Legislative

Haiti: House President Sends "Final" Constitution to National Palace

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Like the president of the Lower House, Sorel Jacinthe (Moron Chamberlain/Inite), Senate President, Jean Rodolphe Joazile (Nord-Est/Alternative), announced Tuesday that he has signed the text of the corrected Constitution of 2011 and has sent it to the National Palace for publication by the Head of State.

Senator Joazile believes that the work is correct and corresponds to what was actually decided at the meeting by National Assembly on May 8th and 9th. Joazile rejects criticism and concerns expressed about the process undertaken to achieve the amendments, including those issued by the former Constitution of 1987 co-writer, Georges Michel.

The President of the Grand body rejects the condescending attitude of Dr. Michel who opposes on the argument that using audio-visual files to confirm the constitution.

"We played back the tapes in the presence of witnesses and experts, including officials from the Civil Society Initiative (CSI) and we express our gratitude, and the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) who did valuable work, "said Senator Joazile.

Asked about the fact that the Creole version of the Constitution was not taken into account during the amendment process, Mr. Joazile says there is no confirmation that a vote occurred in the assembly of 1987 on the Creole. That was published in the 36-A Tuesday, April 28, 1987 issue of Le Moniteur; the French version was 36.

Recalling that the head of state had promised to publish the text in the Official Gazette of the Republic during his recent meeting with a delegation from the Club of Madrid, the Senate President said the time has come for the country to finally establish the Permanent Electoral Council, a Constitutional Council and that Haitians living abroad can be integrated into national life.