By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE social, political and economic stability of Haiti hinges on the outcome of its upcoming presidential elections, according to Haitian Ambassador Jean Victor Geneus, who yesterday underscored the damning impact another failed bid would have on illegal migration challenges in the Bahamas.
The ambassador outlined the mandate set by the beleaguered country’s provisional government - led by interim President Jocelerme Privert - as he made the case for greater participation from the region in an interview with The Tribune.
“If we don’t want to continue in this political mess,” he said, “we have to do our best to have clean, transparent and democratic elections because there is a cost.
“If we don’t solve this problem then we are going to go deeper, deeper into a very volatile, explosive political situation and the consequence is that the Bahamas will receive more refugees.”
Mr Geneus added: “That’s why we think it’s very important that our neighbours, Cuba, Bahamas, the US, be informed about what we want to do and also we welcome their support.
“We want them to send observers to see for themselves that what is being done is in conformity with the legal process. Observers not only from CARICOM but also local organisations (civil society).”
Mr Geneus said he did not think the Bahamas government understood the “full picture,” adding that he has recommended that Haiti’s foreign affairs minister meet with diplomatic representatives of neighbouring countries.
Haiti staged its presidential elections in October last year; however, the results were scrapped after an audit revealed findings of significant fraud. The decision to restart the process was decried by international observers, namely the United States and the European Union, who endorsed the results ahead of the audit report. After spending some $33m on the first attempt, the US announced that it would drop funding to complete the race. The European Union observer mission also announced that it would pull out of the country; however, Mr Geneus told The Tribune that the international body has since given its support for the new elections scheduled for October 9.
When asked about the US’ decision to pull funding, Mr Geneus noted that it was a political move because they supported frontrunner Jovenel Moïse - who was endorsed by the previous government under former President Michel Martelly.
Mr Geneus said: “The US government indicated that they are not going to financially support the elections but the Haitian government never asked for financial support because the government and all sectors of the society believe that it is important that Haitians stop receiving international funding for elections. We have to do it ourselves because elections are the manifestation of sovereignty and also we had the bad experience with the OAS (Organisation of American States).
“They decided to put aside a candidate without any legal practical reasons, so we don’t want this to happen again. We welcome all the observers but they cannot decide that.
“We have a very credible electoral council and nobody is trying to influence their work. They are totally independent and autonomous in their actions and activities.”
Without a legally elected president by February 2017, Mr Geneus explained that the country risked the dysfunction of all state institutions, its Parliament, Supreme Court, and the government. He noted that it would also jeopardise support from the international community.
“The government and all sectors of the civil society has decided on a re-run of the first round of elections and the electoral council was put in place after consultation with all sectors to make sure we have an electoral council that was nonpartisan,” Mr Geneus said.
“Habitually the problem has come from fighting to control the electoral machinery. We don’t want it to be that way this time. We have been wasting time, we have been wasting opportunities and the situation in the country is dire.”
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 7 months ago
Re-post: This Haitian Ambassador should be encouraging his own government back in Haiti to assist with the repatriation of all Haitians illegally residing in the Bahamas. If the Haitian Ambassador and his Haitian government want their people looked after and treated humanely, then they themselves should arrange for this to be done at their own cost. The Bahamian people have done more than enough over the past 40 or so years and it has cost us dearly. It is time for Haiti to step up to the plate and bear the cost of looking after its own people, including the costs of their repatriation. It is an absurdity for this Haitian Ambassador to suggest in any way that we are inhumane when it is the inhumane Haitian government that fails to look after its own people, and constantly seeks handouts from others, like Bahamians, that could never be enough in the eyes of the Haitian government. These illegal immigrants should be seen for who and what they are......a problem caused by Haiti, the costs of which should be borne by Haiti and not the Bahamas! The Haitian government or international human rights groups should be bearing the costs of making life less miserable for these illegal immigrants; it is not in our interest to do so from the stand point of deterrence. To make life easy for them at our cost only means many more will come to our shores illegally, and likely with the Haitian government encouraging them to do so. We need to be very mindful of the fact that our sovereignty and culture as Bahamians is a very fragile one, and our economy is equally fragile and under great stress as it is. We are also now experiencing the effects of over-population given our very limited land area. We must resist caving to accusations from the Haitian government and human rights groups that Bahamians are an inhumane people when such persons, especially the human rights activists, are not willing themselves to bear the true costs of this vexing problem. We Bahamians have done all that can be reasonably expected of us over the last 40 plus years and are our economy is now financially crippled. It high time others started doing their part....starting with the Haitian government and the international human rights groups which have for years unfairly and unjustifiably blamed Bahamians for the plight of the Haitians illegally residing in our country!
birdiestrachan 7 years, 7 months ago
Every Country and all people are at fault when it comes to Haiti. Haiti and it people are without fault.The Dominion Republic has put in place some very stiff laws in regard to illegals Haitians entering their Country. What does the Ambassador have to say about this.
Bishop Pinder talks bout a spirit of inhumanity among Bahamians. Is he serious.?? When has he walked among the local Bahamians? Talking to them is a different story.
birdiestrachan 7 years, 7 months ago
Mr Geneus said they never asked for financial support. but his country took 33 million just so. Geneus is on a mission he complains about the Bahamian Government but his country can not even put a government in place.. we know where Bishop Pinder stands and for sure the out spoken Qc is in the midst. of it all.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID