | Comments

If you think you are seing double by looking at Haitian Prime Minister Fritz Jean and Prime Minister Evans Paul you are not crazy. It is in fact just that the two Prime Ministers of Haiti side by side. Not only they are side by side, they are both Prime Ministers at the same time under the Provisional President Jocelerme Privert. As the confusion is unfolding to know which of these two individuals who has the reall authority as Prime Minister, Mr. Fritz Jean just deposited his required document at the Haitian Parliament for verification and at the same time enjoys the security and services accorded to a Prime Minister. On the other hand, Mr. Evans Paul still considers himself as Prime Minister since he did not give his official resignation as Prime Minister

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Haiti Prime Minister Evans Paul at Bassin St Jacques Majeur, Plaine du Nord.

During the patronal celebration of Saint Jacques Majeur at Plaine du Nord in July, 2015, The actual Prime Minister of Haiti, Evans Paul, went to the popular St Jacques Majeur bassin, took off his clothes and went into the water in search of spiritual Voodoo luck, treatment or protection. Many people come every year in this secrete Voodoo place in Plaine du Nord. Some say they receive treatment in this water why others come for luck.

Memorial to be Built at Bois-Caiman, Site of Slave Revolt

Prime Minister Evans Paul's last stop on a tour was to Plaine du Nord. He visited Bassin Saint-Jacques, meeting with town officials and civic society members.

He continued to Bois-Caiman, site of the slave revolt, where building of a memorial will be ". . . a universal symbol of freedom against the slavery system"

His final visit was to Nan Brise, a natural spring where voodoo rituals have been held.

Permalink | Comments

This famous quote " TOUT MOUN JWENN" was stated by Haitian Senator Jean Hector ANACACIS in a Radio Station in the Haitian Capital. According to the Senator, Laurent Lamothe paid all members of the Legislative branch in order to receive a favorable vote to become Prime Minister of Haiti.

Prior to the vote to ratify Laurent Lamothe as Prime Minister, many members of both houses took the position that they would not vote to ratify this nomination on the ground that Lamothe was not qualified to become Prime Minister. many cited that he did not meet the citizenship and residency requirement. However, the actual vote reflected something totally different than those prior positions

Following the votes, Senator Jean Hector ANACACIS admitted that all members of the legislative branch were given money or they receive favors in order to vote for the nomination of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. In another way, according to the Senator of West" TOUT MOUN JWENN", or everyone received something for their vote. Some rumors estimated that Laurent Lamothe gave each senator $400,000 us, while others had friends and relatives nominated in various position in the Haitian diplomacy.

Permalink | Comments