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Wyclef Jean to continue Haitian aid, will not be political figure

By April MacIntyre Aug 21, 2010, 18:07 GMT

US-Haitian singer Wyclef Jean after subscribing his presidential candidacy for Haiti in Port-Au-Prince, 05 August 2010. Media reports on 20 August 2010 that Haiti\'s provisional electoral council ruled that hip-hop star Wyclef Jean was not eligible to run as a presidential candidate for the 28 November 2010 election. EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES

Haiti's famous son, musician Wyclef Jean, will not be a political figure in the impoverished country still reeling from a massive earthquake.

Jean was removed from consideration as a potential presidential candidate, as the Haiti provisional electoral council ruled he was not eligible to run as a candidate in the Nov. 28 election.

Jean, 40, was left off the list of approved candidates published by the council, according to CNN.  Jean's candidacy was turned down because he did not meet the residency requirement of having lived in Haiti for five years before the election.

Jean said in a blog posted at The Huffington Post: "Though I disagree with the ruling, I respectfully accept the committee's final decision, and I urge my supporters to do the same."

"Ultimately, we must respect the rule of law in order for our island to become the great nation we all aspire for it to be," he said.

Jean vows to continue his humanitarian efforts.  The news of Jean's political aspirations drew some criticism form actor Sean Penn, who has been in Haiti since the earthquake, except for his 50th birthday where he celebrated in Dublin with Bono.

Penn, according to ABC news, accused Jean of misappropriating $400,000 of the $9 million his charity raised in the earthquake aftermath, adding that Jean had not spent ABC news says, "Others have also questioned his candidacy, and it was revealed that Jean owes $2.1 million in back taxes to the IRS."

Jean fired back to Penn's accusations. "I just want Sean Penn to fully understand that I am a Haitian, born in Haiti, and I have been coming to my country ever since I was a child," Jean said. "I commend [Penn] for the work he is doing with the tent population, but I want him to understand one thing: Before speaking about any situation that has to do with Wyclef Jean in public, he might just want to pick up the phone and we could meet so he fully understands the man."