Web fombrun.com

Tuesday 30 August 2005..Charlito Baker, Myriam Nader, Charley Reese, Sonny Séraphin, Spanish Poem, Sweet Micky in creole.

MY INTERVIEW WITH HAITIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CHARLES-HENRY BAKER on Tuesday, August 16TH 2005. (For those many requests of an English translation,. Courtesy of Jean-Pierre Crespo).

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH. RECEIVED ON CARL’S CORNER FROM : Jean-PierreCrespo.

This is the English script of Carl Fombrun’s interview with Charles-Henri Baker

of August 16, 2005. A voluntary and impartial contribution to Carl’s Corner,

translated by Jean-Pierre Crespo.

( L to R) Presidential candidate Charlito Baker helping a bleeding participant during the political uprisings against president Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Welcome on CARL’S CORNER, Charles-Henri Baker. We have more or less a similarity in names; my Christian name being Carl-Henri. The "Henri" was for king Henri Christophe and in remembrance of a personal friend of my father, Christophe Martin. "Henri" ,in yours, is for whom?

The "Henri" in my name is for my mother’s uncle.

Good, I knew that there was a connection. Charles-Henri Baker, as a candidate for the presidency, you are a guest at my home in my studio and, as such, I do not intend to embarrass you. This is not a court of law, it ‘s an opinion forum. You are free not to answer if ever I do exceed the limits, having a curious mind. I learned from my Middle Eastern friends that hospitality is a sacred thing when receiving under one’s roof, although between two compatriots like you and me, our sincere desire is to get the country out of this deplorable mess that it is in.

You already proved yourself as an idealist and a courageous political activist. I doubt that you will have any difficulty in answering my questions. Let’s come to the point. Group 184 does not support officially your candidacy, but individually are there members who support you such as for example your brother-in-law André Apaid Jr?

Carl, it would be pure hypocrisy if I answered that Andy Apaid will not vote for Charlito Baker. But Andy Apaid took a very clear position as coordinator of the Group 184, which will not support any candidate. They have thus to continue a non-partisan course. Group 184 will not support the candidacy of Charles-Henri Baker.

Some have said, that in Haiti, a member of the business class can perhaps be a good CEO but not a Head of State. What are your qualifications as a CEO and as a presidential candidate? Do you have the financial means to carry out this election campaign, and if not, where will the money come from ?

First of all those who became presidents were not outstanding performers or members of the business class. My qualifications: In the commercial and industrial area, I am accustomed in taking a small business and make it grow. I do not think that there is a Haitian which has enough money to conduct a presidential campaign. We are going to ask the Haitian population at large to help us financially.

You are dealing with a poor population where are they going to find funds to help you?

My dear Carl, each dollar counts. I guarantee you that on September 10, I will have more than 100,000 signatures supporting my candidacy, and thus it will be the beginning of a learning process in showing the Haitian people how to proceed in an election.

Tell me, Charlito, are you a millionaire ?

Well, millionaire in paperwork and goods, perhaps. Millionaire in cash, no.

Therefore, you will ask the Haitian population for this money. But, Charlito, you cannot say to me that you will not request help from Big Business.

Carl, I have a small problem, I will request this money from the people of Haiti. If this money does not come from the drugs dealers and the robbers, I will accept it. I believe that transparency is the first thing which is necessary in Haiti. It is completely normal that a peasant, an industrialist gives money to a candidate for his campaign.

Charles-Henri Baker, you are a man of integrity. Tell me, do you consider yourself a Caucasian or a Negro ? A mulatto, or other? There are some who say that it is a not a Haitian problem, this question of race, color, class and caste. However, let’s face it, it has been an historical dilemma in Haiti. It is about time that one speaks about it frankly, to limit the damage brought by black and mulatto politicians on this subject since 1804, so that we do not return with the same situation, as in 1957, between presidential candidates Déjoie and Duvalier, where the latter benefited from it politically. For example, I have two nieces among my relatives who have the same parents; one considers herself of the white race and the other chooses to be black. Let’s open this abscess once and for all and move on.

I am a mulatto. I come from a family of blacks and whites. Indeed, this question of color is a problem. But, I do not believe it will be a problem for me in these elections. The country is in a pitiful state and it is similar to a sinking ship. Often I compare Haiti to one of those boats with refugees leaving from the city of Port-de-Paix to go to Miami. The fact is that when their boat shipwrecks and the American Coastguards pick them up, the Haitian refugees do not look at the color of the arm that came to their assistance. Furthermore, on this question of color, I proved already in previous political demonstrations that it was of no importance, when bullets were flying above our heads, blacks and white, rich and poor were helping each other.

