Sunday, 15 July 2012 14:24

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) – The First Secretary of the Great Body that is the Senate, Steven Benoit (Ouest/Alternative) characterized the letter by President Martelly as a lack of respect for another power, in requesting that the legislature contribute within 8 days (now 4) its 3 members of the Permanent Electoral Council.

Indeed, Senator Benoit was speaking on Radio Magik 9 on Friday about a letter, dated July 9th, in which the Head of State asked that the upper and lower house of Parliament to meet with urgency to deliver its three members that will sit on the nation’s electoral council.

Benoit said:

Senator Benoit is known for speaking against the abuse of power that the Executive government of Haiti often demonstrates and in this case, although Benoit is correct that the executive can not place an ultimatum on the legislature, it is also correct that the Head of State ensure the proper functioning of the government.

The Martelly-Lamothe administration hopes to hold elections before the end of 2012; elections that should have been held in November 2011 and have costed a third of the senate to become inactive due to the end of their mandates and over 100 municipal officials, mayors, to hold their seats long beyond their terms.

But Senator Benoit did pass blame to his colleagues in the legislature because for more than two months the Senate has not been able to hold any sessions. Benoit, for one reason, said that members of parliament spend more time trying to get into the good graces of the executive at the expense of parliament.

Steven Benoit attested to another reason, the fact that Senators who opposed the publication of the amendment of the Constitution or that have other grievances are refusing to come to meetings to defend their views in debates.

Senator John William Jeanty (Nippes/Konba), one of the strongest opponents to the publication of the amended Constitution, has promised to reverse quorum, by leaving senate meetings to not allow the parliament to vote its representatives to the Permanent Electoral Council.

The senate has had a very fragile quorum with only 20 out of 30 senators and the requirement that 2/3s be present to decide on CEP members.

The Judiciary, through the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power (CSPJ) began its process of selecting CEP members on Friday and will begin deliberating its decisions on Tuesday July 17.

The Executive presumably has selected its 3 members.

The CEP requires that all 9 members be selected by all three branches of the government, each selecting three. It is beginning to be discussed that the CEP will only seat six members without representatives from the Legislature as the government strives to hold elections in 2012.

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COMMENT: HAITIAN-TRUTH.ORG
Senator Benoit is an ass.

The Senate has created all sorts of problems for Martelly, and the Nation, in order to gain points for himself.

As President, Martelly has the obligation to “request” the Senate’s action in appointing members of the Permanent Electoral Council. Without this group, there is no way to coordinate the elections and every wasted day just moves the process further away. Delays now, could see the elections slip beyond the 2013 carnival, for one reason or another.

Benoit is a “Spoiler” interested in only his own situation.

Without a properly constituted Parliament, needed legislation will remain on the shelf. Benoit’s stupidity has played a part in delays that have effectively seen donor nations give up and forget their promises of financial support for earthquake damage. People still live in impossible conditions, because of Benoit. People have died because of Benoit’s lack of action, or actions to block Martelly’s efforts..

Time for a reality check if such a thing is possible in Haiti.