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50-483: In 2014, there was a proposal by the Chamber of Deputies to increase the number of departments from 10 to 14 —perhaps as high as 16. Each departement has a departmental council ( conseil départemental ) compound of three members elected by the departmental assembly for a 4-year term . The departmental council is led by a president ( président ). The council is the executive organ of the department. Each department has

100-475: A departmental assembly who assists the council in its work. The departmental assembly is the deliberative organ of the department. The members of the departmental assembly are also elected for 4 years. The departmental assembly is led by a president. Three Departments have roots in the former French colony of Saint-Domingue , namely: the Nord , Sud , and Ouest . In 1801, under Governor-General Toussaint Louverture ,

150-476: A U.S. plane. 'He drafted and signed his letter of resignation all by himself and then voluntarily departed with his wife and his own security team,' Mr. Powell said. The US denied the accusations. "He was not kidnapped," Secretary of State Colin Powell said. "We did not force him onto the airplane. He went on the airplane willingly and that's the truth." The kidnapping claim is "absolutely false," concurred Parfait Mbaye,

200-636: A claim denied by U.S. officials. In 2022, a dozen Haitian and French officials told The New York Times that Aristide's earlier calls for reparations had caused France to side with Aristide's opponents and collaborate with the United States to remove him from power. This claim was, however, denied by the United States Ambassador to Haiti at the time, James Brendan Foley . Following Aristide's departure, an interim government led by Prime Minister Gérard Latortue and President Boniface Alexandre

250-569: A commission in Haiti to improve bilateral relations, though strictly instructed him to not discuss potential reparations. In December 2003, Debray said that he had visited the presidential palace to warn Aristide not to have a fate like President of Chile Salvador Allende , who died during the 1973 Chilean coup , with the philosopher telling the president that the United States was planning his overthrow. On 5 February 2004, this rebel group seized control of Haiti's fourth-largest city, Gonaïves , marking

300-478: A copy of his resignation letter to Foley's aide. The Associated Press reported that the Central African Republic tried to get Aristide to stop repeating his charges to the press. Aristide has also denied that a letter he left behind constitutes an official resignation. "There is a document that was signed to avoid a bloodbath, but there was no formal resignation," he said. "This political kidnapping

350-429: A member of the post-1991 military junta. CARICOM (The Caribbean Community) governments denounced the removal of Aristide from government. They also questioned the legality of the new government. The Prime Minister of Jamaica , P. J. Patterson, said that the episode set "a dangerous precedent for democratically elected governments anywhere and everywhere, as it promotes the removal of duly elected persons from office by

400-521: A new electoral decree stated that the new Chamber of Deputies have 118 members, and the Senate will retain the 30 members. On 13 March, President Michel Martelly issued a decree that split the Cerca La Source into two constituencies, and therefore increasing the number of deputies up to 119. The first bicameral legislature, created under Alexandre Pétion 's 1816 revision to the 1806 constitution, formed

450-479: A police tactic." It also stated the following: U.S. officials blame the crisis on armed gangs in the poor neighborhoods, not the official abuses and atrocities, nor the unconstitutional ouster of the elected president. Their support for the interim government is not surprising, as top officials, including the Minister of Justice, worked for U.S. government projects that undermined their elected predecessors. Coupled with

500-416: A smuggled cellular phone), that he had been forced to resign and abducted from the country by the United States. He said he had been held hostage by an armed military guard. Aristide later repeated the same thing, in an interview with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! on 16 March. Goodman asked Aristide if he resigned, and President Aristide replied: "No, I didn't resign. What some people call 'resignation'

550-404: A statement saying "we are bound to question whether his resignation was truly voluntary, as it comes after the capture of sections of Haiti by armed insurgents and the failure of the international community to provide the requisite support. The removal of President Aristide in these circumstances sets a dangerous precedent for democratically elected governments anywhere and everywhere, as it promotes

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600-530: A team to assess the situation within days. On 1 June 2004, the peacekeeping mission was passed to MINUSTAH and comprised a 7000-person force led by Brazil and backed up by Argentina , Chile, Jordan , Morocco, Nepal , Peru, Philippines , Spain, Sri Lanka and Uruguay . In November 2004, the University of Miami School of Law carried out a Human Rights Investigation in Haiti and documented serious human rights abuses. It stated that " Summary executions are

650-448: A territorial redistribution. These departments were: Centre , Grand'Anse , Nord-Ouest and Sud-Est . In 2003, a tenth department was created out of Grand'Anse, called Nippes . In the 1990s, before the creation of Nippes, the dixième département was a phrase commonly used in regards to the Haitian diaspora . Since then, the phrase onzième département was soon adopted to describe

