Haitian Lawmaker Released from Prison

 by Wadner Pierre

 41-year-old Haitian Lawmaker, Arnel Belizaire arrested at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport Port-Au-Prince on Nov. 27, 2011 upon his return from participating  at an even in France where he presented other members of the Haitian Chamber of Deputies. Belizaire accused of escaping prison. 

Belizaire's colleagues accused President Michel J. Martelly of being behind of this arrest. They said that the Chief of State is trying to use his executive power to silence his opponents or those who have severely criticized him.


Belizaire released after he spent his night and part of his day at the National Penitentiary, the biggest prison in Haiti. Whether Beliziare was at fault or not, his arrest did not follow the leggal procedure of how to arrest a an elected member of the Haiti's Parliamentary. The Deputies and Senators said that the process was unconstitutional.  the lawmakers could consider to interpellate some of the members of the newly installed government.

Can the President use his executive power to solve his personal quarrel with another elected official or individual? Not sure that the ongoing Haitian Constitution gives the president this right. What would be the next step and Beliziare-Martelly's fight?
Whatever the next step  that Belizaire-Martelly's affair would take, one thing is clear for both elected officials is that the country cannot handle this.