PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – Haiti’s pop star-turned-president, Michel Martelly, asked his people yesterday to join him in rebuilding their poor, earthquake-ravaged nation and said he would work to provide jobs, health and education.
“Haiti was sleeping and today Haiti is waking up … that’s the mandate you gave me and, trust me, things will change,” the charismatic shaven-headed former entertainer said in his first speech after taking the presidential oath of office.
A big crowd roared approval of his words in Creole as they pressed against the railings of the crumbled white-domed presidential