Former Singer Michel Martelly As Haiti’s New President
May 15, 2011 by Sandy Winterfield · Leave a Comment
Brennan Linsley: Associated Press
Even his inauguration experienced the country’s troubles when electricity went out moments before it started. This had led the world’s dignitaries and guests to fan themselves for the rising heat and it includes former U.S. President Bill Clinton and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe. The incident flooded the social networking Twitter with posts calling the blackout a “bad sign.” Nevertheless, the ceremony proceeded and Martelly took his oath of office in the middle of the lights of media cameras.
A lengthy Roman Catholic Mass happened before the inauguration and in the afternoon he made his first presidential speech from a temporary stage in front of the collapsed National Palace. His speech was all about his promised change with emphasis on the need to improve public safety to attract investments in the country. “With insecurity, the country cannot work. … Money cannot (stay in the system), which means there isn’t work and the misery is worse,” Martelly said.
Free education to the young Haitians has also been reaffirmed along with an invitation to the international community to come to and invest in the Caribbean nation. He also vowed to end the massive government corruption that has been in Haiti for years. The thousands of hopeful Haitians cheered for him as he delivered the promising remarks.
