President Martelly emerged from a meeting on 5/26/2011 with the leadership of the remittance companies (money transfer companies) as well as the telephone companies and gave a press conference. He explained that he met with these companies in order to secure some money for his free school-for-all project. Asked if he intended to take this matter to Haiti's two chambers of parliament, he replied that he would not bring this project to the attention of the parliament because it is his project, not anyone else's. He went on to say that everyone should trust him, he who still conducts the business of the country in his house without asking to be compensated for that. In other words, Mr. Martelly will take on this endeavor of collecting money from these companies to finance the school system, which is in effect a new tax imposed on us from the diaspora, but no one, not even the Haitian parliament, will have a say. In this manner, we will not know the amount of money collected, how much of it is spent, when it is spent, etc., etc. The President mentioned all along his campaign and even today that his government will be one of change. One of the things that has always been lacking in Haiti is transparency. Therefore, a government of change in Haiti should effect transparency. Any lack of transparency, in this context, should be labeled BUSINESS AS USUAL. All new imposition of taxes should involve the Haitian parliament. Mr. Martelly, show us the change! We are not ready for another VOAM (Voye Ayiti Monte), an initiative just like yours under Aristide first version, which was a fiasco due to lack of oversight. Haiti seems to be such a place where the more things change the more they remain the same.
There is definitely a need for legistation to establish accountability/responsibilities with regard to the new taxation President Martelly is about to initiate for the school system. The legislation should say who does what, how, when, where with the money collected for the school system. In so doing, there would be a way to know who to go to should the money collected for the school system disappear. As it is in the United States, the Parliament should have the power of the purse, not the executive branch. Some have said to give President Martelly a chance. But the chance has been given to him already by way of the election he won. His job is to identify the country's problems and find solutions to them alongside the legislative body, not unilaterally. Having said that, President Martelly needs to draft a legislation to be ratified by the Parliament. If the Parliament makes changes to the President's draft that are not compatible with the President's vision, he then can veto the bill and then negotiate with the Parliament. It will never be a good idea to see money managed by one man in Haiti, he who would not have to answer to anyone else. The past Presidents of Haiti have stolen so much money. The Haitian people cannot afford to accept the status quo.
We urge our followers to give their opinions on this very subject matter at: http://www.haitisuntimes.com
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