Tuesday, June 6, 2006

by Vario Sérant
Caribbean Net News Haiti Correspondent
Email: vario@caribbeannetnews.com

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: The visa dispute between Ottawa and Haitian Prime Ministerial nominee, Jacques Edouard Alexis, is reportedly on the way to being solved, according to Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister.

Alexis referred to the disagreement during a ceremony held last Saturday evening in the Canadian ambassador's residence in Port-au-Prince, to welcome Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter Mackay.

"I hope that Canada very quickly will find a solution which will satisfy not only the Prime Minister, but also the citizen Jacques Edouard Alexis in his private life. I hope very soon to be received in Canada in my dual role of Prime Minister and private person," Alexis stated.

Questioned by journalists after the ceremony, Mackay confirmed that a solution was going to be found very soon relative to the decision prohibiting Alexis to enter Canada due to alleged complicity in a "crime against humanity".

Mackay, however, did not come to a conclusion about other former associates of President Rene Préval (1996-2001) who were also banned by Ottawa for the same reasons.

According to a letter from the Canada embassy recently quoted by "Radio Canada", Ottawa reproached to Alexis for not having done anything about the "Carrefour Feuilles massacre”, when he was a minister (1999-2001). Eleven young people were killed by the Haitian police force in Carrefour-Feuilles, in the south-eastern suburbs of Port-au-Prince) on May 28, 1999.

Alexis had immediately refuted this charge, making the point that his government had acted by supporting a lawsuit against the culprits. "In fact, it is for the first time, as far as I remember, that the police officers who were identified in those crimes were arrested, imprisoned and brought before the courts. They were condemned," emphasised Alexis.

In spite of this disagreement, relations between Haiti and Canada are pretty good, said Alexis.

Alexis also indicated that under the Préval/Alexis administration, co-operation will take a new orientation. "Co-operation must be made from now on to the benefit of the country," said Alexis.

"Henceforth, international assistance must be ‘country oriented’ and not ‘donor oriented’," Alexis stated.

Alexis also took occasion to underline the basic objectives of the future government. This will aim in particular to create conditions of stability, to allow everybody to be freely occupied with their activities, without risking their lives."
"Canada plans to support the government programme so that it can respond to the needs of the Haitian people," affirmed Alexis.

"As of the installation of the next government, probably next week, a program of social reconciliation will be implemented," promised Alexis. This program will especially take into account education, health, drinking water, transportation youth and roads.

In his speech, the Canadian minister let it be known that his first bilateral visit to Haiti testifies to the will of his country to work with the next Haitian administration in order to improve the living conditions of the population.

"Let us work for a more beautiful Haiti," Mackay declared in Creole, to the applause of those present.

Mackay also announced the release of additional funds, around fifteen million dollars, for the reinforcement of democratic institutions in Haiti.

These funds will be added to the total amount of more than one hundred ninety million dollars which has been devoted over two years to projects of rebuilding and development in Haiti, according to priorities defined by Interim Program Co-operation (CCI).

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