Jocelerme Privert

Here is a picture of Haiti's provisional president Jocelerme Privert with appointed prime minister Fritz Jean on February 26, 2016 during his investiture ceremony.

In his acceptance speech, Jean has acknowledged that his task is huge. It is a lot more than creating the necessary conditions to hold a free, fair and credible presidential election; simultaneously, he has to re-establish the macro- economic stability in the country. Jean has also said that the country is facing serious social and economic difficulties. We must set aside our differences for the sake of the country. Jean as a person is more technocrat than a politician. He was tapped by Privert for the number two job in the administration after two weeks of consultations with political and civic leaders.

However, the appointment of Fritz, Jean as the new Prime Minister is not free from controversies. As per amended Haitian constitution (1987), a Prime Minister must get a vote of confidence from the parliament. Some members from the Martelly's camp are arguing that Jean is neither apolitical nor the consensus prime minister that the accord demands. He and the interim President Jocelerme Privert have the same political root (Fanmi Lavalas Party). However, some analysts are of opinion that Jean's selection is a sign of Privert's optimism that the provisional government could play a larger role than merely organizing elections.

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Here is a picture of Haitian sociologist Anthony Barbier, general secretary of the National Palace.

In a memo dated February 22, 2016, Anthony Barbier has informed all the former administrative members of the National Palace, who is holding government vehicles belonging to the National Palace and using for personal or unauthorized purposes, to return them to the National Palace car park within the next 72 hours of the memo issued. He has also advised on the restricted use of tinted glass, sirens and strobes on cars.

Jean Renel Sanon has served as the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Dean and Chief Prosecutor of Port-au-Prince's Civil Court. Recently, following the departure of former President Martelly on February 7th, there were reports of looting at the official residence of the president. Jean Renel Sanon, as the then Secretary General of the National Palace categorically denied such reports and had said that the property of the republic is intact.

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Here is a picture of the ceremony for the removal of presidential sash from President Michel Martelly.

On Sunday, February 7, 2016, Michel Martelly made his farewell speech to the nation as he left his office without any replacement. His day of departure coincidentally became the first day of Port-au-Prince's annual three-day Carnival celebration, which was called off as violent protests erupted in many places. It was as well as the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship. Martelly left the country in the hands of a disputed interim government amid one of the worst political crises in recent years-- and without a president. However, an agreement for a transitional government was reached just twenty two hours before Martelly left his office. To symbolize his departure, Martelly returned the presidential sash to the National Assembly by handing it over to the then National Assembly President Jocelerme Privert.

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Here is a picture of President Michel Martelly as he was returning the presidential sash to the National Assembly.

On February 7, 2016, the former President Martelly to symbolize his departure, returned the presidential sash to the National Assembly by handing it over to the then National Assembly President Jocelerme Privert. The presidential sash is an important symbol of the continuity of the presidency, designed to resemble the nation's flag, or the country's national colors and symbols, especially those of Latin American presidents. Its value as a symbol of the office of the head of state can be compared to that of a crown in monarchies. To symbolize a change, Jean-Bertrand Aristide as a new President chose a peasant woman to put the Presidential sash on him. The next morning, President Aristide served breakfast to hundreds of homeless people and street kids at the National Palace.

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Maryse Narcisse, Mildred Trouillot Aristide at Jocelerme Privert's investiture.

The inauguration ceremony of former Senator Jocelerme Privert as the Provisional President at the National Palace on February 14, 2016 was attended by many personalities from the political and diplomatic worlds. Many noted business personalities and political allies like Jean Charles Moise, Mathias Pierre, US Ambassador Peter F. Mulrean, head of the PNH, and some hardcore oppositions of Martelly like Dr. (Mrs.) Maryse Narcisse (presidential candidate of Fanmi Lavalas) and former First Lady Mildred Trouillot Aristide (wife of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a rare political appearance) were seen among the witness of Privert's investiture. Prime Minister Evans Paul was seen among the attendees, watching as an onlooker in a marginalized manner. Could this be a message to the Martelly aids that they have no place in the Privert's administration? Privert will pick Haiti's next Prime Minister, in consultation with the Speakers of the House and Senate.

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Here is a picture of Prime Minister Evans Paul during the investiture of Provisional President Jocelerme Privert.

On February 14, 2016, during the ceremony of investiture of Jocelerme Privert as the Provisional President of Haiti, many hardcore oppositions like Maryse Narcissi and Mildred Aristide, wife of former President Jean Bertrand Aristide, Jean Charles Moise, Mathias Pierre, Joanas Gué from the Platform of Truth, losing candidate Dejean Bélizaire, and many noted businessmen were present at the National Palace. In his speech for the occasion, Privert sent many thanks to his former colleagues of the Parliament who have bestowed their confidence on him. It was surprising to note that Prime Minister Evans Paul was standing in the crowd in a marginalized manner like an onlooker. Was there any coded message from the new provisional president that to let the Haitian Prime Minister know that he has no place in his new administration? Privert will pick Haiti's next Prime Minister, in consultation with the Speakers of the House and Senate.

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Here is a picture of two haitian Presidents Jocelerme Privert and Michel Martelly.

Less than 24 hours before the scheduled departure of Martelly, the Haitian leaders were able to manage and find a consensus for a short-term provisional government necessary to hold the postponed presidential and legislative runoff. However, such consensus was arrived by overruling the Haitian constitution on deals between the executive and legislature; the agreement was signed by Martelly, Privert, and the Speaker of the House and it was brokered by the OAS members. As the ruling Senate Chief, Jocelerme had also played a central role in those discussions. Recently, Privert has told the Associated Press that a new electoral council will be created soon to ensure that the postponed runoff is held within the scheduled time frame in a fair and transparent manner.

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Here is a picture of Jocelerme Privert.

After the fall of Aristide in February 2004, Privert was imprisoned between April 2004 to June 2006 on charges of assisting the killing of Aristide's political opponents in Saint Marc (some 60 miles north of the capital) who orchestrated the armed rebellion that ousted Aristide. Privert was arrested in the midnight from his home as a political prisoner. However, the charges against him were dismissed and he was released after 26 months of imprisonment during the rule of Rene Preval due to lack of evidence.

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Jocelerme Privert, interior minister of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was arrested. He was accused in the mid-February 2004 in the killings of several suspected Aristide opponents in St. Marc.

Earlier, he was a cabinet minister (Minister of Interior) under President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Secretary of State for Finance, adviser to former President Preval and CEO of Tax, among other charges. Privert is certainly a change in style from Martelly. Privert's swearing in ceremony was dominated by Martelly's rival left-wing Fanmi Lavalas (The Flood) crowd.

Privert is a native of Petit Goave, became the Directorate General of Taxes (1995-2001), Secretary of State for Finance (2001-2002) and Minister of the Interior (2002-2004).

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Here is a picture of Jocelerme Privert, former interior minister under President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Jocelerme Privert, the former President of the Haitian Senate (14 January 2016 - 14 February 2016) and Senator for Nippes Department (26 April 2011 - 14 February 2016) was elected as the interim president of Haiti. He will lead a caretaker government that will fill the void left by President Michel Martelly after the end of his term. His priority would be to ease the tensions of suspended election and to hold the overdue presidential election on April 24, 2016 and install a new President on May 14, 2016, all within his 120-day term. Jocelerme Privert is an experienced politician and administrator with 35 years of experience in public service.

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