ARTICLE - PM RATIFICATION - ELIGIBILITY

PRIME MINISTER RATIFICATION HINGES ON CONSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Proving that he meets eligibility requirements to be the Prime Minister appears challenging for Laurent Lamothe, who submitted 58 documents (14 were requested by the Haitian Senate) to support his ratification.

According to Senator Steven Benoit (Ouest/Alternative), this is the first time a candidate for prime minister has submitted such a quantity of supporting documents, 58, when only 14 are needed. Senator Benoit says that even with the 58 submissions, items critical to obtaining ratification are still outstanding.

The Constitution of Haiti requires that a Prime Minister be a Haitian citizen and having never renounced their nationality, or have accepted nationality in another country. The Head of Government also must have resided in Haiti for at least five (5) consecutive years.

Lamothe is currently the outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs, and was already a prime subject of a senate investigation on nationality. The Chairman of the Senate Commission on Ratification of the Prime Minister, Senator Jean R. Joazile (Nord-Est/Alternative) has chosen to refer to the findings of the nationality commission's investigation as part of his committees work on ratification.

A preliminary report by the senate commission investigating the nationality of members of the government reported that in the case of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Lamothe, there is evidence missing, and nationality could not be determined.

Specifically, the commission says that Lamothe has had 10 passports recorded at the Department of Immigration but only submitted 6 to the nationality commission. The commission is requiring the 4 remaining passports carried by Lamothe, or an explanation, before proceeding.

For Senator Francois Anick Joseph (Artibonite/Alternative), Mr. Lamothe has nothing to worry about for his ratification so long as he conforms with ARTICLE 157 of the Constitution of Haiti, which determines the eligibility of a prime minister.

"If the entire case... I say it clearly, if the entire case, conforms with what is prescribed by ARTICLE 157 of the Constitution, Mr. Lamothe can tell himself already that he has 6 votes," said Senator Joseph commenting on the position of his political party, Alternative, and its 6 senators.

ARTICLE 157, Constitution of Haiti
To be appointed Prime Minister, a person must:
1. Be a native-born Haitian, and never have renounced Haitian nationality;
2. Have attained thirty (30) years of age;
3. Enjoy civil and political rights and never have been sentenced to death, personal restraint or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights;
4. Own real property in Haiti and practice a profession there;
5. Have resided in the county for five (5) consecutive years;
6. Have been relieved of his responsibilities if he has been handling public funds.