Haiti Names New PM, UN Launches Appeal

[bemildred]

M. Latortue seems to be one of the old boys. Was in the
middle of the 1988 coup also. (Two pages)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Haiti named a new prime
minister on Tuesday as a step toward restoring order after a month of
bloody turmoil and the United Nations appealed to the world to aid the
impoverished Caribbean country.

...

CIA Director George Tenet told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that he was concerned the
interim government would have trouble establishing order. The political opposition in Port-au-Prince is distinct
from the armed rebels, who have yet to hand in their guns.

"A humanitarian disaster or mass migration remains possible," Tenet told the committee. "A cycle of clashes and
revenge killings could easily be set off, given the large number of angry, well-armed people on both sides."
(Additional reporting by Joseph Guyler Delva and Amy Bracken)

Reuters

[Rex]

1. So who are these "wise men" that installed a new PM in Haiti?

I'd bet they all have CEO in front of their names.

[bemildred]

2. They appear to be the folks that Aristide was elected to get rid of. nt

[Rex]

3. Well isn't that convvvvvvvvvvvvvvenient.

:(

[eablair3]

4. The Boca Raton, Fla resident and television host & Aristide critic

Posted on Tue, Mar. 09, 2004

Aristide critic, television host named Haitian prime minister

BY JACQUELINE CHARLES AND DAN DEVISE

Knight Ridder Newspapers


PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - (KRT) - A former Haitian foreign minister and popular South Florida Creole-language television host was selected Tuesday to become Haiti's next prime minister.

Gerard Latortue, a critic of exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was chosen after two days of painstaking deliberations by a U.S.-backed "council of sages" to fill the power vacuum created Feb. 29 when Aristide resigned. Latortue will lead a transitional government that will pave the way for presidential elections.

"I am very excited to be able to do something for my country to bring together all Haitians," Latortue said in a telephone interview with The Herald. "It is time for us to forget our differences and come together for the country in this bicentennial year."

Latortue, 69, was one of three finalists for prime minister nominated by a council charged with replacing the government of the exiled Aristide. The council grilled Latortue by telephone for 2 1/2 hours Monday afternoon as he sat in his Boca Raton, Fla., home.

"I can facilitate the national reconciliation," Latortue said. "It is the most important thing today in Haiti after all the divisions we had in Aristide."

snip

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/8146760.htm
_________________

Is this guy one of the U.S. or Republican's propaganda mouth pieces? I'd bet he is.

Is he a U.S. citizen? If so, is there any doubt but that he is a Republican?

They couldn't even get a Haitian resident and/or worker. "... as he sat in his Boca Raton, Fla., home."

hmmm, ...

Kind of reminds one of the guy they put in power in S. Vietnam. Wasn't he from New Jersey?

any more background and/or info on this guy?

If this wasn't so serious, it would be laughable.

[I AM SPARTACUS]

5. "The council grilled Latortue by telephone for 2 1/2 hours "...wow...

a positively EXHAUSTIVE exercise in democracy, THAT...

please note: Gerard Latortue...that's French for "Gerard the Tortoise"...

[eablair3]

6. yeah, .,.. some democracy that the U.S. pursues

it's just amazing.

[Judi Lynn]

11. It's more than one can take....

The party which shoved a lousey actor into the White House, currently set up an unethical recall on Gray Davis, and replaced him with a mindless, undisciplined @$$#### actor like Arnold Schwarzenegger gets the bright idea that what Haiti needs is a shallow, stupid tv bimbo as the Prime Minister.

Remember how they used to howl how they loved their "Great Communicator?" I think they're all so backward, so stunted, so rigid that anyone who can speak and act somewhat like a human being impresses the hell out of them, and who cares about intelligence, or character, anyway? That only slows you down on the way to grabbing all you can grab with both fists and the country's military behind you, in forced servitude to Republican agression and greed.

Gerard LaTortue. Probably they were unconsciously fascinated by his name, as it reminds them of "torture:" a nifty pastime for idle men with "power."

[thebigidea]

17. "council of sages" "loya jirga" "governing council"

ah, so many names we use for CHEAP FUCKING PUPPETS.

[daleo]

7. Council of sages (read Supreme Court) installing a president

This sounds familiar.

[I AM SPARTACUS]

8. the US got a chimp, Iraq got a parrot, Haiti got a tortoise...

must be Smirko Gang's idea of "wildlife preservation"...???

[eablair3]

10. just add an "r" at the appropriate spot

and you have "LaTorture". I wonder if that is fitting or not, seeing as how he served as foreign minister during some of the Haitian military dictatorship days?

I don't really know anything on this guy. Any info would be appreciated.

