If Wyclef Jean Were Candidate for President of Haiti

According to some Haitian and international Medias, hip-hop superstar Wyclef Jean is preparing to announce his candidacy for the presidency of Haiti no later than the first week of August. Haiti Press Network (www.hpnhaiti.com) has reported on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 that the candidate to-be may have gone to the Haitian Police Judiciary Department (DCPJ) to order his background check. If Wyclef Jean were candidate I would ask the Haitian electorate the following questions:

1. Is he Haitian or American Citizen?

Some people would say the answer does not matter. Yes, it does. To be president of Haiti, one should be "a native-born Haitian and never renounced Haitian nationality" (Article 135.a of the 1987 Haitian constitution). Moreover, you cannot be Haitian and American at the same time. Your Haitian nationality is lost by naturalizing in a foreign country. The Haitian constitution does not allow dual Haitian and foreign nationality.

2. Does he have political skills?

Haiti is suffering because its leaders are unable to provide and maintain momentum. They never had a clear vision to move the country toward development and democracy. Refusing to put the right guy at the right place would be a path to eternal failure. Now, would Wyclef Jean be the right candidate in the incoming election? Does he have political skills?

3. Is he aware of the general issues?

To be president of Haiti, the candidate should "be the owner in Haiti of at least one real property and have his habitual residence in the county." "He/she should have resided in the country for five consecutive years before the date of the elections." (Article 135.a.b) This requirement is to make sure that the candidate is aware of the general issues of this country impoverished by exploitation, mismanagement, and political predators.

4. Does he have leadership skills?

A good and effective leader should be committed to excellence, have self-confidence, assertiveness and decision making abilities, and be capable of listening to others. He must be able to communicate, willing to compromise, have good judgment, and equipped with skills on international relations.

I know for sure that Wyclef Jean is a successful businessman, a brilliant musician and entertainer, a remarkable philanthropist, and a decent person. Does that qualify him to be the next president of Haiti?

5. Who can answer those questions?