ARTICLE - DEBATES ON GARRY CONILLE

PASSIONATE DEBATES AROUND THE CANDIDACY OF GARRY CONILLE
(Haiti Libre) -

During a meeting yesterday at the National Palace, President Michel Martelly explained that the absence from the country, of the former Head of Office of Bill Clinton, during the past 7 years, should not be an obstacle to the ratification of Dr. Garry Conille. "Before appointing Mr. Conille, I consulted my legal team," affirmed the Head of State ...

The question relating to the country of residence of Dr. Garry Conille, continues to be controversial. Some rely on strict compliance with section 157 of the Constitution. Others refer to the regulations of the United Nations under which employees of the organization would not change their residence status by expatriating themself. Another subject of division is the role played by the international community in this choice [for certain people, imposed], and the lack of knowledge of the political environment of Haiti, on the part of Garry Conille who has been out of the country for 7 years.

However, the Parliament is far from speaking with one voice... Jean Tolbert Alexis, the leader of the Parliamentary Group of Renewal (GPR) announced yesterday that seven deputies have dissociated yesterday from the GPR...

For Rodolphe Joazile, President of the Senate "... today the atmosphere is more or less relaxed and if Mr. Conille meets the constitutional requirements I think that he he will not have too much trouble to be ratified by the Senate."

Among those who are in favor of the designation of Dr. Garry Conille, are the Deputies Emmanuel Fritz Gérald Bourjolly and Jude Charles Faustin; both dissidents of GPR. They have welcomed the appointment, and they are convinced that Dr. Garry Conille is able to resolve the political crisis that blocks the country.

Jean Tholbert Alexis, the President of the majority bloc in the lower house, said that he was ready to give his vote to the Prime Minister-designate. Referring to the principles of international law, he stated that Mr. Conille can live in Niger, while being a resident of Haiti, in his capacity of a high United Nations official; citing a set of conventions and UN resolutions in favor of Dr. Conille. According to Senator Alexis, Garry Conille could facilitate the release of funds pledged by the Internationals; however, he stressed that the lack of knowledge of the political environment in Haiti from the candidate for the Prime Minister's Office, is a serious disadvantage for him...

For the Senator Edwin Zenny (Southeast / INITE) the situation is clear "...Article 157 of the Constitution says he must have five consecutive years of residence in the country. When you are working for the United Nations, [as a Haitian] you are domiciled in Haiti, because Haiti is a founding member of the United Nations. He does not work in an NGO or a private company. He works at the United Nations. He is (domicile) in Haiti; this is what the charter says. The Constitution says you have to be in Haiti. The United Nations Charter says you're in Haiti [...] In the document that he gave, he is domiciled in Haiti [...] I'll vote for..."

For his part, Senator Wencesclass Lambert (South East / INITE) said "... there is a 70% chance that the Group of 16, gives its vote, [...] In two weeks, the country will have a Prime Minister... We will not block it, we are not a blocking instrument..."

Joseph Lambert, coordinator of the party INITE and leader of G16 has mentioned a possible ratification of Mr. Conille if he satisfies the criteria of the Senators and the doubts and suspicions that are raised...

Opposed to the candidacy of Prime Minister-designate, Dr. Garry Conille, Senator Jean William Jeanty, joined by Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, leader of the Peasant Movement of Papaye (MPP) see in this appointment the total abandonment of what remains of national sovereignty...

Senator Jean William Jeanty [Nippes] explained that I can not say that the Prime Minister-designate is the consensus that we were looking for. He does not match what has been discussed in various sectors. He does not match the profile of someone who is the subject of a consensus. It is clear that he is a hair in the soup. He does not correspond at all [...] At the same time there is a set of problems in his file., they say that he does not reside in Haiti. I have not seen the file directly but everyone knows from his CV, that since 2004 he has not been working in Haiti; so he has no residence [...] It also seems that he has no property and that he does not pay taxes here..."

Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, protests against the involvement of international actors in the appointment of a UN official whose presence in the political spectrum would put Haiti under a guardianship; while also denouncing the violation of Article 157 of the Constitution, including the provisions relating to the number of years of residence would be inconsistent with the current situation of the candidate for Prime Minister.

The Senator Jean Hector Anacacis, Vice President of the Senate, remains in his position, saying that he will not vote for the candidate and that he will stick strictly to the prescriptions of the Constitution; which recommends at least 5 years of residence in Haiti that a Haitian citizen needs to become Prime Minister.