Yvon Neptune

Yvon Neptune
K. A. Paul with Neptune in March 2004, during a mission to deliver 100,000 lbs. of food to Haitians.
11th Prime Minister of Haiti
In office March 15, 2002 – March 12, 2004
President	Jean-Bertrand Aristide Boniface Alexandre (provisional)
Preceded by	Jean Marie Chérestal
Succeeded by	Gérard Latortue
Personal details
Born	(1946-11-08) November 8, 1946 (age 70) Cavaellon, Haiti

Yvon Neptune (born November 8, 1946 in Cavaillon, Haiti) was Prime Minister of Haïti from 2002 to 2004. He was appointed by President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and took office on March 15, 2002. He had previously served as President of the Senate from 2000 to 2002.

On March 2, 2004, shortly after Aristide's removal, a mob attempted to arrest Neptune on corruption charges, but it was not successful. The mob was reportedly organized by Guy Philippe after Neptune gave an interview to Kevin Pina of KPFA Flashpoints in California and the Black Commentator, and Andrea Nicastro of the Italian daily Corriere della Sera. In the interview Neptune claims he was not even present when interim-president Boniface Alexandre was sworn into office. He also referred to himself as a prisoner in his own office and backed Aristide's claims that he was forced out of office under duress. US Marines guarding his residence killed two gunmen there. Neptune was replaced on March 12, 2004, by an unelected provisional government, led by Gérard Latortue, which had been appointed three days earlier.

On March 27, 2004, the provisional government banned Neptune from leaving the country, along with 36 other senior officials of the Aristide administration, in order to more easily investigate corruption allegations. On June 27, 2004, after hearing about a warrant for his arrest on the radio, Neptune turned himself in to the Haïiian police and was held without charge. According to the Haitian constitution, a hearing before a judge is required within 48 hours for anyone arrested, but Neptune was not given such a hearing. On May 4, 2005, Thierry Fagart, the chief of the human rights division at the UN's Haiti mission, called Neptune's detention illegal.

On February 19, 2005, Neptune was taken into protective custody by United Nations peacekeeping forces and handed himself back to Haitian authorities after a Port-au-Prince penitentiary breakout.