Haiti's New Leader Said to Pick Cabinet, Shunning Politicians

[seemslikeadream]

By KIRK SEMPLE

Published: March 17, 2004


ORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, March 16 — Haiti's interim prime minister, moving quickly to prevent the country from sinking into further disarray, reportedly settled on a list of cabinet members on Tuesday amid a regional quarrel over Jamaica's decision to receive Haiti's exiled president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Prime Minister Gérard Latortue, who was appointed last week, faces the task of forming an interim government that can begin reactivating the public and private sectors and winning the confidence of the Haitian people, who have suffered through months of political uncertainty. Mr. Aristide fled into exile on Feb. 29 under pressure from rebels and the American and French governments.

Officials involved in the cabinet selection said Mr. Latortue had decided on at least 12 ministerial posts on Tuesday plus several other cabinet members. The prime minister is expected to make the formal appointments on Wednesday.

The ministers chosen so far, according to officials close to the selection process, are mostly technocrats who have not been deeply involved in politics; the exclusion of politicians has reportedly angered some of the country's political parties on Tuesday, including Mr. Aristide's Lavalas Party. Mr. Latortue has said he intends to build a government of national reconciliation. The cabinet will run the country until elections are held.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/17/international/americas/17HAIT.html?ex=1080104400&en=cfd18001cc72de38&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE