Hyppolite,
There are things that you said with which I am in agreement, and there are others with which I disagree. Let us briefly look at that, because that is interesting.
Siméus has a well-oiled, well-administered, disciplined, focused machine. That's all he needs for now. They will help him craft a message in credible sound bites that may propel him to the top four contenders, very easily. On that basis, we should not discount him at all. He is a much bigger contender than we're giving him credit for. Savvy political consultants my friend, can do wonder.
You know, that is one my major problems with Siméus candidacy. I agree that he has a well-oiled machine, money etc. etc. However, I do not know if you have been listening to his message or reading his interviews. He claims that he wants to create jobs, jobs, jobs; that he wants to do things differently, change institutions, mode
rnize them etc. Fine. I agree with you when you say that someone will help him craft the message. But this is precisely what has been missing. Despite all he says, those who should be doing just that, have not. Siméus' message is devoid of substance, except to say that he has the background, the contacts, the managerial experience. But how is he going to do that? Zip. No one in his team has come up yet with even an outline. To me, this is a major flaw in his approach and that is why I venture to say that he will reach his plateau and gets stuck there. Of course, I may be mistaken and if I am totally off, I promise I will take you to lunch......
I wouldn't mind seeing him as a candidate in 5 years and meanwhile, he could work hard to help convince the next legislature to amend the constitution. He is in the best position to also help them come up with new, Emergency Laws on that issue so we can have the Diaspora more involved in the political system.
That
is something I am in total agreement with you and in fact, I was discussing the same scenario with a friend the other day. Except for the real narrow-minded, I do not think anyone would have any serious problem with a Siméus candidacy respecting the spirit and the letter of the Constitution. Right now, this not the case. Like, I very much would have like to see a Siméus in alliance with the frontrunner, spending the next five years lobbyin for adoption of the Dual nationality amendment deposited by the last Lavalas Parliament, of other laws required to accomodate such an admendement (because people seem to forget that this entails a whole lot of accessories laws, including bilateral agreements with the Gvts with which Haiti would set acceptance of dual nationality, payment of taxes in one or the other country etc etc.). Then having made himself well-known by his deeds, his politics and most importantly, having acquired some experience in the workings of Haitian politics, he would be better prepared to subm
it his candidacy, in accordance with the Constitution. But you see, too many Haitians think that the only to help Haiti is by becoming President. This is a terrible virus which does not seem to have a cure; only your natural immunity can stop it.
So in that respect, I am with you and I deplore that Siméus has not had the foresight to act this way. While it was good that he forced the issue on the mat, he did not know when to stop and let the process pick up steam in a less hostile environment. I hope there is no backlash and that the issue will be resolved in a rational manner, not, as you say in a kind of "voye monte" atmosphere.
Serge
