Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Power failure inside the Haitian parliament shortly before the inauguration did not deter President Michel Martelly from making history. In fact, the novice head of state was a fountain of smiles waving, spraying charisma to fans, reporters and dignitaries. President Martelly’s oath of office landed on the thunderous applauses of Legislators, national and foreign diplomats, including Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, President Lionel Fernandez from the Dominican Republic and top French diplomat Alain Juppe among a plurality of attendees.
On May 14, 2011, Martelly, 50, became the 56th president of Haiti and undoubtedly the least experienced, which political pundits argued might signal a break from Haiti’s cyclical political mediocrity. “I am a band manager,” the new president said during a presidential debate with former first lady Mirlande Manigat. “I am not a politician,” he insisted. Martelly spent the last 17 years entertaining fans through music, a world away from the political arena and sometimes at the expense of political figures. Yet, as he assumed the office of the presidency, he vowed to gift-wrap and deliver a new Haiti to the electorate. Acknowledging the insurmountable challenges awaiting his administration, “the task is immense,” he conceded during his inaugural address. “A new Haiti opens for business now,” he later added.
Haitians who witnessed a 7.0 magnitude earthquake leveled their homeland on Jan. 12, 2010 in addition to preexisting chronic misery, pinned high hopes on the charisma and pragmatic populism Martelly displayed during his campaign. According to revised official figures, “Goudou,” as Haitians called the earthquake, claimed 316,000 brethren in the capital and surrounding communities leaving nearly 2 million homeless. Current estimates placed about 700,000 Haitians in makeshift tents scattered around Port-au-Prince and other areas hoping that their newly elected president finally takes up their causes.
For now however, President Martelly promised to surround himself with top intellectuals to help him pull the country from under the rubble. Thousands gathered outside the ruined palace gates affirmed their choice with slogans and cheers as Martelly reaffirmed his campaign pledges, particularly his promise to provide free education to young Haitians. However, his top priority is security and stability to attract investments and tourism that has long eluded the impoverished nation. “We must establish the rule of law,” the president claimed. “We want justice for everyone,” he added.
He called all Haitians to take part in securing their country because “with insecurity,” he explained, “the country cannot work.” To that end, the president’s warning to perpetrators was rather explicit. “If someone thinks this is an opportunity to spread fear and instability to deter the country’s progress,” he warned emphasizing every word, “I feel sorry for you because the hands of justice will come down on you,” added Martelly with accompanying hand gestures. “They will come down hard,” he emphasized.
As they cheer the president on his historic day, supporters reminded him why he privileged the highest office. “We are waiting for the change the president has promised,” Joseph Williams told the Associated Press. “He must be different from other presidents and give a place and standing to the young,” he insisted.
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