[eablair3]

9. Gerard Latoutue - Haitian artifacts and books collection

SURROUNDING BY BOOKS: Gerard Latortue has a treasure throve of Haitian books at his Boca Raton home. His collection and others are sought by the African-American Research Library and Culture Center near Fort Lauderdale. Emily Michot/Herald

I wonder how Mr. Latortue and/or his predecessors got all these Haitian books and artifacts that are all part of the history of Haiti.

http://www.wehaitians.com/library%20covets%20haitian%20collections.html

http://www.wehaitians.com/african%20american%20library%20may%20get%20collection%20of%20haitian%20works.html


I heard on KPFA/Flashpoints tonight that Kevin Pina thought he was an economist and had backed the "free trade" and "golbalization" and "structural adjustment" plans of the WB/IMF. But, it didn't sound like Pina knew too much about the guy. He just mentioned that this is some of the little he had heard on LaTortue, and he was still trying to find out more.

One thing for sure, ... with all these heirlooms and aritfacts from Haiti in his Boca Raton, Florida home, ... he doesn't sound like he's been a "man of the people of Haiti". Or, he certainly doesn't sound like someone like Aristide who worked as a priest with the poor in some of the poorest Haitian areas and neighborhoods. Somehow, I doubt that LaTortue has that type of background. His father-in-law supposedly was a diplomat for Haiti (likely under the military dictatorship days of Duvalier). So, I'm fairly sure on betting that he and his family come from the Haitian elite class.

[eablair3]

12. LaTortue will let France off the hook

one the issues Aristide was pursuing was getting restitution or getting repaid money by France that France had forced Haiti to pay long ago. LaTortue is on record saying that France shouldn't have to pay it. here's the article:
_________

Posted on Thu, Dec. 18, 2003

HAITI'S BICENTENNIAL

Aristide pushes for restitution from France
Haiti's leader, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, sends France a bill for $21 billion. Many are calling the effort a distraction.
BY JACQUELINE CHARLES
[e-mail]

Part of a series of reports marking Haiti's bicentennial.

Almost 200 years after rebellious slaves drove a humiliated French army from Haiti, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has fired the first shot in a new battle with France.

In the months leading up to Jan. 1 bicentennial celebrations, Aristide has launched a controversial campaign to get France to repay its former colony billions of dollars in restitution.

And he has already sent Paris a bill, down to the very last cent: $21,685,135,571.48.

The Haitian government says the money is the modern-day equivalent of the ransom, 90 million gold francs (originally set at 150 million gold francs) that Haitian President Jean-Pierre Boyer agreed to pay France.

The European power refused to recognize Haiti's independence and threatened to re-enslave the Haitian people if the indemnity wasn't paid.

snip

While he doesn't believe France is legally obligated to repay the debt, Gerard Latortue, a former Haiti foreign minister who lives in Boca Raton, said ``it's the moral and politically responsible thing to do.''

Instead of outright asking France for money, however, the Haitian government should prepare a development plan for the country showing where the money would go, said Latortue, an Aristide critic.

snip

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/haiti/7518665.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp


I'm sure the French are happy with this choice.

[I AM SPARTACUS]

13. "development plan for the country showing where the money would go"...

A bad joke, M'sye Tortoise. Development plans don't show where the money is most likely to go - into the pockets of the already-rich...

[eablair3]

14. Latortue - trained as a lawyer in Haiti in 1956

yeah, no doubt that he didn't come from the poor or middle class if he was trained as a lawyer in Haiti in 1956.

"That is where Haitians in the United States can assist, said Gerard R. Latortue, a former Haitian foreign minister and United Nations official, and now a business consultant in Boca Raton. Latortue, who was trained as a lawyer in Haiti in 1956, said Haitian lawyers in the United States can help with technical assistance, training and drafting proposals. "

http://www.newshaiti.com/index.php?mode=print&n=148

[Judi Lynn]

15. How fulfilling, working as a lawyer for the elite of Haiti

No doubt useful in reaming the sad, downtrodden, and suffering Haitians even more.

[hellhathnofury]

16. This guy must have relations to the IMF..

"Latortue, a native of the northwest port city of Gonaives and a former senior official of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization"

[eablair3]

18. Pina reporthed that he is an "economist"

Kevin Pina reported that LaTortue is an economist that will likely agree and implement the policies wanted by the IMF, the World Bank and it's subsidiaries, which will no doubt be detrimental to the people of Haiti.

