Executive
Haiti: PM Lamothe Calls Senator Moïse to Order, Moïse Rejects
- Friday, June 22, 2012 11:37 AM
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) – Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe again has invited Senator Jean-Charles Moïse (Nord/Inite) to correct his criticisms of the Venezuelan Ambassador that would harm relations between the two countries. Senator Moïse rejected Lamothe’s call to order saying his intention is not to harm Haiti-Venezuelan relations but to reinforce them.
”…I believe that it is known by all, the support that Venezuela is giving Haiti and the respect that the people of Venezuela have for Haiti too.”
”When there are declarations made that could bring discord not only to the aid that Venezuela gives but to the respect that Venezuela has for Haiti, the role of the Minister of Foreign Affairs is to intervene and reestablish relations.”
”The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a note that said, ‘Honorable Senator, you declared a diplomat in function, persona non grata. This is a very grave declaration and that could bring discord with the people of Haiti, that you are defending…” – Laurent Lamothe, Prime Minister
Indeed the Prime Minister named the many areas in which Venezuela is helping Haiti. To date, Venezuela is the number one provider of direct aid to Haiti contributing more than $30 million [US] to the country, per month.
Lamothe said it is not personal between himself and the senator but it would be harmful to ruin relations with the country, indicating that from different levels of the Venezuelan government complaints have been received about the senator’s declarations.
Senator Jean-Charles Moïse, to the contrary, would have one believe his declarations are reinforcing Haiti-Venezuelan relations. He rejected the invitation of the prime minister to correct his statements and still holds that the ambassador is a willing contributor to indiscretions in the Martelly-Lamothe government.
”The nation of Haiti gave guns and gave munitions so that Simon Bolivar can liberate the slaves in the country of Venezuela. Today, if Venezuela stands together with us, to give us all its support, I believe this is something normal.”
”And when we were giving Venezuela support, we didn’t give Venezuela support to support big wigs only. We sent it to liberate slaves. Today Venezuela can’t send support to help Haiti, and with the money it’s only big wigs are handling it.”
”… these are things like commissions, the president’s wife, ‘Ti Maman Cheri’… oh my God.
”Today, I make this declaration, the money from PetroCaribe is going places that I did not hope.”
”In any case, Prime Minister, we have information, a budget was voted, and the people who are spending this money don’t have to come before the Parliament, although the Parliament has the power of control. ”
”I’ve sent the signal several times that there is corruption carrying on, the didn’t do anything. All that I have today is the Senate of the Republic and my mouth.”
”And I don’t make declarations to damage relations between Haiti and Venezuela, no, to the contrary, it is to consolidate our relations with Venezuela.”
”When I look at the way we gave support to Venezuela and today with what is going on in the country, we estimate that things are badly imbalanced.”
”And for me, the way the ambassador is giving high praise for President Martelly, we estimate this is not normal.”
”We estimate that he, himself, he supports and adores President Martelly in his indiscretions and when I see that the people of Venezuela are sensitive to these issues, they say they are not okay with corruption… ”
”Well then, to make everyone informed, to make the people of Venezuela informed, I will tell them that the Venezuelan Ambassador is not doing his job.” – Jean-Charles Moïse, Senator