Are not the Haitian people racists? Doesn't a little bit of racism exists in their hearts ?

My dear Carl, I believe that in everyone of us there is some racism . But I do not think that is enough to prevent me from becoming president.

Charlito, do you really feel comfortable in your white skin running for president of Haiti ?

One hundred per cent.

Are you an American citizen?

I am not an American and I will never be an American. I was born in Haiti from a Haitian father and from a Haitian mother .

In Haiti we all have nicknames. In Florida, they call me Don Carlos because of a film on the Mafia in which I play a major role. It is not a flattering title, but I like to know that people follow what I do. Yours is Charlito, and I notice that it does not bother you if I call you that.

Yes indeed, Charlito that’s me.

I heard from a good source that Dumarsais Siméus, the richest Haitian of his country of origin with a fortune of 120 million US dollars, they say, will officially declare his candidacy for the presidency at the city of Pont Sondé, Haiti. "Duma" is a descendant of Jean-Jacques Dessalines. He is of real country stock and carries the first name of the famous son of peasants of Verrettes, Dumarsais Estimé. I already classify him as a candidate, because he called me today to announce the news. Soon, he will indeed make this announcement at Pont Sondé in Haiti. Do you think that his being a naturalized American citizen, legally disqualify him to be a candidate to the presidency of his country of origin?

CHARLITO BAKER

According to the constitution he does not have the right to be a candidate to the presidency, owner of an American passport or not.

I am following this situation very closely . It is really unfair for a man like Duma. Native Haitian, descendant of peasants, he left Haiti for a better life and financially succeeded in the US. And now, he does not have the right to be a presidential candidate in Haiti? Do you think, Charlito, that there should be an amendment to the constitution for all Haitians once returned to their homeland, they should regain their lost of citizenship ?

CHARLITO BAKER

I know that it is one of the things which the government of Charlito Baker will work on quickly. Haitians leaving their country by obligation, to be able to progress financially had to naturalize themselves. It is an aberration that these Haitians are treated like foreigners when they return to their country. The dual nationality is a necessity and we will work to resolve such problem. It is about time to do so.

But, Carl, there is something else. I believe that the constitution that we presently have is not perfect, but if a candidate is not willing to respect it as it is now, because the new president will have to swear to respect it and make it respected, the people of Haiti will understand this question very well.

The constitution requires that before being a candidate, it is necessary to reside 5 years in Haiti. I am certain that Duma Siméus will not be able to be president of Haiti. He is a resident of the state of Texas. How can he really understand what occurs in Haiti? With what he sees on the Internet? I guaranteed you, Carl, that if you return to Haiti, even after three months you still will not be able to understand anything there, although as a journalist you are 90% more updated on current affair than other Haitians living in the United States. Even for me, after having lived eight years outside of Haiti, it took two years for me to be knowledgeable on what ‘s going on. Only the CEP, the Haitian Justice Department will make the final decision on Duma Siméus. Me I am not afraid of any candidate.

Say, Charlito, do you think there will be free elections in Haiti? It is an occupied country. This is a country that will be occupied for at least another 20 years . Don't you think that we are a band of comedians discussing an election campaign? To discuss the constitution? In my opinion it is the Americans who will influence the game, and it is the Americans who will choose the next president of Haiti. Same way that they did with Aristide. It is true, Aristide wanted to leave, but they decided to get rid of him. I think that no matter who is a candidate for the presidency, included you Charlito, if the Americans say to you they don’t want you, you will not have an other choice only to accept it. Don’t you agree?

CHARLITO BAKER

No, my dear friend, I do not agree. The American ambassador, three days before the departure of Arisitide, reassured me that Aristide would not go away. I think indeed that the Americans are involved in Haitian politics because we didn’t have the courage to say that we disagree with this or that. If there is a candidate who is not the candidate of the Americans, it is me. And yet, I am engaged fully in the battle. And on February 6, 2006, I will invite you to the national palace to attend my inauguration.

Charlito, I can say that I really admire you. You leave me the impression of being a brave man, determined to do what you want to do, and I admire you still more in adopting this attitude, because you are from a privileged class. But, personally, I am not as optimistic as you, I am very pessimistic. I really do not see how there will be free elections in Haiti. I am suspicious that there will be a selection. I am a friend of Siméus but not in the secrets of the Gods. Siméus is a very well organized man, and I think that he would not accept to be a candidate if he did not have something in mind and well planified. I do not know if he has the support of the Americans, and I understand quite well what you said about the constitution. You also spoke with logic and patriotism.

