ARISTIDE STILL COSTING TAXPAYERS MILLIONS

“It is totally unacceptable that the South African taxpayers are still paying nearly R3 million annually for the upkeep of Mr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide, former president of Haiti , as well as his family and entourage,” Dr. Pieter Mulder, Leader of the FF Plus says. Mr. Aristide has since February 2004 been living in South Africa for more than six years, while a new president had been inaugurated in June 2006 already.

The South African government at present spends monthly the same amount of money as that which a South African Cabinet minister costs the country on Mr. Aristide. The costs include housing, transport, office personnel and security personnel. This information appears from a reply to a question directed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, which Dr. Mulder put to her in Parliament.

The Minister is however, as was the case with her predecessor, Ms. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, still refusing to openly declare what the total costs for Aristide’s stay since his arrival in the country in February 2004 to date amounts to. A loose calculation of the amount could be as much as R15 million.

“While South African citizens are caught in a struggle existence, Aristide and his family live in luxury. He does not contribute to the development of this country but lives off the money of taxpayers which could have been used for our own citizens,” is the opinion of Dr. Mulder.

Initially, the South African government said that Mr. Aristide would remain in South Africa only temporarily until elections are held in Haiti . Haiti held elections on 7 February 2006 and Mr. René Preval was inaugurated in May 2006 as the President of Haiti. Mr. Preval at the time had already stated openly that Aristide was welcome to return to his country.

“According to the Minister, Aristide and his family will remain as guests in South Africa until the African Union, CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) and unidentified key role players have decided otherwise. If the role players want to prescribe that Mr. Aristide has to remain in South Africa , they should be prepared to carry the costs and not expect it from the taxpayers in South Africa . It is once again a new approach with regards to Aristide’s stay in the country. Just like the FF Plus initially warned, the South African government has been caught up in a situation which could still continue for years and could cost the taxpayers millions more without any real advantage being gained for South Africa ,” Dr. Mulder said.

Statement issued by Dr Pieter Mulder, MP, Freedom Front Plus leader, June 3 2010

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COMMENT: HAITIAN-TRUTH.ORG

In actual fact, I believe the American government is covering the cost of Aristide’s stay in South Africa.

Preval may say that Aristide is free to return, yet he refuses to issue Jean-Bertrand Aristide a passport.

Without a passport, Aristide is trapped in South Africa.

Preval should stop messing around and issue Jean-Bertrand Aristide a fresh new Haitian passport so he can act freely, as any other Haitian citizen.

Collins