Executive

Haiti: Finance Minister Georges Failed to Appear before Senate Commission

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - The Haitian Minister of the Economy and Finance, André Lemercier Georges, failed to appear before the Senate Economy and Finance Committee on Wednesday to answer questions regarding the status of the National Fund for Education and claims for back-pay of former TeleCo/NatCom employees.

A crowd of former state employees had gathered in front of the Parliament building in wait for the minister and the hearing to take place.

Senators received a letter from Minister Georges on Tuesday evening saying that he had made prior engagements and would attend the "Invest in Haiti" forum rather the senate hearing.

TeleCo/NatCom Employees

The protesters still arrived at the parliament to protest despite hearing that the Minister of Finance would not appear. It was reported that the vehicle of Senator Jean William Jeanty (Nippes/Konba) had been attacked and windshield damaged.

Representatives for the protesters spoke to Radio Kiskeya:

Although the protesters would say the contrary, President Michel Martelly says that the previous government told him that all the employees had been given their back-pay. He spoke about it at the "Invest in Haiti" Forum on Wednesday:

National Fund for Education

The presidency imposed a tax on international calls and on money transfers with approval for legislatures. This is a matter that the executive wants to rectify with the parliament in the coming weeks but more damaging is the revenue from the taxes has not been accounted for.

It was discovered by the Senate Finance Committee that after several months of collecting an estimated $8.5 million [US] with the tax, the account's balance and the Bank of the Republic of Haiti had only held $2 million [US].

Furthermore, the aim of collecting the funds were to finance and free education initiative by the presidency that is so far wrought with controversy, lack of transparency and is resulting in a decay in the quality of education and resources in Haiti's national schools.