by Kerrlaw » February 8th, 2010, 8:42 pm
It has been pretty big news in the U.S.
I haven't heard anything about the lawyer not speaking English. If not, he had some good translators, as he was quoted several times. The latest is that he had been fired by the Dominican lawyer who hired him, because he was going to bribe the Haitian officials to let them go (which is apparently the common way to do business in the legal system there).
It is so different than ours. It is guilty until proven innocent. The "judges" are really no more than investigators who are barely paid a living wage.They are expected to go to the scene of the crime and talk to witnesses, but many can't afford a car. The "judges" are easily bribed in both criminal and civil cases.
Reports say that there are many Haitians, perhaps the President included, who resent the arrogance (in their mind) of Americans grabbing up their children and attempting to take them out of the country despite being warned by the consulate that it would be kidnapping if they did not have the appropriate documentation.
Imagine how Americans would feel if a group of Mexican missionaries had gone onto New Orleans after Katrina and gathered up 33 children and attempted to take them to Mexico after being warned that it could be a crime.
On the bright side, the U.S. consulate is apparently talking with the missionaries and there have been some discussions between our government and the Haitian government. Former President Bill Clinton, who is in charge of coordinating relief efforts, has encouraged the respective governments to resolve the issue.
Some Haitians and others are concerned, even angry, that this matter has drawn attention away from the desperate need of the survivors for food, water, and shelter, and hope for a quick resolution.
Last edited by
Kerrlaw on February 8th, 2010, 8:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
<<<<<<< Cindy with the new kitty.
needed reforms wont be done, destructive ones will be passed, i am afraid...
