Education

University of Haiti Council Boycotts Meeting with President Martelly

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - A meeting between the President of the Republic and council members from the State University of Haiti (UEH) was boycotted with none of the 40 representatives from the university appearing at the National Palace.

The representatives of the Faculty of Humanities (FASCH) to the Council of State University of Haiti would have met with President Michel Martelly on November 24 at the National Palace for a meeting, declared the Head of State, to begin the process of strengthening the UEH.

Reported by AlterPresse, the student representative of the council, James Beltis said "the president has no plans for higher education. This meeting can do nothing to deliver concrete results. This is just more media show."

In a note issued on the day of the meeting the position of student representative was said "technically, this meeting is impossible. How to democratically discuss for an hour with more than 40 people (members of the Board of UEH)?" asked Beltis.

Recall that the President had met Henri Vernet Rector and Vice-President, Research Fritz Deshommes, during this week.

Laleau Wilson, former Vice-President of Academic Affairs at the University is the current Minister of Trade and Industry of the Government of Garry Conille.

"It's a clever move of the university president to try and bluff people after hearing the mobilization of students and faculty to demand better working conditions," says the student of FASCH.

"In fact even the reason for the meeting has not been notified to the Council," continues James Beltis.

The delegate of students from the Ecole Normale Supérieure and the Dean of this institution, Berard Senatus, did not participate, either, at this meeting.

The Faculty of Humanities is represented on the Council of the University by Pierre Hancy (General Coordinator), Anselme Remy (faculty representative) and James Beltis (Student Representative).

Contacted by AlterPresse, Hancy Pierre would not comment on the initiative of Michel Martelly.

"The faculty sees an atmosphere of insecurity and persecution. I do not feel my full enjoyment of freedom of expression," was his only answer.

In a press release of November 10, Hancy Pierre criticized the attitude of state officials against the university.

"During the past two years, the State University of Haiti in general (and the Faculty of Humanities in particular) has been subjected to abuses, violations and repression by the authorities without recourse" , he had supported.