Agence Haitïenne de Presse - Translation by HaitiAnalysis.com

Port-au-Prince, March 18, 2008 (AHP) Senator Rudolph Henry Boulos handed out his resignation following the presentation of the report of the Senatorial Commission in charge of investigating on the nationality of senators.

The 1st senator of the Northeast region handed out his resignation, even before the Assembly took a decision.

According to the report approved by 17 senators, both Rudolph Boulos and Ultimo Compère possess an American passport and, therefore, do not qualify for a senatorial seat.

Shortly before presenting his resignation, the former member of the Parliament declared that had never had renounced his Haitian nationality, contending that the documents provided by the Minister of Internal Affairs were fake, a total fabrication.

He had equally attempted to challenge the competence of the national investigative Commission on nationality.

It is a task that falls under the exclusive competence of the courts, he had declared.

The parliamentary member of the Northeast chose to give his resignation. Then, the Assembly discharged him, as well as his colleague Compère, out of the country for the past 2 weeks, due to foreign nationality.

At present, it is up to the judicial system to proceed to the next step, indicated the senators.

The Commission president, senator Youri Latortue made it known that the parliamentary members established their report on the basis of legal documents, asserting that proofs were provided by the service of Immigration and aerial transportation companies.

The Commission did not make up anything, he said, adding that the Parliament has general power of investigation, that it would continue to extend to the members of the current government.

The ministers and secretaries of State, as well as the Prime Minister, will be asked to respond to the questions of the senators, said Youri Latortue.

If the Constitution defines the criteria for the nomination of a Prime Minister, it is mute when it comes to ministers and secretaries of State.

Even if it is not recommended that a Haitian-born having obtained a foreign nationality could become minister, nevertheless the constitution does not forbid it and, in addition, a legislation passed in August 2002, published in the official newspaper "Le Moniteur" makes such individual eligible to the public function and to the job market, except in cases expressly forbidden by the constitution, (i.e: cases of elective positions).

When it comes to the Haitian constitutionalist Myrlande H. Manigat, she asserted last week that the ministers do not fall under legislative but executive power, and underlined that the constitution does not forbid a citizen of Haitian origin having obtained a foreign nationality to become minister or Secretary of State.

Many feel that the Senate and the Deputies Chamber should meet urgently to look into the amendment of the Constitution amendment, in particular around double nationality, before wrestling with the case of ministers and secretaries of State.