Friday, February 2, 2007

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Haiti's top priority in 2007 is reforming its judicial system, the UN's special representative for Haiti, Edmond Mulet, said Wednesday during a visit to Washington.

"The judicial system in Haiti is extremely corrupt," Mulet told reporters at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "I think to begin with the reform of the judiciary ... (is) absolutely fundamental."

He said he was concerned that the pace of reform was not meeting UN expectations, adding that Haiti's economic development depended on a properly working judiciary.

"I don't see any diaspora going back to Haiti investing ... unless this basic rule of law is established to give guarantees to investors and to the population," Mulet said.

The International Crisis Group, a Washington-based think tank, held a meeting of experts last week who determined that Haiti's failed judicial system was in part due to many judges and lawyers lacking not only professional background, but often basic office equipment such as paper and pencils.

The think tank, which is expected to publish a report on Haiti shortly, also said it was difficult to counter 20 years of political instability and insecurity in Haiti.

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