Question: What does "Residence" in Haiti Mean Exactly?

5 Years ago, Dumarsais Simeus was rejected as a presidential candidate because he became a U.S. Citizen. This year, the topic is not citizenship, it's "Proof of Residence" but... what exactly is "Residence in Haiti?"

Since there are two musicians in the presidential race who earn their bread outside of Haiti, we need to talk about this...

Most Haitian musicians travel outside of Haiti to perform in the Diaspora, does that mean they are not a resident of Haiti?

I guess we're about to find out...

The Haitian constitution says in article 135:

To be elected President of the Republic of Haiti, a candidate must:

a. Be a native-born Haitian and never have renounced Haitian nationality;

b. Have attained thirty-five (35) years of age by the election day;

c. Enjoy civil and political rights and never have been sentenced to death, personal restraint or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights for a crime of ordinary law;

d. Be the owner in Haiti of at least one real property and have his habitual residence in the country;

e. Have resided in the country for five (5) consecutive years before the date of the elections;

f. Have been relieved of this responsibilities if he has been handling public funds.

So...

Article 135e... for those of us who are not citizens of another country but have "dual residency" NOT dual Citizenship...

What exactly does "resided in the country for five (5) consecutive years" mean?

Does that mean you are not allowed to travel?

Does that mean you have to spend at least 6 months out of the year in Haiti?

The constitution does not specify, I guess that leaves it open for arguements, doesn't it?

Help me out... I have a feeling it this is about to become a very big deal in the next few days...

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All Comments (17)

Madeleine says...

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Jhonson says...

you are

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Karel Poborsky says...

sa mwem panse de elektyon peyi dayiti sa li le pou pep ayisyen louvri je yo pou yo rele deye ban vagabon sa yo ki pa vle peyi a mache paske yo la byen lontan se pa anyen yo te regle li le pou yo bay peyi sa yon chans le fini ayityen pa konnen sa yo vle jodia yo ande yon bagay apre demen yo bayo lajan wa sezi we se yo men-m kap rele deye ou paske ayisyen konnen lajan trop.kwe-m si ou vle gen yon paket vagabon sa yo madan- m yo nan peyi

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Johnny says...

Mezanmi si ou kache yon bagay pa gen moun ki oue li ou pa ka kritike, konstitution di 5 an konsekitiv, ou di ou montre non video yon gren card rezidans tout moun we li epi tout moun kon nen kisa yo rele kat rezidans se pou we ou echoue tet ou tout moun kon nen yon kat rezidans se pou rete kote yo ba ou li a sa pa gen manti ladann, se fot moun kite kanpe devan yon kamera bay fe foto l ak kat rzidans la, se pou oue ki li se yon

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Miggy says...

It would be great if Haiti allows every Haitian adult Living around the world to vote no matter in what country they are, and their citizenship status, because we should be starting from scratch you know. So many Haitians left Haiti not because they wanted to leave.

It was simply because of no job opportunities and security.

There are so many of them who really want to go back and I hear that all the

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Vladimir says...

bon, mwen menm yon sel bagay mwen konnen se le yo bezwen vole ak le yo bezwen dirije nan peyi sa a se le sa yo mete tout lwa an aplikasyon, se le sa ou tande wi dapre atik sesi atik sela tel bagay te fe tel jan.k-lite jan de moun sa yo mwen menm m bouke avek yo yon sel bagay map di pep la veyo yo.jan de moun sa yo tro pov si nou ba yo pouvwa se vole yo pral vole yo pap fe anyen pou peyi a. e nou pep ayisyen nou semante nou pap vote kalite moun pov sa yo anko nou di bay moun ki gen mwayen ekonomik ki kab panse bel pou peyi a ki kab defann nou devan lot nasyon yo yon chans pou dirije peyi a

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Jean says...

According to the haitian constitution, you have to live in Haiti 5 years consecutively if you want to become president.The haitian constitution does not allow duo citizenship, it is bad.I think a duo citizenship is a necessity for Haiti because of too many haitians living outside of Haiti.

I also think that all the haitians living outside of Haiti should put more pressure over the haitian government and the haitian congress to amend the constitution in that matter.

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Thomas Valcin says...

Haiti constitution suckS, we all know

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Miggy says...

Haiti has so many of its children living outside of it, because of its condition.

It's not like they really wanted to leave the country.

In my opinion, if we really want to start from scratch and want to know what all Haitians around the world feel about Haiti.

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Sergo Jean says...

Residence it's the act of residing, the place where a person resides or a dwelling house.

I desagree paske moun ki tap ekri atik sa 135 pat pense pou Ayisyen e pou peyi sof pou prop ambisyon pa li se sa ki fe li elimine yon group moun ki ap viv yon lot kote poul ka toujou chef epi ki chef.men lwa sa yo exclu men ayisyen kap viv nan prop peyi Ayiti, ki di makout pa ladan, duvalierist.

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