A FORUM FOR COMMUNITY ISSUES : Platform : Immigrants on Voting: ‘Americans Can Stand Up and Speak’ : GUY MARIO FREDERIQUE, 34, Haiti / <i> Electrical technician and plumber, Pasadena</i>

Before I left Haiti, we could vote, but it means nothing there. Maybe 85% of the population is illiterate. And the military would go to the village chief and give him money and say: “Bring some people to vote.” They’d bring in people who couldn’t even read. And after they voted they’d give them alcohol and food and send them back in to vote again, two or three times.

This was under Baby Doc Duvalier. The government wanted to get rid of young guys like myself who had graduated from school but couldn’t get a job because of the bad economy. Many of my friends from those days have been killed.

I got a visa to come here and when it ended I just didn’t go back. Finally, five years ago I applied for U.S. citizenship. I will become a citizen this November. The American people can stand up and speak, and no one is able to beat them up for it.

I like Clinton. I was thinking maybe I could help in his headquarters. But since I’m not a citizen yet, maybe they wouldn’t want me.