Second pick for Haiti prime minister rejected

Another one of President Michel Martelly’s nominees for prime minister has been rejected by the country’s Senate, delaying the selection of a Cabinet almost three months after the new president took office.

Attorney and former justice minister Bernard Gousse (pictured), was given the thumbs down when Senators met yesterday, with 16 voting against his nomination and the other 14 refraining from voting.

Martelly had put forward Gousse after his first pick, long-time friend and American-educated entrepreneur Daniel-Gerard Rouzie, was rejected by the Chamber of Deputies which must ratify the nomination.

Gousse is a controversial man. According to the Miami Herald, a local law firm filed a petition last month for the legislature to investigate him, alleging that he was guilty of false imprisonment and being an accomplice to murder during his time as justice minister in the interim government that took office after then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was driven into exile.

“We have to have a prime minister who is able to talk to all sectors and has not been accused of human rights violations,” said Senator Joseph Lambert.

Senator Youri Latortue, who urged the Senate to give the nod to Gousse, said he couldn’t understand why he was turned down.

Haiti is in limbo as a result of the rejections, with Martelly unable to implement policies to help the struggling nation.

Source: Agencies