Wyclef Jean’s Run For President of Haiti: Good Intentions Or Opportunistic?......

Recently, a statement from mysterious family members of Wyclef Jean, Haitian hip-hop artist and ambassador at-large to the country, was released to the press announcing his considerations for running for president of Haiti. Let the “If I was President” jokes commence.

According to published reports, Jean, who was born Croix-des-Bouquets, has already filed all the necessary papers and has until August 7th to officially declare his candidacy. No word yet on if Jean, who immigrated to New York from Haiti when he was a child, would meet all the necessary requirements including: being a resident of Haiti for five consecutive years, owning property in the country and having never been a citizen of any country other than Haiti.

Regardless if he is or is not eligible, we’re a little perplexed as to why Jean is running for such a high office in the first place. Is this just an opportunity to enhance his public profile or does he really thinks that he is best candidate to aide Haiti in what is sure to be a long, arduous rebuilding effort? Or maybe, his intentions are a combination of both?