Okay, let us move ahead. Here are some questions that some people wanted me to ask you. Who are the people (men & women) backing you up? You never mention them. Do you have a political party? Do you have a "think thank" like they say in English?

CHARLITO BAKER

No, I do not have a political party but of course I have a "think tank". Carl, for security reason I do not wish others to know, for the moment, who is working with me, so that tomorrow they receive a bullet in the head. I have a friend who was killed because of his car resembling mine. In due time we will have enough seats in the Senate and in the Congress to run for office. I didn’t endure this long of a struggle for nothing, and once I arrive at the presidency of the republic, I will be ready to fulfill my duties.

You know, I already talked to many candidates like Bazin, Bonivert Claude, K-Plim. Serge Gilles was also in Miami. They all speak like you with much confidence, There are even more candidates. How many are there?

CHARLITO BAKER

Carl, it is only one candidate who will be a president. It does not bother me if there are 50,60, 1000. it is only one president that we will have.

Charlito, people tells me that you one are an "illuminé". That you are a dreamer, an idealist, sincere in your actions but that you don’t see the reality in Haiti. However, you have just shown me that you understand the reality of the country. You have just said to me that due to safety reasons you could not reveal your supporters. Will this problem of safety be settled soon? You mentioned one month?

CHARLITO BAKER

I talked about my personal safety. I can assure you that I am well protected.

So tell me something , when you travel do you travel with an escort or alone? Aren’t you afraid?

CHARLITO BAKER

Maybe I am an "illuminé."

( laughs) But I don’t want you to die. You have faith in your own star. Let’s return on the business of Aristide. I don’t wish to talk about Aristide; it’s the past. But you understand this situation, everyone accuses Aristide, of stealing, that he killed, that he was doing this and that; but until today the Americans cannot arrest him or extradite him to be judged. What’s the problem, what is this mystery?

CHARLITO BAKER

I always said that the Haitians must start by respecting themselves. If we want to judge him, let us do it ourselves. Not the international community. We have all that we need to do that. Why can't we bring him in front of his judges?

Do you consider yourself a reformist or a revolutionist?

CHARLITO BAKER

I am Haitian who would like to see a change in my country.

What is your impression of Fidel Castro? What do you think of him?

CHARLITO BAKER

He is a bourgeois.

Charlito, if in Haiti since 1986 we had a Fidel Castro things would be better for us. I look at Haiti, I look at Cuba, at least the Cubans eat once a day. The truth must be said. I do not see where the United States helped us in our politics. You think that Democracy is possible in Haiti?

Of course, if not I would not be candidate. That will not be happen in one day … I am

an "illuminé."

Carl (laughs): It is a friend who thought you were an "illuminé."

CHARLITO BAKER

I am ready to fight. I put the life of my wife, my friends, my business in danger. They were all in the marches with me. There are other people who are willing to fight on a certain level. I have one passport, a Haitian passport . This battle I do not carry it out for me, I carry it out for my country. I do it because I think that the country can change. It will take time.

We were told that we were not going to succeed in making Aristide leave. People in our sector stated that we were not going to be able to organize Group 184 with various other groupings. That we were insane. However we sat down together, we made all decisions by consensus. The democracy already started in Haiti because today I can charge Latortue for his incompetence, and he cannot have me assassinated because of democratic progress in the country.

As I said it to you it is we Haitians who must initiate things. It is us as Haitians who know what we want. No white man will return to Haiti and will give us something on a golden plate. It is us Haitians who must prove to him that we can direct our country, and then everyone will respect us.

800 million dollars of the foreign assistance were given to Aristide and 700 million disappeared. It is necessary to put an end to such thing. From 1994 to 2000 more than 4 billion dollars were given to us by the United States! There is a fortune which is in the hands of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, secured in banks all over the world, in Europe, in Indonesia. We currently have a disfunctioning government.

Do you think that Gerard Latortue will finish his term?

CHARLITO BAKER

I think that the country is in to those degrading conditions because of Gérard Latortue. I did everything to prevent him from finishing his term and let somebody else run the country. Someone said to me that he is very sick and that he came to the United States for an operation in the leg or for an open heart surgery. I do not wish Gérard Latortue any harm. Nothing is easy, Carl, and I do not believe that the election will take place as we vision it. I do not need any favor from the Haitian government or from the CEP group but I want an electoral system that works, where eveeryone will have a chance. We will work, we will put our minds to the task at hand to have a good election, so that no foreign country gives us any selection.

Carlito, you spoke with much clarity, much faith. Me, personally, I do not have confidence that elections will take place in three months.

