Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The hip-hop star Wyclef Jean has released a song to radio stations criticising officials who have banned him from standing in the presidential election in November.
The track, performed in the Haitian Creole language, translates as "Jail for the Provisional Electoral Council" and accuses the outgoing President, Rene Preval, of engineering the star's disqualification from the ballot. Jean, who has an enthusiastic youth following in his poor homeland, is challenging his rejection and has denounced the electoral authorities as corrupt and politically motivated.
"I know all the cards are in your hands ... I voted for you to be President in 2006, why today did you reject my candidacy?" Jean sings, addressing Mr Preval. "It's not Wyclef that you have expelled, it is the youth you have denied ... it's the population you have denied, it's the peasants you have denied."
Last week, electoral officials barred the former Fugees star and 14 other contenders from the ballot because the rules require candidates to have been resident for five consecutive years prior to an election. Jean, 40, lives in the US but says his role as a roving ambassador for Haiti exempts him from the residency requirement. He appealed but the electoral council said its decision was final.
Haiti is still recovering from an earthquake in January which killed an estimated 230,000 people and left one million homeless.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments