Haiti is in for a surprise as Wyclef Jean can be running for president. The earthquake that hit Haiti last January was devastating and Wyclef Jean, as the Grammy winner as frontman of the Fugees, thinks he needs to help the individuals of this native land. Jean’s running within the election is going to be interesting considering it is one of probably the most important elections Haiti will ever have. The majority are concerned because Jean has no political experience. Whether he will qualify to run is also in question, because he left Haiti at age 9 and grew up in New York and New Jersey.
Haiti president possibility for Wyclef Jean
Thursday, Wyclef Jean announced on a Miami radio station that he planned to run for president. Because Jean is running, he will stop being the founder and chairman of the Yélé foundation, reports the Miami Herald. Jean’s Yélé Haiti Foundation has raised $ 9.1 million for Haiti earthquake relief, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The earthquake was a 7.0 magnitude which happened January 12 and devastated the capitol, Port au Prince, and Jean was one of the first individuals to respond to it.
Haiti earthquake is reason why Jean wants to run
. In an interview with the New York Times he said:
“I’m not running for president so much as I’m being drafted. The youth, in their mind, if I don’t come and put a perspective to things, they feel there’s no future for the country, and I have to agree with them.”
Jean was going to, according to the Times, announce his candidacy on “Larry King Live” after registering with the elections board in Haiti on Thursday. Candidates for the Haitian presidency must be citizens with five or more years of residency in Haiti. Even though he left the country as a child, Jean said he met both requirements. He has a Haitian passport after being born in Croix des Bouquets.
Havel and Reagan compared to Jean
Vaclav Havel and Ronald Reagan are individuals that Jean talks about when referring to his transition, reports Time magazine who talked to NPR. Jean has no experience in politics which is very different from Reagan and Havel. Australia’s environment minister, previous Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett, was an extremely successful musician in politics. The Labour party completely lost in elections including Blur drummer Dave Rowntree who ran for British parliament.
Condition of Haiti isn’t great
The election prepared for November 28 can be one of one of the most significant ones for Haiti as Wyclef Jean tries to win. The winner will face the challenge of leading reconstruction efforts within the wake of the massive earthquake that claimed an estimated 300,000 lives. 1.6 million people nevertheless live in camps they made throughout the country.
Further reading
Miami Herald
miamiherald.com/2010/08/05/1762628/its-official-wyclef-jean-to-run.html
New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/08/05/world/americas/05haiti.html?_r=1
NPR
npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128996915
