Haitian-born philanthropist, Wyclef Jean is the first Haitian presidential candidate to make an announcement to run from abroad. Jean told the press last week that he would resign from Yele Haiti, his charity organization to focus on his campaign, amidst reports that he owes millions in back taxes to the U.S. government and accusations that he mismanaged the charity for personal gain.
‘Not a Joke’
“It’s not something that was taken lightly, it’s not a joke, it’s something very, very serious,” younger brother –Samuel Jean– told the Associated Press in a phone interview. According to many Haitians, this demonstrates the hip-hop artist’s grasp of public relations and media matters. It’s not the U.S. press, however, that Jean should be seeking to impress. The Haitian press will inevitably be keen on a closer examination of Jean’s credentials as his campaign moves forward.
‘Not like the others’
Inarguably, his loyal and empathic commitment to the neglected majority, coupled with Haitians’ inherent distrust of their corrupted political system, could put a populist wind at his back going into November. Some even see Jean as an overwhelming favorite — a Moses the people of Haiti have desperately been awaiting to lead them to the promise land. Among the enthused are Dominique Lapierre, a sales person in Port-au-Prince and 28-year-old Michelle Volma.
“He is not like the others, he has an authentic heart,” Lapierre said to the Assocated Press. “Wyclef has done so much for this country,” she continued, “especially for the youth. Lapierre then declared, “I believe that he can really change this country.” Similarly, Volma feels “Haiti needs something new. I’ll vote for him.”. Indeed, many Haitians, particularly the young and idealistic, cling to Jean’s genuine motivation and hang their hats on the fact that his vast wealth makes him less likely to seek political office for personal gain, the perpetual motivation of local politicians.
On the other hand, growing murmurs escaping the debris of Haiti pose an important question: could the hip-hop icon take ravaged Haiti on the road to recovery and finally put it on the map?
‘Not a politician’
“I don’t really think he knows the country, he’s like an American,” argued 27-year-old Anise Ulysse in a Christian Science Monitor report. Ulysse said she would not vote for anyone in the up coming elections because “It’s difficult for Haitians to have any faith in the election, we are so used to politicians taking advantage of us,” she argued, “The people living on the streets have other things to think about” she later added. Marie Lacrete, 26, also echoed these very sentiments highlighting Jean’s lack of a college education. “I don’t have a problem with Wyclef, but he’s not the right person to be president,” Lacrete Said. “He’s a musician, not a politician,” she added. She also pointed out the singer’s wealth, popularity, and the people lack of understanding on the issues would help him galvanize votes.
The 3-time Grammy Award winner will have to do much to appease his critics and the fact that he has chosen a primetime international stage to roll out his campaign made the stakes even higher. “He can’t even manage an enterprise properly,” decried Lacrete, referring to TV station Telemax, which –she said– has been on the decline since its acquisition by the singer. “How is he going to manage Haiti?”