700-553: Is a 'new coup d'état,' or 'modern kidnapping.'" Many supporters of the Fanmi Lavalas party and Aristide, as well as some foreign supporters, denounced the rebellion as a foreign controlled coup d'état orchestrated by Canada, France and the United States (Goodman, et al., 2004) to remove a democratically elected president. Some have come forward to support his claim saying they witnessed him being escorted out by American soldiers at gunpoint. Sources close to Aristide also claim

750-582: Is a post-election problem of the vote count that is threatening to undo the democratic work of the citizens of Haiti. Without doubt there were irregularities that occurred in the election which have been conceded by the CEP. In contrast, Aristide's supporters claim that an opposition boycott of the election was used as a ploy in order to discredit it. In response to this election, European nations suspended government-to-government assistance to Haiti. The U.S. Congress banned any U.S. assistance from being channeled through

800-491: The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for international peacekeeping forces to be sent into its member state Haiti , but voted unanimously to send in troops three days later, just hours after Aristide's forced resignation. "I believe that (the call for reparations) could have something to do with it, because they (France) were definitely not happy about it, and made some very hostile comments," Myrtha Desulme, chairperson of

850-733: The Central African Republic ultimately accepting the ousted president who arrived in Bangui via Antigua . Many international politicians, including members of the U.S. congress and the Jamaican Prime Minister, expressed concern that the United States had interfered with Haiti's democratic process, accusing them of removing Aristide with excessive force. According to Rep. Maxine Waters D-California, Mildred Aristide called her at her home at 6:30 am to inform her "the coup d'etat has been completed", and Jean-Bertrand Aristide said

900-474: The "provinces," became known as departments . The departement of l'Artibonite was known as departement of Louverture . Under the administration of Dessalines the country was administrated by military divisions . In 1821, Artibonite was created and in 1844, Nord-Ouest , both derived out of the Nord and Ouest departments. In 1962 during the reign of "Papa Doc" Duvalier , four new departments were created out of

950-650: The Aristide government has been well documented. Freedom of Information Act documents have shown how paramilitary forces received support from sectors of Haiti's elite as well as from sectors of the Dominican military and government at the time. According to researcher Jeb Sprague, these groups also had contact with U.S. and French intelligence. The Ottawa Initiative on Haiti was a conference hosted by Canada that took place at Meech Lake , Quebec (a federal government resort near Ottawa) on 31 January and 1 February 2003, to decide

1000-772: The Bush administration blocked attempts to reinforce his bodyguards. The Steele Foundation , the San Francisco-based organization which supplied Aristide's bodyguards, declined to comment. According to a Washington Times article of April 2004 Mr. Aristide, who accuses the United States and France of conspiring to force him out of power, filed a lawsuit in Paris last week accusing unnamed French officials of 'death threats, kidnapping and sequestration' in connection with his flight to Africa. The Bush administration insists that Mr. Aristide had personally asked for help and voluntarily boarded

1050-785: The Chamber remains unknown as the Provisional Electoral Committee (CEP) has not posted the results. The next Chamber elections were scheduled for 2010. There were new parliamentary elections in 2015–16 . Le Président de la Chambre / Prezidan Chanm Depite [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook . CIA . 2004 Haiti rebellion Anti-government victory; [REDACTED]   United Nations [REDACTED] Buteur Métayer A coup d'état in Haiti on 29 February 2004, following several weeks of conflict, resulted in

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1100-501: The Haiti-Jamaica Exchange Committee, told IPS . "(But) I believe that he did have grounds for that demand, because that is what started the downfall of Haiti," she says." Following the 2004 Haitian coup d'état, the appointed provisional prime minister Gerard Latortue rescinded the reparations demand. The role of rightwing paramilitary groups in violently targeting activists and government officials aligned with

1150-458: The Haitian government, codifying an existing situation. In 2003, Aristide requested that France pay Haiti over US$ 21 billion in reparations , which he said was the equivalent in today's money Haiti was forced to pay Paris after winning independence from France 200 years ago. The United Nations Security Council , of which France is a permanent member, rejected a 26 February 2004, appeal from

1200-524: The Senate as the upper house and the Chamber of Representatives of the Communes as the lower house. The Chamber, which was first elected on 10 February 1817 and held its first session on 22 April 1817, elected Pierre André as its first president of the chamber. Pétion gave his final public speech in front of the newly-seated chamber, but then suspended the legislature the following year. Candidates from Jean-Bertrand Aristide 's Fanmi Lavalas party took 73 of

