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Haiti Senator Says He Was Offered Cash for Yes Vote on Prime Minister

Sandra Lemaire

   WASHINGTON/PORT-AU-PRINCE - Haiti's Senate canceled a vote Wednesday on
   Prime Minister nominee Fritz William Michel and his cabinet after
   someone poured gasoline on the chamber floor in an attempt to burn it.
   But the most explosive event of the night was an allegation by
   opposition Senator Saurel Jacinthe that Senate Leader Carl Murat
   Cantave and Michel himself had offered several lawmakers thousands of
   dollars to vote in favor of the nominee.

   "Mr. Cantave, the president of the Senate, came to my home and offered
   me money," Sorel told reporters, flanked by opposition colleagues.

   "The prime minister went to (Wilfrid) Gelain's home with 500,000 U.S.
   dollars in hand. He offered (Senator) Kedlaire (Augustin) $100,000
   yesterday but he refused to take it. Then this morning he (Augustin)
   accepted. He gave Jackito (Senator Jacques Sauveur Jean) - who was not
   present, so he held it (the money) for him - and gave it to him this
   morning, 100,000 U.S. dollars. He gave Gelain $100,000 U.S. Dieudonne
   (Luma Etienne) signed a paper accepting 100,000 U.S. dollars, so my
   message to him - (Senate) President Cantave and Normil Rameau (the
   national police chief) - is that if they plan to send a S.W.A.T.
   (Special Weapons and Tactics) team down here - we'll be waiting," Sorel
   said. "We're waiting for the massacre but now the national and
   international press are also watching what's getting ready to happen
   inside the Senate."

   All the senators named have denied accepting bribes in exchange for
   their votes.

   "For the sake of history and the truth, I never offered money to
   Senator #Saurel Jacinthe who is dillusional. I am a proud and arrogant
   man. If the senator has proof (photos or sound) show them. The nation
   can not take this drama. " Senator Cantave tweeted Thursday morning.

     Pour l'histoire et la vérité, à aucun moment je n'ai offert de
     l'argent au Sénateur [1]#Saurel Jacinthe qui est entrain de
     divaguer. Je suis un homme fier et arrogant.
     Si le Sénateur a une preuve (images-sons) qu'il la montre. La
     nation ne peut plus vivre ces spectacles.[2]#Haiti
     -- Carl Murat CANTAVE (@CarlMCantave) [3]September 12, 2019

   In an earlier interview with VOA Creole, Senator Dieudonne Luma
   Etienne, a member of the majority party, said she thought it was each
   lawmaker's constitutional duty to act on the nomination.

   "I think the debate should happen, even if their are opposing opinions,
   but violence has no place in the process, because violence should not
   be used as a political tool. That's all I'm saying," she said. "The
   parliament can vote for or against or abstain but the vote is a must
   for us all. So therefore I'm here to fulfill my duties as a
   legislator."
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References

   Visible links
   1. https://twitter.com/hashtag/Saurel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   2. https://twitter.com/hashtag/Haiti?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   3. https://twitter.com/CarlMCantave/status/1172161064114544641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

   Hidden links:
   4. https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Srv94AXSP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

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