MONTREAL, Canada, CMC – Haiti’s presidential candidate Mirlande Manigat said she is counting on Haitians residing here to make her become Haiti’s first woman elected president.
She said that while Haitians in Montreal can’t vote, “they can inspire family, friends and neighbours in Haiti to vote, and of course tell them to vote for me”.
Manigat, 70, is facing a run-off against popular musician Michel Michel “Sweet Micky” Martelly on March 20 to lead the impoverished Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
Manigat, who arrived here on Friday, spoke of amending Haiti’s constitution to allow people to have dual citizenship.
But the educated law professor and vice-rector at a private university in Port-au-Prince, said education would also be a major plank of her platform.
“In Haiti, we used to say everything is a priority – health, housing, security. But when you think in terms of sustainable development, you can’t go far if the population is not educated. We’re not just talking about basic education, Haiti also needs electricians and carpenters and engineers to rebuild the country. Haiti needs professional schools.”