1250-417: The U.S. Embassy in Haiti's chief of staff came to his house to say he would be killed "and a lot of Haitians would be killed" if he refused to resign immediately and said he "has to go now." Rep. Charles Rangel , D-New York expressed similar words, saying Aristide had told him he was "disappointed that the international community had let him down" and "that he resigned under pressure" – "As a matter of fact, he

1300-421: The U.S. could protect Aristide and help facilitate his departure if he resigned. The call prompted a series of events that included a middle-of-the-night phone call to President Bush and a scramble to find a plane to carry Aristide into exile. Foley said that he traveled voluntarily via motorcade to the airport with his own retinue of security guards, including some contracted Americans. Before takeoff, Aristide gave

1350-562: The U.S. government's development assistance embargo from 2000–2004, the projects suggest a disturbing pattern. On 15 October 2005, Brazil called for more troops to be sent due to the worsening situation in the country. A number of figures from Haiti's past re-appeared in government after the rebellion, including Hérard Abraham at the Ministry of the Interior, Williams Régala (a former aide to Henri Namphy ) and Colonel Henri-Robert Marc-Charles,

1400-473: The University dean had his legs broken. This event led to more protests by students, eventually joined by other groups. A student protest against Aristide on 7 January 2004 led to a clash with police and Aristide supporters that left two dead. In September 2003, Amiot Métayer was found dead, his eyes shot out and his heart cut out, most likely the result of machete-inflicted wounds. He was, prior to his death,

1450-507: The article, he claims that the officials at the conference wanted to see regime change in Haiti in less than a year. "Michel Vastel wrote that the possibility of Aristide 's departure, the need for a potential trusteeship over Haiti, and the return of Haiti's dreaded military were discussed by Paradis and the French Minister for La Francophonie, Pierre-André Wiltzer ." Paradis later denied this, but neither Vastel nor L'actualite retracted

1500-426: The beginning of a minor revolt against Aristide. During their sack of the city, they burned the police station and looted it for weapons and vehicles, which they used to continue their campaign down the coast. By 22 February, the rebels had captured Haiti's second-largest city, Cap-Haïtien . As the end of February approached, rebels threatened to take the capital, Port-au-Prince , fueling increasing political unrest and

1550-462: The building of barricades throughout the capital. Haitians fled their country on boats, seeking to get to the United States. On the morning of 29 February, Deputy Chief of Mission Luis G. Moreno arrive at the presidential palace with Diplomatic Security Service officers and asked President Aristide for a resignation letter. The resignation letter was written in Haitian Creole and its wording

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1600-549: The circumstances surrounding Aristide's removal. The CARICOM initially refused to recognize the interim government, but in 2006 the newly elected René Préval resumed his country's membership in the organization. In 2022, the French ambassador to Haiti at the time, Thierry Burkard , told The New York Times , that France and the United States had "effectively orchestrated "a coup" against Aristide by pressuring him to step down and taking him into exile". He stated French involvement

1650-478: The communications minister for the Central African Republic, where Aristide's party was taken. The minister told CNN that Aristide had been granted permission to land in the country after Aristide himself – as well as the U.S. and French governments – requested it. According to the US, as the rebels approached the capital, James B. Foley, U.S. ambassador to Haiti, got a phone call from a high-level aide to Aristide, asking if

1700-730: The diaspora. Data based on 2015 estimates from the Haitian government. Chamber of Deputies (Haiti) The Chamber of Deputies ( French : Chambre des députés ; Haitian Creole : Chanm Depite ) is the lower house of Haiti 's bicameral legislature , the Haitian Parliament . The upper house of the Haitian Parliament is the Senate of Haiti . The Chamber has 119 members (previously 99) who are elected by popular vote to four-year terms. There are no term limits for Deputies; they may be re-elected indefinitely. In March 2015

1750-557: The future of Haiti's government, though no Haitian government officials were invited. Journalist Michel Vastel leaked information about the conference that he says was told to him by his friend and conference host Denis Paradis , Canada's Secretary of State for Latin America, Africa, and the French-speaking world, in his 15 March 2003, article in Quebec news magazine L'actualité . In

1800-650: The leader of the Gonaives gang known as " The Cannibal Army ." After his death, his brother Buteur Métayer swore vengeance against those he felt responsible for Amiot's death—namely, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Buteur took charge of the Cannibal Army and promptly renamed it the National Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Haiti . In October 2003, France tasked philosopher Régis Debray with leading

1850-463: The morning of 29 February, Aristide resigned under controversial circumstances and was flown from Haiti by U.S. military and security personnel. He went into exile, being flown directly to the Central African Republic , before eventually settling in South Africa . Aristide afterwards claimed that he had been kidnapped by U.S. forces, accusing them of having orchestrated a coup d'état against him,

