ARTICLE - DEP. ALEXIS - IRREGULAR CONDITIONS

DEPUTY ALEXIS SAYS AGREEMENTS SIGNED IN IRREGULAR CONDITIONS
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE - "Haiti can not become a province of the Dominican Republic," Deputy Jean Tholbert Alexis (Croix-des-Bouquets/Inite) said, denouncing the Bolivarian Solidarity Fund agreement, signed between the outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Lamothe and his Dominican counterpart, Carlos Morales Troncoso, as unconstitutional.

The outgoing minister, under Haitian law, had no authority to sign the March 26 agreement the parliamentarian said, speaking on Majik 9 Radio.

The day before, Deputy Alexis made the denunciations, Minister Lamothe called on the phone trying to convince him that it was simply a set of understandings reached between the two ministries, but according to Le Nouvelliste the deputy maintains his denunciations.

The Bolivarian Solidarity Fund with Haiti was created with support from the Venezuelan government of Hugo Chavez, who agreed that the interests of 1% of the Dominican debt under the Petrocaribe agreement can be used to support reconstruction in Haiti. The money is expected to pay for development projects, including electric power, road construction, housing and communications infrastructure as part of the bilateral Joint Commission between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

But Deputy Tholbert Alexis expressed concern over the fact that the discussions with the Dominicans during the visit of the Haitian delegation focused on trade relations between the two states.

Migration issues like the situation of students, very often victims of abuse by agents of Dominican immigration, who are sometimes unfairly demanding large sums of money, have not been addressed.

The Parliamentarian regrets adding that the trade relations between the two countries have never been to the benefit of Haiti. He also cites the case of some Haitian workers advanced in years, who have not been given the right to retirement.

"Haiti can not be a province of the Dominican Republic," said the member from Croix-des-Bouquets.

He called on government officials to strengthen domestic production, and to diversify sources of supply in the country, and the mode of transport of products from the Dominican Republic. This does not escape with indifference from the parliamentarian.

These goods are being transported by truck from the neighboring Dominican Republic to their delivery point in Haiti, said Alexis, focusing on the negative effects of this practice for roads that have not been designed to support the weight of heavy equipment, and the activities of Haitian drivers, who "are good for nothing."

The member thinks that the authorities of both countries should agree on a transfer form that would allow Haitian drivers of ensure the transport of Dominicans from the border to the point of delivery on national territory.

The MP also called on the Government to grant facilities to Haitian truckers to enable them to upgrade their vehicles.

Deputy Alexis also in the interview applauded the court ruling that sentenced on Monday the Dominicain murderers of the Haitian Student Rooldine Lindor , who was raped and killed on July 12, 2011.

The principal offender, Eddy Mendoza Ramos, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while his accomplice was sentenced to five years in prison. A case that the member had taken head on.

Constitution of Haiti

SECTION B: Duties of the President of the Republic

ARTICLE 139: He shall negotiate and sign all international treaties, conventions and agreements and submit them to the National Assembly for ratification.

SECTION C: The National Assembly

ARTICLE 98-3 (c): The Assembly's powers are to approve or reject international
treaties and conventions;