As part of the Lavalas movement's mobilization to demand the return of Jean Bertrand Aristide from exile in South Africa, the Network of Multiplying Lavalas Family Organizations (RONMFL) held a press conference to denounce President René Préval for making no effort to facilitate the former president's return to Haiti.

RONMFL reminded Préval that he was democratically elected as president under the 1987 Constitution and therefore had an obligation to enforce Articles 41 and 41-1 of that document. Article 41 states: "No person of Haitian nationality may be deported or forced to leave the national territory for any reason. No one may be deprived for political reasons of his legal capacity and his nationality." Article 41-1 states: "No Haitian needs a visa to leave or return to the country."

RONMFL coordinator Romestil Pierre Melisca said that Préval was disregarding the law. "Today, we have a Constitutional power which should apply Articles 41 and 41-1 for the return of Dr. Jean Bertrand Aristide," he said.

Melisca also announced that the Lavalas Family is planning a rally for Monday, November 3 at the Aristide Foundation for Democracy to call for Aristide's immediate return to Haiti for the 12th anniversary of the party's founding in Jacmel in 1996.

RONMFL also denounced "rampant" government corruption. "The corruption which produces hunger, poverty and injustice in Haiti must end," Melisca said. "RONMFL notes that 95% of Haitians have no access to opportunities for work, housing, food, healthcare, or to borrow money. However, we note that senators, deputies, ministers, and general directors have access to loans, although they have big salaries with expense accounts and gas receipts."

According to rumors circulating around the capital, the revenues from the sale of gas provided by Venezuela at discount rates and with easy credit terms under the bilateral PetroCaribe accord have been deposited in a U.S. bank, just when the U.S. financial system is going through an unprecedented crisis.

"In what bank have you deposited the money from the sale of gas under the Petro Caribe agreement and what have you done with the profits from those sales?" Melisca asked. "Are you trying to fool the Haitian people when you take a tiny bit off the price of gas while on the international market gas has fallen from $147 per barrel to $65, the lowest price since May 2007?"

Haitian Prime Minister Michele Duvivier Pierre-Louis said that $8 million had been released to help victims of September's storms from an emergency account in a U.S. bank. That was why it took some time for help to reach the victims. Pétionville deputy Stevens Irvenson Benoît asked the Haitian government's financial authorities to explain what bank they put the money in, how much interest they made, and what law authorized them to do so.