PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Singer Wyclef Jean is considering a run for president of Haiti but has not decided whether to seek a five-year term as leader of the quake-ravaged nation, the musician’s family said Monday.
There have been rumors for some time the Haitian-born entertainer might enter the 2010 presidential contest, ever since his 2007 appointment as ambassador-at-large for the Caribbean nation by President Rene Preval, who cannot seek re-election.
In a statement e-mailed to reporters, the family said, “Wyclef’s commitment to his homeland and its youth is boundless, and he will remain its greatest supporter regardless of whether he is part of the government moving forward … If and when a decision is made, media will be alerted immediately.”
The letter was signed “The Jean Family.” A spokeswoman for the musician confirmed the message’s authenticity.
Jean, 37, was born on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince but left as a child and grew up in New York City’s borough of Brooklyn.
He told The Associated Press in a recent interview he intended to be involved in the Nov. 28 election, but not necessarily as a candidate.
“Do I have political intentions? At this time no. But what I do have is a movement — it’s called Face a Face, ‘Face to Face’,” Jean said. “The youth population … we are going to encourage them to vote.”
