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Haiti - Politic : Open Letter from the Haitian Diaspora Federation to the Government of Haiti 02/08/2013 10:03:20
Open letter to the Government of Haiti : "Haiti President Michel Martelly ; Haiti Senate President Simon Dieuseul Desras ; Haiti Congress President, Alexis Tolbert, Your Excellencies: The recent resignation of Minister Bernice Fidelia, of the Ministry of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE), has brought to the forefront the issue of Dual Citizenship, its application and limitations, under the 2012 amended Haitian Constitution when it comes to the Diaspora serving in political or appointed offices in Haiti. Details of Minister Fidelia’s reason for resigning are still unavailable. The press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office is also lacking in details. Several observers in Haiti and abroad have concluded that Minister Fidelia’s possession of an American passport was the probable cause of her abrupt departure from office. HDF is requesting that the Government of Haiti (GOH) invite representatives of the Diaspora to be part of the upcoming consultations regarding leadership selection and the substantive work of the MHAVE. The MHAVE is vital for creating the environment necessary to encourage participation of qualified members of the Diaspora in the service of Haiti and its people. The purpose of such meeting is to seek clarity of the policies governing selection of members of the Diaspora for public and advisory offices in Haiti. We certainly appreciate the fact that the GOH has quickly appointed Foreign Affairs Minster Casimir, as the Minister “de tutelle” during the MHAVE transition to new leadership. The recent Amendments to the Haitian Constitution of 1987, voted into law by the 49th Legislature in May 2011 and promulgated into full force and effect on June 19, 2012 by President Martelly, restored Haitian Nationality fully to all Haitians who hold foreign passports and extend Haitian Citizenship to foreign-born sons and daughters of a Haitian mother or a Haitian father. The relevant Constitutional Amendments that were published in Le Moniteur # 96, June 19, 2012 are as follows: Article 11: “Any person, born of a Haitian father or a Haitian mother who were themselves born Haitians and have never renounced their nationality, possesses Haitian nationality of origin.” Article 11.1: "The Law establishes the conditions under which an individual can acquire Haitian nationality.” Article 12: "Every Haitian is subjected the set of rights, duties and obligations attached to his Haitian nationality. No Haitian can exercise his/her foreign nationality on the territory of the Republic of Haiti.“ Note: Sections 12.1, 12.2, 13, 14 and 15 of the Constitution of 1987, which dealt with the issue of Haitian Nationality, are now removed from 1987 constitution as amended. Note: Dual/Multiple-nationality is allowed in the Haitian Constitution by the abrogation of the 1987 Constitution and adoption of Article 12 of the Declaration of amendments. Article 16: "The quality of one’s citizenship is manifested through the enjoyment and the exercise of one’s Civil and Political Rights; the suspension and the loss of such rights are regulated by the Law" Article 172.1: "To be appointed Minister, one must: 1) be Haitian and administer the proof of having met all of one’s obligations as a tax-paying citizen whose habitual residence is in the country, owning real property there that can serve to guaranty to protect the State’s interest and having any other nationality at the time of appointment; 2) have attained 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) Have been relieved of his responsibilities if he has been handling public funds” Since these Amendments became effective, our Legislature and our government officials have not done enough to articulate, propose or to submit any “laws” to “regulate” the exercise of Civic and Political Rights constituting the “Quality of Citizenship.” We are aware that article 172.1 in particular appears to restrict Haitian Nationals with Dual/Multiple Citizenship from being nominated and accepting the appointment to a ministerial position. However, where are the laws, regulations, protocols and processes to apply this law? For example, should there not be a grace period before or even after accepting the nomination during which a nominee can clear whatever hurdles there may be to accept the opportunity to serve one’s nation. Such absence of regulations and consideration renders vulnerable the best, the brightest or a uniquely prepared member of the Diaspora who may be willing to make the sacrifices to serve their nation. As President of the Haitian Diaspora Federation (HDF) which is made up of several organizations listed below, I am therefore calling for a meeting in Port Au Prince between authorized Constitutional authorities of Haiti, and leaders of the Diaspora, with the greatest urgency. The purpose of such meeting is to seek clarity of the policies governing selection of members of the Diaspora for public and advisory offices in Haiti. The Diaspora deserves a clearer picture of all pertinent regulations to address these matters. The Haitian Diaspora is a vital component of Haitian life. In many meetings that I have attended overseas or in Haiti on Diaspora issues , countless Haiti representatives of the highest level have always clearly stated how valuable and indispensable the Diaspora support is for Haiti and have lauded the potential value that the Haitian Diaspora brings to the development of a modern Haiti. I have read several studies and reports emanating from many International Organizations that have consistently proclaimed the need for the Haitian Diaspora to participate actively or invest in the reconstruction of Haiti. Many academic studies have also reached the same conclusions. In the recent World Diaspora Forum held in Dublin, Ireland and simultaneously in the United States in May 2013, world leaders agreed unanimously that one of the most significant factors to the progress and sustained growth of developing countries is their Diaspora. Haiti should not be the exception. Approximately, 4.0 million Haitians live in foreign lands. According to the World Bank, 84% of Haitian professionals work outside of Haiti. Statistical data readily available place the amount of remittances from the Diaspora to families in Haiti at close to 2.0 billion USD per year. Recently enacted Haiti Government levies on money transfers and incoming phone calls to Haiti bring in additional significant revenues to Haiti for intended Education and Infrastructure. Travels by families and friends to Haiti on a daily basis from a multitude of countries add to the important socioeconomic contributions of the Diaspora into Haiti. In spite of all these tangible contributions, progress in integrating the Diaspora has been slow. The cries continue to be loudly expressed for a Haiti which invites and enables the active participation of all her sons and daughters in the affairs of the Nation, at all levels. Our future depends on the full reintegration of our Diaspora capacity. We must rectify this problem to help Haiti. We cannot afford the continued disregard of our Diaspora compatriots and its consequences for our society. As President of the HDF, I renew my call for an urgent session to seek immediate ways to address and alleviate this situation in concert with the Government of Haiti in observance of all applicable Haitian laws. Patriotically, Joseph M. Bernadel President, Haitian Diaspora Federation" The Haitian Diaspora Federation is comprised of the following organizations : National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians - Colonel Joseph Baptiste, DDS ; Association des Medecins Haitiens a L’Etranger – Pierre Paul Cadet, M.D. ; Haitian Resource Development Foundation – Aldy Castor, M.D. ; Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida – Ms. Paola Pierre ; Rethink Haiti – Major Joseph Bernadel ; Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti – Attorney Marie LynnToussaint ; Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia – Ms. Florcy Morisset ; Haitian Alliance Coalition of Georgia – Ms. Delbi Noel ; Haitian American Engineers and Scientists – Mr. Marco Leveille ; Haitian Hometown ; Associations Resource Group – Ms. Katleen Felix ; Global Syndicates – Mr. Fabrice Armand ; FDHE-Europe – Mr. Samuel Colin ; Haiti-Jamaica Society – Ms. Myrtha Desulme HL/ HaitiLibre
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