Thursday, January 5, 2012

ARTICLE - GOV'T MINISTERS DENY STATEMENT

TWO GOV'T MINISTERS DENY HOLDING FOREIGN NATIONALITY
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Less than a week after announcing a controversial no-Visa provision for Dominicans, Colombians and Panamanians wishing to enter Haiti, two government ministers have had to deny that they, themselves, hold foreign citizenship.

Considered to be serious charges, Senator Moïse Jean-Charles (Nord/Inite) alleged on Wednesday that the President of the Republic, Michel Joseph Martelly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Lamothe, the Minister of Tourism, Stephanie Villedrouin and the Secretary of State of the Interior, Georges Racine, were all named as having renounced their Haitian citizenship by accepting citizenship in another country, according to the unamended Constitution of Haiti, 1987.

"I was born to a Haitian father and mother and I never renounced my nationality. I am proud," said Minister Lamothe in an interview on Radio Magik 9. "...without giving up my nationality, I had returned home after my studies and I set up my own business," he added.

"I do not know where the senator was seeking this information," said Minister Villedrouin on the same radio station. "It's in black and white on all of my identification," she also said.

Senator Moïse Jean-Charles claims to hold material evidence proving otherwise. The senator told Le Nouvelliste that he had obtained the information through communications with government officials of the United States, Canada and Colombia.

The Constitution of Haiti 1987 (unamended), ARTICLE 15, says that a Haitian has renounced his citizenship, if he has accepted citizenship in another country. In ARTICLE 56, the Constitution declares that an alien taking part in the political ife of the country may be expelled from the territory.

Under the legitimate, amended Constitution of Haiti 2011, multiple nationalities are allowed but ARTICLE 56 remains firm.

Constitution of Haiti 1987 (unamended):

ARTICLE 15:

Dual Haitian and foreign nationality is in no case permitted.

ARTICLE 56:

An alien may be expelled from the territory of the Republic if he becomes involved in the political life of the country, or in cases determined by law.

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