Politics in Haiti > Haiti Political Crisis

Did Haiti President Martelly Tell The Haitian Media to SHUT UP?

President Michel Martelly is in trouble with the media again - During the inauguration of a new magazine promoting Haiti, the president seems to have said something that the Haitian media did not take lightly... SHUT UP!

President Martelly has criticized the Haitian media before saying that they sometimes project a negative image of Haiti, especially the media in the Haitian Diaspora.

This time, a sound bite suggest that Michel Martelly may have sent a direct message to the Haitian media.

"If you have nothing good to say, shut your mouth," the president said.

So far those amongst the media who have responded are not happy about this comment made by the Haitian president.

One of the responders told president Martelly, via Radio Kiskeya: "If you you want us to say good things about you, just do a good job!"

I've always said "Bad news IS 'The News', Good news is a documentary!"

Think about it... I am not even telling you about the magazine promoting Haiti right now... of course not... I am telling you about the blooper the Haitian president made!

What can I say... GUILTY! LOL...

This is, after all, a political website, the social stuff is on www.HaitianInternet.com

The harsh truth is that Martelly is right. Some so called Haitian media do, in fact, make it seems like Haiti is HELL ON EARTH. Every time there is a homicide in a Haitian slum, the news always seem so start with "in Haiti today..." instead of "an incident that took place in a specific part of the country."

Every country, including the United States, has slums, and crimes do happen in those slums. In most cases these crimes and unfortunate events are considered "LOCAL news," and not a national crisis. Every death in Haiti, every injury, every incident, every accident is a NATIONAL crisis.

Question:

Is it wrong for the president of Haiti to ask the Haitian media to suppress some information that may portray a NEGATIVE image of Haiti as a whole if his intention is to promote Haiti as a tourist destination?

Do you agree with the president that the Media should SHUT UP when they have nothing good to say?

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All Comments (19)

Caribbean Observer says...

You mean

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Lexilien Marc says...

Haiti should be a tourist destination, but Haitian government is refussing the country to do so. If Haiti become a tourist destination, Haitians will have something to live with, if Haiti stays the way it is right now nothing for the masses.

I believe that Haiti will stay Haiti, and the masses will stay the

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Sergo Jean says...

I do believe the Haitian media has the right to say good and true things about the country and also the President has the right to do good things for Haiti.

Problem Haiti se yon kestion zafe pam e non intere ayisyen yo.Map bay tout mounn an Haiti ou a letranje yon bagay pou fe chac jou cherche 10 bagay ki bon ke chac presidan ki te pase sou pouvoi an Haiti te fe epi ecri yo yon cote nan jounal pou pale apre yon Mois nan media ou bien jounal public kap publiye mesaj.mwen ba wou garanti wap komanse we chanjman pozitif cap fet nan mantalite chac grenn ayisyen le yap pale bagay pozitif.Nou bezwen chanje bagay negatif yo an pozitivite yon bagay ke nou pa leve avec li sof negativite.pep ayisyen bezwen felicite mounn pou sa yo fe ki bien e di merci e non critike konsa mwen cre peyi ap vance ve

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Annette Saintil says...

I think the President is right.

The media needs to start promoting Haiti and not make every specific incident a national crisis.

If we start to think good about Haiti...

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Mimi says...

It is about time that someone stands up for Haiti.

President Martelly is keeping it real. He tells the truth and I agree that if you don't have anything good to say than keep your mouth shut because if you keep staying negative stuff all the time that is a sign of ignorance.

Stupid people are always running their mouth, always, constantly talking while smart people listen more and say less. But when they do say something it has meaning and what they say is more on a positive tone. Go On President Martelly with your bad

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Amonnon Louis says...

A country like Haiti needs good head to head between the nation to avoid total collapse after january 12/2011.

The media needs to promote Haiti and at the same time, they must say the truth.

If the government is on bad direction the media has to let him know, that what democraty is. Everything the government does it's for the good or bad adventure of Haiti, the media as well. in this case both power need to be carefull about their intervention.

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Amonnon Louis says...

A country like Haiti needs good head to head between the nation to avoid total collapse after january 12/2011.

The media needs to promote Haiti and at the same time, they must say the truth.

If the government is on bad direction the media has to let him know, that what democraty is. Everything the government does it for the good or bad adventure of Haiti, the media as well. in this case both power need to be carefull about their intervention.

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Josy says...

NO HE DID NOT TELL THE PRESS TO SHUT UP. He wants the media in the diaspora to stop badmouthing the country on television, radio, and newspaper.

I agree with him, and we are our own worst ennemis.

President Martelly is an educated man, and traveled abroad.

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Martinecivil says...

Yes, I do agree with the president"s comment: by nature the haitian population are very negative people .Some of our thoughts are awkard, deformed, lack of vision in whole...

therefore the Diaspora views are more at large.

To me he said his comment as simple as not to offense any media but simply (if you have nothing possitive to say then don't say any contrary crap...

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Jean Ciceron Charlot Char says...

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