[Tinoire]

19. Latortue = UNIDO & World Bank, IMF type

The Dialogue, building on its March workshop on Haitian political and economic development, held a discussion on December 7 and 8 to explore the possibilities for poverty reduction and long-term development in Haiti. The workshop, supported by the World Bank, focused on addressing the country’s humanitarian needs in the context of a national poverty reduction plan. It offered participants the opportunity to communicate their perspectives on resolving Haiti’s humanitarian crisis and their own efforts toward that end. There was general consensus that a sustainable plan for reducing poverty must expand Haitian access to education, health services, infrastructure, property rights and finance, and that it will depend on a resolution of the political situation.
The conference convened leaders from Haiti’s political, business, and non-governmental sectors; international NGO representatives; officials from the major donor agencies; and members of the U.S. and European diplomatic and policy communities.
David de Ferranti, vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank, addressed the inaugural dinner. Participants included Dialogue Member Carl Braun, Unibank; Terrence Todman, OAS special envoy to Haiti; Caroline Anstey, World Bank; Lionel Nicol, IDB; Caroline Kende-Robb, IMF; Adama Guindo and Nathalie Brisson Lamaute, UNDP; Micha Gaillard, Democratic Convergence; Jean Andre Victor, Haitian Environmental Foundation; Marc Bazin, MIDH ((this was the candidate the US wanted in the first elections where Aristide came out of nowhere and won by 70% with Bazin only getting 12%- up until the night before the elections, Jimmy Carter who was on the ground overseeing US interests in the election, was pressuring Aristide to pull out of the race)) Gerard Latortue, former managing director of UN Industrial Development Organization; and Pamela Callen, USAID.

http://www.thedialogue.org/publications/newsletters/2004/Vol12No1.pdf
((There's a picture of him here too))

The new premier, whom the council hoped to name on Tuesday, would form a transitional government from Aristide's Lavalas party and a disparate opposition coalition.

The candidates are:

Businessman Smarck Michel, Aristide's prime minister in 1994-1995 who resigned over differences in economic policy.

Retired Lt. Gen. Herard Abraham, who is probably the only Haitian army officer to voluntarily surrender power to a civilian, in 1990. He allowed the transition that led to Haiti's first free elections in December 1990, which Aristide won in a landslide.

Gerard Latortue, a former UN official and an international business consultant who was foreign minister in 1988 to former President Leslie Manigat.

http://www.china.org.cn/english/international/89724.htm

=====
Nouvelles du 9 mars 2004 ((My translation below))

Gérard latortue, prochain premier ministre, annonce un membre du "conseil des sages"

Port-au-Prince, 8 mars 2004 -(AHP)- <snip>

Il s'agit de Gérard Latortue, un fonctionaire de l'ONUDI, consultant en relations internationales et ancien ministre des Affaires étrangères de l'ancien président, Leslie Francois Manigat.

Selon des sources diplomatiques, la désignation de M. Latortue aurait éte le resultat d'un compromis. Les américains supportaient le choix du général Hérard Abraham, les français, celui de l'homme d'affaire Smark Michel.

Après un vote dimanche des 7 membres du conseil pour départager les 3 candidats au poste de premier ministre, 3 d'entre eux avaient voté pour l'ancien général Hérard Abraham, 3 pour Smark Michel du secteur privé et 1 pour Gérard Latortue.

http://www.ahphaiti.org/ndujour.html

((The council of the 7 Sages <what a ridiculous name> announced that the new Prime Minister)) is Gerard Latortue, a UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION official, consultant in International Affairs and former Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Leslie Francois Manigat.

According to diplomatic sources, Mr Latortue's selection was the result of a compromise. The Americans choice was General Herard Abraham and the French's choice was Smark Michel.

The break-down of Sunday's vote for the choice of Prime Minister was: 3 for Herard Abraham, 3 for Smark Michel from the private sector, and 1 for Gerard Latortue.

http://www.ahphaiti.org/ndujour.html

[Judi Lynn]

20. Here's more from the Miami Herald on LaTortue

Posted on Wed, Mar. 10, 2004

S. Florida TV host named premier of Haiti

BY JACQUELINE CHARLES AND DAN DEVISE

[e-mail]


PORT-AU-PRINCE -- A former Haitian foreign minister and popular South Florida television talk-show host was selected Tuesday to become Haiti's next prime minister.
(snip)

Born in 1934 in the Haitian city of Gonaives, Latortue studied economics and politics in Paris and returned to Haiti as a lawyer and law school professor. He co-founded the Institute of Economics and Business Study in Port-au-Prince with a friend in 1961, because ''nowhere in Haiti was there an institution where Haitians could study economics and business,'' Latortue said.
(snip)

Over the past year, Latortue had become a prominent voice among Haitians in South Florida. He debuted on the air in March 2003 with the launch of the Haitian Television Network of America, or HTN.
(snip)

(snip) Latortue is married, with three adult daughters. One is a professor of history in New York, another works for the International Monetary Fund in Washington, and the third works at the World Bank in Paris. (snip)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/americas/8148674.htm