Reprinted Dec 15 2015
October 9, 2010
Preval’s candidate for the presidency held his first rally this evening, in the center of Port-au-Prince. His big stage was erected among the tents that house tens of thousands made homeless by the January 12, 2010 earthquake that killed more than 300,000 people, injured as many, created 50,000 amputees and destroyed much of the nation.
Celestin’s team advertised 40 bands attending, plus a lot of other entertainment.
Celestin had over 20,000 Haitians within a block of his platform yet no more than a few hundred took the opportunity to walk a few paces to see what Celestin might offer. His 50 man security team, drown from National Palace security ranks, looked to outnumber spectators, although this was not exactly true…..but 50 of Preval’s personal security people, plus 20 second level Preval security people seems to be overkill, or a realistic paranoia as to exactly what the population thinks of the Preval/Celestin/UNITE triangle.
If the 40 bands actually attended the rally, their numbers, plus that of Celestin’s security team, would outnumber the crowd. Celestin’s team is spending a fortune with little effect.
Drive around Port-au-Prince and you are confronted by VOTE CELESTIN signs of all sizes. Huge billboards, medium sized billboard and a load of smaller ones. His T-shirt stand out. Yet no one attended his first rally! Celestin has millions, and millions, and millions of dollars, in his own money, plus Preval’s treasure trove to drown the opposition in propaganda, but this doesn’t seem to matter among a population base that hates Preval.
Alexis would have drawn the same numbers, had he chosen this as a campaign site. He is equally unpopular.
On the other hand, candidates like Charles Baker, Leslie Voltaire, Mirlande Manigat and Jean-Henry Ceant, had the stood on the stand that Celestin erected….would have drawn massive crowds from displaced Haitians looking for some sort of Hope.
There is no Hope with Celestin of Jacques Alexis.