Some people could say, and rightly so, that I was too harsh on Wyclef when he had declared his candidacy for the presidency in Haiti. Yes, I was, and I had my personal reason for that. Most of us, and possibly including Wyclef, knew that he was not quite ready to lead the country at this very unique and unprecedented socio-political juncture in the country’s history. In spite of that, we had the same people -who were using Aristide as a political card for their own selfish political agendas only to turn their backs on him right in the middle of the raging sea, when the game got tough -on the forefront catapulting Wyclef again as a political card. I and many others said not this time.
Wyclef is a VALUABLE ammunition which we cannot afford seeing wasted. I was fiercely opposing the idea of having him then running for the presidency. In a sense, it was good sport for him to have tested the waters to have a sense of what he needs to prepare himself for the job. I had been writing extensively on the issue, and thank God it seems as though he has been listening, which is a great thing.
Wyclef has proven to us that he is a fighter, and he does not take defeat lightly. As a fighter on the battlefield, that’s what you do -you assess your defeats to find the causes, correct them, and engage the enemy again with a winning state of mind.
After his defeat by the PREVAL Provisory Electoral Council (PPEC), I wrote to advise him to start his campaign for 2015 the day of. That’s what you do as a politician who believes in a dream to transform the face of your country and the situation of your constituents. So Wyclef started his campaign for 2015 the day he got rejected by the PPEC.
In this election cycle, Wyclef was facing two uphill battles –the legal battle and the perception battle. So he is working on making sure that in 2015, if he will have to endure battles, they are not the ones he just got defeated in.
- He lost the legal battle because he could not prove that he was legally residing in the country for five consecutive years following the last presidential election as stated in the Constitution of the land. This is an easy fix. All he has to do is to be in compliance with the law by maintaining his residency in Haiti. He needs to get his lawyer’s counsel on how to go by doing that.
- We all know that in politics, whether you want to admit it or not, perception is reality. So on the perception front, he was being hammered left and right by the people who did not think he was educated enough, who did not think he met the intellectual profile of someone worthy to be considered as president. This could be a little toughy, for it is not really easy to change people’s perceptions of you. But he is working on that. The last report I have come in contact with confirmed that he is looking forward to attending Brown University, one of the best institutions of higher learning in the United States. On Tuesday, October 5, 2010, he twitted: “I Had a great day Yesterday [at] BRown University and look forward to being a Great student and learn as much as I can to take back home.”
- When he was complaining on Facebook about nothing being done to remove the rubbles after nine months of the earthquake, in my blog on Facebook, I wrote “Wyclef: Let Me Holler at You” and slammed him (http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=907295022¬es_tab=app_2347471856#!/note.php?note_id=441370712272). My argument was that as a leader, when you see something needs to be done, and you have the means to mobilize and motivate the people and get them to make it happen, you act on it; you don’t complain about things not being done. He is doing exactly that, according to Le Nouvelliste of Tuesday, October 05, 2010 (http://www.lenouvelliste.com/article.php?PubID=1&ArticleID=84221&PubDate=2010-10-05). He has been very active with his organization Yele creating jobs and giving his people on the ground a chance to live better days in a society where desperateness and hopelessness are sapping the inner lives of the people.
The therapeutic way to cure one’s fear is to have him/her face it, not running away from it. I remember vividly just like it was yesterday that when I was a little boy growing up in Gonaives, Haiti, I was so afraid of “lamayot” that one day I came across one and literally defecated on me. My mother, who found out about the accident, felt embarrassed and decided to do something about it. One Sunday afternoon, she, who did not have any clinical psychology experience to know what she was doing, brought the “lamayot” in the house and had me face, touch and talk to him. And that was the end of my fear of “lamayots” until today. I say all this to say one thing: I want Wyclef to be back PREPARED in 2015 to face and overcome the challenge.
Wyclef is a golden bullet my generation has in its political arsenal which we cannot afford to see going into waste at this early stage in his political career. I do not know what the future has in the bank for him, but I want you to keep eyes on him. He will be back roaring stronger and louder than ever before.
Ekspoze! -The final word 
Now i see why u are sleeping late or never sleep lol. keep them coming bro! another master piece, great job Emann!
-hmmmm… I’m truly puzzled here, I thought Wyclef started at Berklee last fall and I doubt he even finish one of the semester since his enrollment. Did he take a leave of absence to transfer to Brown University? What will he be doing there? If in fact he will be enrolling to brown, he still will not be eligible sine he has not reside in haiti for 5 yrs. He is young and a great asset but we need someone powerful in all level to lead haiti for change.
“If in fact he will be enrolling to brown, he still will not be eligible sine he has not reside in haiti for 5 yrs.”
