27889: Hermantin(news)Many in S. Florida festive after election (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Sun Sentinel


Many in S. Florida festive after election




By Alva James-Johnson
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

February 17, 2006



Now that Rene Preval is the newly elected president of Haiti, some of his 
supporters in South Florida expect the country's exiled former president, 
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to return home soon.

"Aristide was born in Haiti and he's Haitian," said Lavarice Gaudin, chairman 
of Veye Yo, a Lavalas party watchdog group in Miami. "Why do you think so many 
people went out and voted for Preval? We voted for the return of Aristide and 
the release of political prisoners ... That shouldn't be a question."

Preval, 63, a former protégé of Aristide, was declared winner of the country's 
presidential election Thursday, ending a nine-day electoral crisis. His 
administration will replace a U.S.-backed interim government set up after 
Aristide, now exiled in South Africa, left office amid a 2004 rebellion. 
Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, a former Boca Raton retiree, has been 
running the country ever since.

In Palm Beach County, community activist Daniella Henry said, "Everybody's 
happy."

But Lesly Jacques, owner of Boca Raton's Radio Haiti-Amerique Internationale, 
wasn't as jubilant. He was among those who demonstrated on the streets of South 
Florida in 2004 when Aristide was ousted.

"I want to wish good luck to the Haitian people," he said. "If this is what 
they want, this is what they get. That's the beginning of the end ... There's 
nothing good that could come out of Lavalas." He referred to the party 
associated with both Aristide and Preval.

Gerard Ferere, a Latortue supporter in Boca Raton, was willing to wait and see. 
"We can't assume that because Preval was Aristide's ally, that he's still 
Aristide's ally," he said. "He's No. 1 now. When he was Aristide's ally he was 
No. 2. We have to give the guy the benefit of the doubt."

Father Gerard Jean-Juste, a Catholic priest recently released from a Haitian 
prison for cancer treatment, said Preval's election is a new day for Haiti.

"Democracy has been stabbed so many times in the back, but now we're back again 
to the road to democracy," he said. "We wish we could have the wisdom of King 
Solomon to govern this country properly and provide the maximum basic human 
needs to our people ... and those who are in exile can return home."

Now that Preval is the winner, Jean-Juste said, Aristide could return to the 
country as early as April, after repairs to his home.

When asked if Aristide would have an official role in the new government, 
Gaudin of Veye Yo said it wouldn't be necessary.

"Aristide is the king now ... He's gone beyond the president," he said. 
"Aristide is the people-lover, so he doesn't have to be in a government 
position to represent his people."

In Little Haiti, some Preval supporters celebrated his victory Thursday, 
honking their horns as they drove past Veye Yo headquarters.

At a West Sunrise Boulevard shopping plaza where many Haitians hang out, konpa 
music blasted from speakers set along the curb.

Some greeted each other with, "We showed them today," and one man wanted to 
cook a goat, as Haitians do on festive occasions.

In Weston, Lucy Orlando, president of the Haitian American Republican Caucus, 
said she poured champagne over her head when she heard the news. Though she 
opposed Aristide, she believes Preval will make a good president.

"I said, `Praise God.' Oh, child, I was so happy," she said after hearing he 
had won. "I'm sick and tired of people mistreating the poor people in Haiti."

Staff Writer Macollvie Jean-Francois contributed to this report.



Alva James-Johnson can be reached at ajjohnson@sun-sentinel.com or 
954-356-4523.



Haiti celebrations
West Palm Beach: A victory party at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Raymond F. Kravis 
Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd.

Miami: A rally at 4 p.m. today at Veye Yo headquarters, 28 NE 54th St., Little 
Haiti.

Copyright © 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel