[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 1, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H977-H978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       WHAT ABOUT THE ELECTIONS?

  (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, U.S. military occupation of Haiti continues, 
but mandate of the Haitian Parliament will end. The time line for new 
parliamentary elections has already slipped from last December to 
perhaps sometime in May. I ask, ``But how can you build a democracy 
without a parliament, without a legislative branch, 
 [[Page H978]] especially in Haiti, especially with President 
Aristide?'' Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, in 1991 he fell prey to the 
drive to consolidate power that has historically characterized Haitian 
politics, and he has failed to learn a very basic lesson of democracy, 
and that is that shared power makes for better governments, and it is 
vital for true democracy. Lack of progress on the elections in Haiti 
means President Aristide will be ruling Haiti without checks or 
balances.
  Mr. Speaker, the time for free and fair elections in Haiti is now. We 
must bring our troops home today. Bring on Haitian elections now, and 
save both democracy in Haiti and American taxpayers' dollars.

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