What do you mean? The Constitution does not prevent you from traveling and spending time abroad in the “5 consecutive years” language. So long as he maintains a home address in Haiti during the timeframe and travels periodically to Haiti to spend time, I think he should be good to go.
Well, I am not a constitutional lawyer, so I don’t quite know the legal ramifications of the clause. What I can tell you is that the Constitution in that clause does not take away the person’s right to move around and travel abroad. It is not a tie-down provision.
Emann,
What is Wyclef motives by wanting to be president that he has to go above and beyond to hold that title. Is this a publicity stunt, is this showing off of how uneducated most people who voted in election in Haiti are? Can’t he be an effective leader without holding power? He left a bad taste in my mouth and it is really sour? It is one thing to go to school and learn but it is another thing to retained what you learnt and use it effectively, I have a hard time beleiving that it is all in the name of helping. The last time we had an average mind leading a continent we ended up in recession, what would derived of the poorest of the poor. Yes, he is better than most pretending to care, but his ideas are not different at all. He just wants to be added to the list of crooks in history.
-i know my views are biased, but I want him to show me a different side, quite frankly I don’t see it happening any time soon.
“What is Wyclef motives by wanting to be president that he has to go above and beyond to hold that title.”
Who does not have motives for wanting to be president? Are you going to question Martelly’s motives? Are you going to question the rest of the candidates’ motives? I hope you are.
“Is this a publicity stunt, is this showing off of how uneducated most people who voted in election in Haiti are?”
I don’t seem to get your questions. What are you seeing as publicity stunt? Most of you rejected him because he was not educated enough. Now that he is trying to overcome his limitations, you are calling him a show-offer? Are you serious?
I don’t think he is back to school to become president of Haiti. Being a man is being able to recognize your weaknesses and work on them to better yourself.
LOL…Danm…You brokedown each question to the T. lol! Thanks for answering each and everyone of them.
I condemned these so-called intellectuals cheating their constituences of the RIGHT to KNOW, the right to understand and also the right to excel. For my 27 years of existance, forteen of which were spent in Haiti, I have yet to hear, see or know that work were given to the qualified, one most have a parrain, “karo te” you get my drift in other to hold certain position even if you were qualified. I am well aware of HAITI’s destruction which started with HAITIANS themselves, they are their own worse enemy. I understand Wyclef would be savior(frown) to those wanting the international involvement(he would be a great asset) to those wanting the diaspora involvement(which i favor), more of us would be aware and work together to make changes happen. YAY, to that! However, i will stand alone and firm and say: HE IS NOT READY YET.
Going back to school doesnt qualified you to the highest position of a country, you love for the country doesnt qualified you as one, perseverance does work but not when one is taking advantage of a sad circumstances.
I thank Wyclef for praising his root, love his country and always find a way to help, but he still doesnt qualified in my book.
I dismissed Michel long ago, i know of some of the candidate, yes, do i like them ,NO. I want a drastic change in Haitian political history.
Emann and i mean it. We need someone like you, with the knowledge and understanding, no bias views, no “en soudine” corruptious thoughts. I think they are few people like you around that can lead haiti future to once blossom again.
I dont see wyclef succeeding to me, he is just proving that he can do it. His motive is comical to me, dont ask why.
Someone should do the job, not Wyclef or the same “old people playing politics” lol! i have been obamified, i need a change.
“Can’t he be an effective leader without holding power?”
Who says an effective leader who believes in his ability to solve the challenging problems of his nation should not be president? Somebody has got to do the job. At least, we know Wyclef loves his country and has a passion to better his people’s lives. That’s a fact that cannot be disputed.
“It is one thing to go to school and learn but it is another thing to retained what you learnt and use it effectively”
I agree with you, but who says he will not be retaining what he will be learning in school? lol
“I have a hard time beleiving that it is all in the name of helping.”
That’s you. I don’t think Wyclef has to prove anything to anybody. He must be given the same fair change as we are willing to give to his opponents.
“The last time we had an average mind leading a continent we ended up in recession, what would derived of the poorest of the poor.”
Yes, but in Haiti, the country’s tribulations were/are inflicted not by the average minds, but by the traditional intellectuals. So what is your point?
“He just wants to be added to the list of crooks in history.”
There you go. You expect him to fail when the man is not even running. Can the man get some love at the very least? lol lol lol
“I want him to show me a different side…”
Did you require that of all the candidates in the race? I hope you did.
I LIKE WHAT YOUR DOING KEEPING IT REAL HAITI HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THE NONSENSE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
And I personally say thanks to which ever force brought Wyclef Jean out of the political arena of Haiti…It has nothing to do with Mr. Jean…They do not need a leader for Haiti but just a PICTURE. I do not think someone with such a PRESENCE could play that role…ZOMBIE…
Myrlene, could you please elaborate just a little for me please? I am trying to understand what you are implying but don’t really want to assume anything.
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