Rene Preval: Haiti has voted for Change

ANA KOVAC: What does the victory of Rene Preval in the February 7 elections mean for Haiti and its people?

RENE PREVAL: This is not a victory for Rene Preval; this is a victory for the Haitian people. The Haitian people did not vote for Rene Preval, they voted for a change, and they have given Preval the responsibility of leading this project to achieve a change in their lives. Therefore, it is not my victory; it is a victory for the people.

AK: In your campaign, you spoke about some of these changes. Could you elaborate on them, and specifically those you expect in health and education?

RP: Haitians do not have access to healthcare or education today. Most Haitian people do not know how to read and write; they have no public healthcare and most do not have a job that allows them to live with their families. Today the Haitian people have voted for a project to change this state of affairs. And we are going to work with the people to improve their living conditions. That is, we have to do our very best, with all the means at hand. Cuba has helped us with a literacy program, through a scholarship program that today has 750 young Haitians studying medicine in Cuba. Besides, there are more than a hundred that have completed their studies and returned to Haiti. In the meantime, there are Cuban doctors and other professionals working in Haiti and we hope they will continue assisting us in these programs. We also have cooperation going on in fields like fishing, aquaculture, research, and with the Darbonn sugar mill, which is very important. So, as with the support we are receiving from Cuba, we are going to need that of any other countries willing to help us improve the living conditions of the Haitian people.

AK: Mr. President. There are countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Chile that have congratulated the victory of the Lespwa Party. Are there any cooperation plans with some of those nations and with CARICOM?

RP: There are countries from the South that have congratulated us, and from Europe and the United States who have also acknowledged the victory of Lespwa. It will depend on us, with our wisdom, to see what cooperation we can establish. We cannot deny that cooperation with the South is the closest and most fraternal. Even though some of these countries have no money, they are willing to help. So, it is with wisdom that we are going to accept whatever cooperation may be available, as long as it is based on respect for the Haitian people.

AK: One last question related to national reconciliation. There were many candidates running for the presidency, there are lots of different sectors in Haiti. You yourself spoke about the importance of unity and reconciliation. What steps will you take in that direction?

RP: There is reconciliation when you have people quarreling. I think the greatest reconciliation we should strive for is the one with the starving people who need food, it is with those who are sick and who do not have access to medical services; it is for those who have no education to make sure that they have access. This is the most important thing.

With 33 candidates participating in the February 7 elections, we came out with more than 50% of the votes. So I want everybody to understand that it is the Haitian people who spoke. Today, it is the Haitian people who have ascended to power. It is the starving people, it is the people who want doctors, who want education, and we are expecting cooperation with the Haitian people to flow from all. For a long time, the Haitian people have not received what they needed. Now we hope everyone will help them find what they so badly need: healthcare, education, employment, food.   
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