You've perhaps heard that entertainerWyclef Jean intends to run for president of Haiti, notwithstanding that he has not continuously lived five years in Haiti prior to the election, as required by Haitian law. Jean left Haiti when he was nine (he is now 37) and lives in New Jersey.
Amy Stillman has an opinion of 'President Jean' just about the same as mine (the picture is from her blog). However, given Haiti's history of poor leadership, could he be any worse than some of its previous rulers?
He's got some good training for the job. His 'charity' the Yéle Haiti Foundation, has been accused of financial improprieties and filed theree years' worth (2005-2007) of USA tax returns in August 2009. The charity has apparently made questionable payments to Jean, his crony Jerry Duplessis, or their companies. Here is an NPR story about the charity's collection and disbursement of funds for earthquake relief.
Here is an article about Jean from the Guardian.
Actually, Jean sounds well-suited for the Haitian presidency.
[Note added on 21 August 2010: Haiti's electoral council ruled Jean is ineligible to run.]
"My governance at the time, you can question that, but my honesty you can never question. I would never steal from my country." -- Wyclef Jean, from the Guardian article
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