Haiti is in for a surprise as Wyclef Jean could 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 has added an exciting buzz to Haiti’s election, considered one of probably the most essential within the country’s history. Many are concerned because Jean has no political experience. His qualifications are sketchy considering he mostly grew up in New Jersey and New York after he left Haiti at age 9.
Wyclef Jean trying to become president
Thursday, Wyclef Jean announced on a Miami radio station that he prepared to run for president. . Jean’s Yélé Haiti Foundation has raised $ 9.1 million for Haiti earthquake relief, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy. This devastating earthquake on January 12 was big enough to get a 7.0 magnitude rating when Jean responded almost first to the capital city, Port au Prince.
Haiti earthquake is why Jean wants to run
Wyclef Jean described his candidacy for Haitian president as a calling. He interviewed with the New York Times saying:
“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 supposed to register with the election board in Haiti before flying back to announce his candidacy on “Larry King Live,” reports the times. Anybody who hopes to be president of Haiti has to have been a resident of Haiti five years first and a citizen. Jean hasn’t lived in Haiti for years but claims to still meet both requirements. Born in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti, he holds a Haitian passport.
Havel and Reagan has competition being compared to Jean
In an interview with Time magazine, NPR reports that Jean cited Ronald Reagan and Vaclav Havel as precedents for the artist-to-head-of-state transition. Before Reagan and Havel got elected, they got a lot of experience which is as opposed to Jean. The most successful musician in politics may be former Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett, who serves as Australia’s environment minister. Blur drummer Dave Rowntree ran for a seat for the British parliament this year but was trounced along with the rest of the Labour Party.
Jean’s Haiti not doing so hot
The election planned for November 28 can be one of probably the most essential ones for Haiti as Wyclef Jean tries to win. The winner will face the challenge of leading reconstruction efforts in the wake of the massive earthquake that claimed an estimated 300,000 lives. More than six months later, 1.6 million individuals still live in makeshift camps throughout the capital and in cities to the south.
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