1900-485: The plan was unacceptable so long as president Aristide remained in office. Nor did they suggest to us anything of a nature pertaining to the conduct of President Aristide in office that would cause us to come to the judgment ourselves that he was unsuited to be the President of Haïti," Mr. Patterson said. The U.S. and France have been accused of using pressure on CARICOM to not make a formal UN request for an investigation into

1950-565: The power of rebel forces." As reported by the BBC, on 3 March 2004, CARICOM called for an independent inquiry into the departure of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and says it would not be sending peacekeepers. Patterson said there had been no indication during discussions with the U.S. and France that the plan which CARICOM had put forward prior to Aristide's departure was not acceptable. "In respect of our partners we can only say this, at no time in our discussions did they convey to us that

2000-413: The removal of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from office. On 5 February, a rebel group, called the National Revolutionary Front for the Liberation and Reconstruction of Haiti , took control of Haiti's fourth-largest city,  Gonaïves . By 22 February, the rebels had captured Haiti's second-largest city,  Cap-Haïtien and were besieging the capital,  Port-au-Prince by the end of February. On

2050-473: The removal of duly elected persons from office by the power of rebel forces." Supreme Court Chief Justice Boniface Alexandre succeeded Aristide as interim president and petitioned the UN Security Council for the intervention of an international peacekeeping force. The Security Council passed a resolution the same day, "[t]aking note of the resignation of Jean-Bertrand Aristide as President of Haiti and

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2100-463: The story. Multiple protests by Haitian students were organized in 2002, 2003 and 2004 against the Aristide government. On 5 December 2003, some of Aristide's supporters, backed by the police according to witnesses, entered the social studies department of the Université d'État d'Haïti to attack students who were rallying for an anti-government protest later that day. Dozens of students were injured and

2150-584: The swearing-in of President Boniface Alexandre as the acting President of Haiti in accordance with the Constitution of Haiti" and authorized such a mission. As a vanguard of the official UN force and Operation Secure Tomorrow , a force of about 1,000 United States Marines arrived in Haïti within the day, and Canadian, French and Chilean troops arrived the next morning; the United Nations indicated it would send

2200-644: The then 83 seats in the 2000 elections . Following the overthrow of the government in February 2004, an interim government was established. The terms of the Deputies expired during the rule of the interim government and the Chamber remained empty. It was re-established along with the Senate, and elections were scheduled for November 2005. After many delays and missed deadlines, elections were finally held on 21 April 2006. The Deputies commenced meeting in June 2006. The exact makeup of

2250-420: Was installed. The opposition in Haiti accused the government party of election fraud in the Haitian general election, 2000 , as did Europe and the United States. The National Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR) stated that there were delays in the distribution of voter identification cards. U.S. Congressman John Conyers wrote: Unfortunately, there were irregularities that occurred in the election and there

2300-467: Was likely partly motivated by Aristide's call for reparations from France. Another French ambassador, Philippe Selz , told the paper that the decision "to extradite" President Aristide had been made in advance. In response to The New York Times reporting, James Brendan Foley , United States Ambassador to Haiti at the time of the coup, criticized the report's allegation that the U.S. had collaborated with France to overthrow Aristide, stating that "no evidence

2350-530: Was presented in support of such a historically consequential claim". He called the claims by the French officials untrue, stating that it was never U.S. policy to remove Aristide. He said that Aristide had requested a U.S. rescue and that the decision to "dispatch a plane to carry him to safety" had been agreed upon following night-time discussions at the behest of Aristide. On 1 March 2004, US congresswoman Maxine Waters , along with Aristide family friend Randall Robinson , reported that Aristide had told them (using

2400-542: Was the price to pay to avoid a bloodbath." According to the US embassy translation it reads "Tonight I am resigning in order to avoid a bloodbath. I accept to leave, with the hope that there will be life and not death." A slightly different translation was given by Albert Valdman, a linguistics professor and specialist in Haitian Creole at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. "If tonight it is my resignation that will avoid

2450-413: Was unclear. That same day, Canadian special forces secured Haiti's main airport after which Aristide was flown out of the country on a U.S. plane accompanied by US security personnel as the rebels took over the capital and was flown without knowledge of his route and destination. At the time of the flight, France contacted three African nations in attempts to accept Aristide, though they refused, with

2500-506: Was very apprehensive for his life. They made it clear that he had to go now or he would be killed." When asked for his response to these statements Colin Powell said that "it might have been better for members of Congress who have heard these stories to ask us about the stories before going public with them so we don't make a difficult situation that much more difficult" and he alleged that Aristide "did not democratically govern or govern well". Jamaican Prime Minister P. J. Patterson released

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