Despite the unanimous commitment of 16 Senators present at Club Indigo, to resume formally of sessions in Assembly in the Senate, from Thursday, July 5th, the Senate could not sit on Thursday, for lack of quorum.

Only 10 Senators were present, 3 justified their absence and 7 senators did not attend, without any explanation, these are the senators: Andris Riche [Vice-President of the Senate], Francisco De La Cruz, Melius Hyppolite, Jean Willy Jean Baptiste, Jean William Jeanty, Jean-Charles Moïse, Westner Polycarpe.

The Senator Simon Dieuseul Desras, President of the Senate, was forced after two nominal calls to close the session for lack of quorum. The Senator Desras, strongly deplored these absences, qualifying of "band of children" the Senators absent without justification "[...] There is a formal commitment that has been made for the Senator come to work today [...] I always hear people say that it is not the adults who play, but children. I do not think they are adults [the Senators absent], but children... this is a band of children who made ​​a commitment [...] it was a commitment that had meaning for me, because when a person goes to elections and that it is elected, these people make a set of sacrifices. No response has been given to problems of hunger, poverty and unemployment, but it [the population] has a pride when it knows you are there to defend their cause, that you speak for them.

[...] The office told them they have an obligation [Article 70] moral to come to work, because they are paid. Regardless of what may happen to the institution, they must think they have a big responsibility in..."

Reacting to the remarks of the President of the Senate, the Senator Andris Riché, Vice-President of the Upper House, who was absent without reason, has tried to place responsibility of this closure of session on the alacrity of President of the Senate "He had to make three nominal calls before taking such a decision, while he made only two" A surprising statement from the Vice-President of the Senate, which aims to create confusion in the minds of the population, while Article 67 of the Internal rules of the Senate, that he can not ignore, makes clear that two nominal calls and no 3, are only, are only provided.

Internal rules of the Senate

ARTICLE 70 :

Any Senator has the obligation to regularly attend meetings of the Assembly and of Commissions unless it motivates its absence.

ARTICLE 67 :

The Senate can validly held a session only if the quorum of sixteen (16) Senators, including the Session Chair, is found. After the nominal call, if a quorum is verified, the President declares the session open [...] If a quorum is not reached, it is proceeded within an hour to a new nominal call. If a quorum is not reached after this nominal call the minutes is prepared with the names of Senators absent without legitimate cause.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6057-haiti-politic-the-senators-put-an-end-to-the-debate-on-the-constitution.html

S/ HaitiLibre