Haitian Leader’s Sister Shot After He Announces New Government

Bypassing a hostile Parliament, Haitian President Rene Preval told the nation that he will create a new government by decree. Hours later, motorcycle gunmen opened fire Tuesday on Preval’s sister’s car, wounding her and killing the driver.

Preval’s announcement late Monday aimed to break a 19-month stalemate that has left Haiti without a functioning government and halted the flow of aid to this impoverished Caribbean nation. But it also ignited fears that Haiti’s fledgling democracy has failed, leaving the country on the road to dictatorship once again.

The motive for the shooting Tuesday afternoon near Port-au-Prince wasn’t immediately known, and there were no arrests.

Two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire at the vehicle carrying Marie-Claude Calvin. She was being treated for three gunshot wounds to the chest. Her driver died at the scene.

Calvin worked at the National Palace as a personal secretary in charge of correspondence for her brother, but she wasn’t known as a leading political figure in Haiti. Her husband, Serge, is an executive committee member of the Lavalas political party founded by former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.