Aug 09 2010
Wyclef Jean in a suit at the Wall Street Journal

Wyclef Jean Speaks on Sean Penn, Pras, and Running for President of Haiti

This morning, Wyclef Jean sat down with The Wall Street Journal to talk about his decision to run for president of Haiti. He said he has a strong possibility of accomplishing his goal due to the support he has from the Haitian youth. Surprisingly, the most criticism I’ve heard has come from Haitains that live here and on the celebrity side, Sean Penn and Pras. In the interview, Wyclef addressed both of them.

Sean Penn

“I go into Haiti when it’s the roughest times. Meaning when Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted from Haiti, I went in to deal with the gang situation and calmed the kids down in the slums.. The area that Sean Penn occupies is a golf club turned into a camp center. So the reason why Sean Penn has not seen me is because I work in heavy populated slum areas, where it’s not safe for NGOs to go into.. So it’s like somebody living in Brooklyn on Ave. J, saying, “I’m on Ave. J all the time, I don’t see Wyclef.” That’s because Brooklyn is a very big place. Haiti has over 9 million people. I’m sure enough people in Haiti have seen me to know that I’ve been in Haiti.”

Pras

“I’m not surprised at all. Coming from a group called the Fugees. The idea of the transformation, of naturally what I’m feeling as a man, and not having conversed with him in dialogue in the past ten years, in conversation, for more than 30 seconds, he’s entitled to that opinion. I heard he was questioning my policy toward education.. My policies on education on education are as follows. You have a population that can’t read and can’t write and bascically everyone has to pay for their school. In Kenya and Morocco, and parts of Latin America, they make the donors cover the schooling for the kids. So how do we provide free education and move them into the 21st century?”

He also touched on the troubles with Yele and stopping corruption in the Haitain government.

Tell em Why You’re Running, Clef

“If I sit back and then this generation and I’m 40 years old and I look 15 years from now and I’m 55 and I say well there was a time January 12, the quake hit, the international community had their eye on Haiti and I didn’t do anything. It would defeat the whole purpose of why I was created and carry this flag.”


☼ What's Your Opinion? ☼

1 MsMoni Tue, Aug 10, 2010 - 12:41 am

I applaud Wyclef for attempting to run for president. There will never be a candidate who will garner the support of everyone.  To my knowledge Wyclef has been active in Haiti for a long time. Whatever the people of the country decide is what will be.  I wish the country of Haiti and Wyclef the best in the future.

2 WYCLEF CIUS Tue, Aug 10, 2010 - 1:00 am

I WOULD SAY THAT WYCLEF JEAN IS GOING TO BE A GOOD PRESIDENT SO SEAN PENN SHUT UP U R NOT HAITIAN LET US DEAL WITH OUR COUNTRY OK WYCLEF DID NOT STEAL NO MONEY OK SO WE NEED A CHEANGE FOR OUR COUNTRY OK PEACE IN LOVE FOR ALL

3 WYCLEF CIUS Tue, Aug 10, 2010 - 1:06 am

GO TO HELL PRAS WE DONT CARE U SUPPORT MICHEL MARTELLY MICHEL MARTELLY IS A DIRTY NIGGA WE ALL KNOW HOW LONG MICHEL BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY WHAT DID HE DO FOR THE COUNTRY NOTHING WE NEVER HEARD ABOUT MICHEL SO STOP TALKING GARBISH OK NIGGA

4 SqBiz... Sat, Aug 14, 2010 - 4:32 am

...your heart is in the right place but your ideas are nowhere near developed. I have yet to hear specifically what your plans are and how you intend to accomplish them within a system thats been so corrupt for decades. Its one thing to volunteer and do the hippity hoppy thing that you do on the mic but to run a country?...drop a mixtape instead

5 KW Mon, Aug 16, 2010 - 1:43 pm

I agree SqBiz.  What Wyclef really feels is guilt because of his ill willed foundation “Yele”.  Wyclef is very familiar with corruption and running for president is not going to change that. He needs to feel like the people of Haiti still believe in him.  This is not a good way to find out.  Do what’s Wyclef and be blessed.

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