CHARLITO BAKER

Carl, I would not be astonished that the elections are delayed. I think that we are there for January 2006. If they do not delay them it will be necessary for us to be even more aware, because they will certainly try to impose their choice on us.

My dear candidate, I always followed you closely and at a distance. I like the majority of your opinions. I do not have a candidate. I am willing to interview all the candidates and may the best man win.

CHARLITO BAKER

And I am an "illuminé."

(laughing): Oh! My God! I should not have used this word "illuminated". When you become president you will put me in jail.

No my dear friend, you have the right to express yourself.

Charlito, it gave me great pleasure to have you as a guest on " Carl’s Corner " Some people criticize me saying that I only speak about myself, but this time I left Charlito express himself. Dear public, do we agree?

It is " Carl’s Corner " who received Charlito and his true name is Charles-Henri Baker and mine is Carl-Henri Fombrun. I hope to be present for the inauguration.

Carl, thank you for the invitation. I am sure that you will be present for the inauguration.

People, as you can see, the "dyakout" on Carl’s Corner is always full, and that will continue as a long as the Big Man upstairs allows it to be. Until the next one! Thank you!

Good morning Don Carlito,

I am so grateful to God that I don't live in New Orleans and so thankful that we all survived the Hurricane Katrina in South Florida!

I certainly agree with you when you stated that "..Alex Penelas, compared to Carlos Alvarez, was a super-mayor who communicated with the Miami-Dade community on a permanent basis...." While he was a mayor we had a better feeling of security and safety during the hurricane seasons.Things were under better control.

He certainly shined in the Haitian community with the precious help of Emeline Alexis. Let's hope that Carlos Alvarez and his staff will be up to the challenge!

All the best,

Myriam

GALERIE D'ART NADER

by HYPERLINK "javascript:ol('http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese-contact.html');"Charley Reese

Pat Robertson, host of "The 700 Club," is not a Christian. No man who publicly advocates cold-blooded murder for political reasons can claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Robertson did that on his television show, saying it would be cheaper to murder the president of Venezuela than to overthrow him with a war.

The president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, is a frequent critic of President George Bush and the United States. He is also democratically elected. It's funny how many people in the American elite who profess to advocate democracy tend to change their minds when the results of democracy don't suit them. Nowhere is it written that a free and democratic election will produce a leader whom we like. That should be obvious from the outcomes of our elections. Sometimes we like the winner, and sometimes we don't. The essence of a democratic society, however, is that when we don't like the winner, we put up with him until the next election.

For a long time, I've not believed that Robertson is a Christian. I have this old-fashioned idea that rich preachers are incompatible with Christianity. If you don't already know this, most of the televangelists spend an inordinate amount of their time and efforts fundraising and living in the lap of luxury. I assume darn few of them will squeeze through that eye of the needle that Christ spoke of in regard to a rich man getting into heaven.

Robertson is a politician who uses Christianity as a source of income and as a cover for his political goals. What business is it of Robertson who the president of Venezuela is, or what he thinks of our president? Lots of world leaders don't like George Bush. It doesn't seem to bother Bush; why should it bother Robertson?

Venezuela, despite its oil wealth, is a very poor country. The bane of most Latin American countries is that the wealth is held by a few families while the bulk of the population is poor. Chavez seems to want to do a better job of redistribution of the country's income. That's such a tough job that he doesn't need any grief from us.

I suspect the CIA was slyly involved in the move to oust Chavez a year or so ago, and if true, he has a right to be irked. One of the sins of imperial America is that we are always meddling in the internal affairs of other countries, usually with bad results. If you think the CIA has a bad record in finding weapons of mass destruction, let me tell you, it has an even worse record of picking leaders of foreign countries. Some of the murderers the CIA helped put into power are easily candidates for the Hall of Infamy.

But to get back to Mr. Robertson, his followers now have a clear choice: Are they going to follow the teachings of Christ or the teachings of Robertson? The two are incompatible. Some people are skillful at reading the Bible out of context, but you won't find one word in the New Testament, which is the Christian Bible, that advocates murder for any reason. No one can be a Christian and a booster of political assassination, too.

Unlike many people in the political wars, I don't condemn what the left calls the Christian Right. Most of these people are just plain Christians, and in these decadent times, simple Christian morality is certainly deemed to be an "extremist" position by the debauched secularists. To be honest, humble, faithful to one's spouse and respectful of human life certainly strikes the far left as being "out of the mainstream," which is exactly where decent people want to be when the mainstream connects the toilet to the cesspool.

