Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 8 February

Jovenel Moise sworn in as Haiti’s new president

DAVID McFADDEN born politics professor at
Associated Press the University of Virginia,
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti described the many chal-
(AP) — Jovenel Moise was lenges facing Moise as
sworn in Tuesday as Haiti’s “herculean.”
president for the next five “He has to revive domes-
years after a bruising two- tic production, increase
year election cycle, inherit- foreign and local invest-
ing a chronically struggling ments, rebuild the mori-
economy and a deeply di- bund agricultural sector,
vided society. create a sense of national
The 48-year-old entrepre- solidarity, and generate
neur took the oath of of- a sorely lacking political
fice in a Parliament cham- stability,” he said, adding
ber packed with Haitian that all this will have to be
lawmakers and foreign achieved amid diminishing
dignitaries from countries international assistance.
including the U.S., Venezu- But Fatton suggested that
ela and France. He smiled Moise might actually bene-
slightly as the Senate lead- fit from citizens’ low expec-
er slipped Haiti’s red and tations of political leaders
blue presidential sash over following many years of
his left shoulder. broken promises and failed
In his inaugural address policies.
during the day of prayer Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise walks with Police chief Michel-Ange Gedeon past National Police “If he manages to deliver
and platitudes, Moise at the National Palace after being sworn-in at Parliament in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday Feb. 7, a modicum of change
gave a rough outline of 2017. Moise was sworn as president for the next five years after a bruising two-year election cycle, he may restore a sense of
inheriting a struggling economy and a deeply divided society.
his government’s priorities (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) hope for the future,” he
and pledged to bring “real said. The Tuesday inaugu-
improvements” to the eco- said to applause on the economic malaise in the a car wash and propane ration was the conclud-
nomically strapped nation, grounds of what used to be next five years, but he does business in the Port-au- ing step in Haiti’s return to
particularly the long-ne- the national palace, which have a majority in Parlia- Prince district of Delmas 48. constitutional rule a year
glected countryside. was one of many buildings ment and some are hope- Nearby, Charles Bichotte after ex-President Michel
He urged unity and prom- obliterated during a devas- ful the businessman-turned- agreed but said he’d wait Martelly left office without
ised to strengthen institu- tating earthquake that hit politician will make steady and see if Moise was sin- an elected successor in
tions, fight corruption and outside the capital in Janu- advances. cere with his various vows. place amid waves of op-
bring more investments ary 2010. “What we still really need “We’ve heard so many position protests and a po-
and jobs to one of the least There’s little expectation in this country are the ba- pledges from our presi- litical stalemate suspend-
developed nations in the among citizens that Moi- sics: working hospitals, bet- dents but here we are, still ing elections. A caretaker
world. se’s new government can ter schools and security. I struggling,” said the house- government was quickly
“We can change Haiti if overcome Haiti’s deep think it can be done,” said plant vendor. created to fill the void and
we work together,” Moise problems of poverty and Maxime Cantave, owner of Robert Fatton, a Haitian- pave the way for elections.
While Moise won a Nov.
Ex-leader of Turks and Caicos wounded in robbery 20 election redo with a
dominating 55 percent of
the votes cast, his critics
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks was walking late Sunday He was wounded in the 2009 after Premier Michael suggest he did not gain
and Caicos Islands (AP) — night near Grace Bay left leg and hospitalized for Misick was forced to step a mandate as barely 20
A former leader of the Turks when he was approached treatment, Clarke said. down amid corruption al- percent of the electorate
and Caicos Islands was by three masked men who His condition was not legations involving the bothered to go to the polls.
shot and wounded during demanded his wallet, immediately available misuse of public land and The results withstood chal-
an apparent robbery near said Constable Kevin and the former premier finances that prompted lenges by three of his clos-
a strip of tourist hotels, po- Clarke, a spokesman for could not immediately be the British government to est rivals.
lice in the British territory the Royal Turks and Caicos reached for comment. suspend the territory’s self- That election victory came
said this week. Islands Police Force. Investigators were trying to government and appoint more than a year after Moi-
Galmo Williams, a promi- The 57-year-old Williams determine if it was a ran- a governor. Misick’s corrup- se topped an initial vote in
nent businessman and for- told police he turned over dom attack. tion trial is ongoing.q 2015 that was eventually
mer premier in the islands his wallet but that one of Williams served for less than thrown out amid suspicions
southeast of the Bahamas, the men shot him anyway. five months as premier in of fraud.q