25884: Laplanche: (news) Fwd: An article by Jean claude Jasmin (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Sheila Laplanche <sheila.laplanche@wanadoo.fr>

JEAN-CLAUDE JASMIN
HOW ARISTIDE & CO. PLUNDERED THE HAITIAN TREASURY; DARK CLOUDS ON THE
ALEXANDRE-LATORTUE GOVERNMENT

The publication this week of the preliminary findings of the "Commission
d'Enquête Administrative" (CEA), headed by former Senator Paul Denis, has
uncovered a disturbing pattern of systematic looting of the Treasury during
the
Jean-Bertrand Aristide presidency. We can only salute what is probably a first
in Haitian history:
a) the commission did its work in secrecy and there were no leaks until the
publication of the preliminary report;
b) the quality of the investigation is extremely good;
c) the report includes TRANSCRIPTS of key interviews with a number of former
high level Lavalas dignitaries (probably a first in Haitian history)
d) the report also includes copies of correspondence, extensive documentation
of
financial shenanigans, etc.

What is striking to any observer is the sheer magnitude of the embezzlement
concocted by Aristide and his cronies and the large number of individuals
involved, starting with Aristide himself. Former Lavalas congressmen,
ministers,
and a number of Aristide relatives as well as businessmen figure on the long
list of beneficiaries and/or thieves. Coming on the heels of the UCREF report
on
the embezzlement at the Aristide Foundation for Democracy and a number of
associated shell companies, a clearer picture of the Aristide-directed looting
of public funds has emerged.

Readers can access key elements of the report (in French) at the following
websites:
http://www.ntsnews.com/bpm/commission_enquete.htm
http://www.ntsnews.com/bpm/commission_enquete_part_II.htm
http://www.ntsnews.com/bpm/commission_enquete_part_III.htm
http://www.ntsnews.com/bpm/commission_enquete_contrats.htm

The reports speak for themselves. I would like to draw your attention to a
number of intriguing points:
Cooperation of Yvon Neptune
In what is sure to be a shock for many, former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune
agreed to answer the questions of the investigators. And what an interview
that
was! We learn that:

1. Yvon Neptune had no real power as prime minister; he was deathly afraid of
Finance Minister Faubert Gustave who was, in his words, a "super-minister" and
who called the shots on all expenses, legitimate or illegal, that were
undertaken on behalf of Aristide;

2. Neptune recognizes that Oriel Jean, Aristide's former security chief now in
custody in the US on charges of drug smuggling, was receiving donations
routinely from the Prime Minister's office "on the basis of his needs"
(Neptune's own words.)

3. The much touted "Alpha Economique" plan of Aristide existed in name only.
The interview reveals that Neptune was certainly not the administrator that he
was cracked up to be. We discover an average to below-average manager of
people
who had some integrity (let's call a spade a spade) but who certainly decided
to
roll over and let Aristide run roughshod over him. Quite a pitiful interview
in
the end as it demonstrated that Neptune was completely out of his league and
should have remained the good architect that he was.
While Aristide is in South Africa enjoying his millions and managing his
little
guerilla warfare, poor Neptune is left holding the bag.

Cooperation of Jean-Jacques Valentin
Another shocker! For many years, Jean-Jacques Valentin was Aristide's man at
Customs, where he oversaw a large bureaucracy which received the majority of
the
government's revenues. Valentin described very eloquently the pattern of
embezzlement and deceit that Aristide and Faubert Gustave established to get
around administrative procedures and help their cronies circumvent customs
duties. Two of the biggest beneficiaries of the scheme were none other than
Lesly Lavelanet, brother-in-law of Aristide, who owes Customs over US$1
million
in unpaid customs duties and Dieuseul Tchokanté Joseph, a staples importer,
who
became a front man for Lavelanet as well as other rice importers associated to
Aristide.

Finally, we must stress that the publication of this preliminary report has
ruffled many feathers within the Alexandre-Latortue government. Paul Denis
stated that he received minimal cooperation from the National Palace. That is
not surprising at all. The current chief of staff, Michel Brunache, has close
links with Gladys Lauture, a former "economic advisor" to Aristide who
masterminded a number of embezzlement schemes. Brunache has actually blocked
the
investigations into the practices at the Palace for two reasons:
1. to protect Gladys Lauture, and by extension Brunache's former boss,
attorney
Gary Lissade, who is also implicated in a number of sordid schemes in the
CEA/Paul Denis report;
2. to prevent investigators from uncovering Brunache's embezzlement scheme for
the benefit of his father-in-law, Boniface Alexandre, and his own pockets of
course. Brunache has continued the practice first established by Aristide at
the
National Palace, which calls for minimal supervision and documentation (if at
all) of expeditures.

We must be vigilant. Aristide is the past, and we need to expose him for what
he
was: a vulgar, blood-thirsty criminal who used the poor of Haiti to wage his
war
of hatred and enrich himself at the same time. But we also need to focus on
the
present and start investigating the crooked deals of the current
administration.
There are a few, and they are being perpetrated by people close to the current
President and Prime Minister.

We must also start asking the hard questions:
1. Why is Mr. Latortue's district attoney ("commissaire du gouvernment") so
weak
and ineffctive?
2. Why are the current "managers" of the National Palace and Teleco blocking
the
Paul Denis/CEA investigation?
3. When will Latortue get rid of the bad apples that are completely spoiling
his
current leadership? Or is he involved?
Haiti needs new leadership and a new beginning. The truth will set us all free
... finally.
Jean-Claude Jasmin
Email: jasminjeanclaude@yahoo.com
Blog: http://haitianmofo.blogspot.com