Nevertheless, Christians should publicly disavow people like Robertson who bring the religion into disrepute. Christ lived in the Roman Empire and never advocated its reform or overthrow. His message was, "See to your own soul." The idea of involving Christianity in political wars, assassinations or as allies of Zionism or any other "ism" is heresy. Christianity is about the next world, not this one.

August 29, 2005

Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.

Il n'y a pas d'amour de vivre sans désespoir de vivre. Albert Camus.

Chers amis internautes,

Concernant la signature des pétitions en faveur de CANDIDATS INDÉPENDANTS À LA PRÉSIDENCE, je me fais le plaisir d'informer les intéressés que SEULES LES SIGNATURES DE CITOYENNES ET CITOYENS MUNIS DE LEUR CARTE ÉLECTORALE AVEC NUMERO DU RECU SERONT ACCEPTÉES.

Vous êtes donc invités à obtenir votre carte électorale d'abord, avant de signer les pétitions. Sinon, votre signature ne sera pas VALIDE.

VOUS AVEZ JUSQU'AU 10 SEPTEMBRE POUR FAIRE ENTENDRE VOTRE VOIX,ÉDANS LE CAS OU VOUS VOTEZ INDÉPENDANT. ALORS DÉPÊCHEZ-VOUS DE TIRER VOTRE CARTE D'IDENTITE ÉLECTORALE.

Je suis personnellement en faveur de la participation de candidats indépendants dans ces élections, de telles sortes que toutes les voix soient representées.

JE SUPPORTE LA CANDIDATURE DE CHARLES HENRY BAKER.

VIVE LA DÉMOCRATIE

Bien à vous,

Sonny Séraphin

sonny_seraphin@yahoo.com

Blindado los ocasos

"El ojo que ves no es
ojo porque tú lo veas;
es ojo porque te ve."
Antonio Machado

Dormido estuve tanto tiempo
cuando ya me creí muerto;
del trabajo hice un sueño
y el sueño me mató sin aviso.

Despierto un segundo y resucito,
el precipicio de amor me espera
ciego, al fondo le pregunto:
¿Porqué te veo oscuro si te quiero rosa?

"Y me acerco cauteloso
embarrado de locura,
hubo quién en su helura
tornome receloso."

Tardes lánguidas y sosas, de siestas
dormido, pues despierto el sueño
me lleva por inagotables fiestas;
farándulas plagadas de empeño.

La noche se vuelve insomnio
apartando mis histéricos demonios
con manos y colmillos,
mientras ríen, divertidos, mis diosecillos.

"Y me acero con premura
hacia un Sol esplendoroso,
queriendo ser moroso
de sus amores más su cura."

Alfredo Asiain S.

SWEET MICKY

La vi a bèl, la vi a ka pi bèl
yon nonm dan la vi, fo-w konnen ki sa ou vle
Cultivez l'amour du prochain, peut être yon jou, wa gen yon meyè landemen

gran moun lontan toujou di
pi bonè se granm matin
pito mizè nan wout vye fwè
pou pote bon nouvèl
N'oublie jamais que le temps perdu
Ne se rattrape pas
Mache cheche pa domi san soupe, plante wa rekolte
la via a bèl, la vi a ka pi bèl..

kompa,, pa fè fot, kreten
oh kreten oh kreten

tande, tande sa

zanmi met lanmoun nan kè-w
fo-w renmen pwochen w, bay yon lot la men pou la vi ka bèl pou ou. Vye fwè aprann pataje
Sispan-n betize,prepare demen-w poulavi ka pi bèl pou ou
Mande granmèt padon
lanmou pa jwe a sa, Love kills

lanmou pajwe, lanmou se verite

tet ou vire, ou pase pala
Nan je ou tout tan dlo ap koule
ou mèt fache pa gen danje
Lanmou ka fè-n rekonsiliye

ou vire ou dekouraje
ou vle konprann sa kap pase
ou et fache pa gen danje
lanmou ka fè-w rekonsile

fan-m normal la, orijinal la, se ou se ou, se doudou

yon chans, bay lanmou, yon chans
yon chans mape mande-w cheri, cheri

Tan pou-n fache ann dialoge
fache pap minen-n okenn kote
tan poun fache ann karese
pakite lanmou fè-w egare
pakite lanmou fè-w egare

fete, fete ann'ale

MÈSI MICKY. Na pale demen si Granmèt la vle.

KAL

Copyright © 2005-2007Design, Concept, and Maintenance by:
ESP Networks & Fouye Networks -  www.fouye.net & ESPDesignnet.com