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Interim Honduras leader Micheletti has Tampa ties

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By HOWARD ALTMAN

haltman@tampatrib.com

Published: June 30, 2009

TAMPA - No matter the story, there always seems to be a Tampa connection.

Like Sunday's coup in Honduras.

Turns out the country's interim president, Roberto Micheletti, used to own Haddad's, a clothing store in Tampa in the 1970s. And his brother, Aldo, owns a video production company in Tampa.

"I heard about it through CNN and Univision last night," said Aldo Micheletti, 60.

Aldo Micheletti said his brother was president of the Honduran congress. Under that nation's laws, he had to become the interim president once Manuel Zelaya was ousted Sunday. He said his brother will serve a seven-month term until an election to replace Zelaya can be held.

The news, said Aldo Micheletti, came as a shock.

"I was surprised," he said. "Very surprised. I didn't expect it to happen so soon."

Aldo Micheletti said that despite international condemnation, the Tampa Honduran community is ecstatic. "Everyone I talked to is happy about what happened," he said. "Anything is better than Zelaya."

Aldo Micheletti said he worries about his brother. "I am very concerned about my brother's safety," he said. "They threatened to kill my brother the last two or three years - Zelaya and his buddies. He had a few attempts already on his life.But he is a fighter. He tells you what he thinks."

Aldo Micheletti said he came to Tampa in 1970 and has been here since. He said his brother came in 1973, at first living with him in a small apartment at Main and Howard before moving to his own place in Ybor City. Roberto Micheletti lived here until 1976, when he sold Haddad's and moved to New Orleans, where he opened another clothing store.

Though the brothers haven't spoken in two years, Aldo Micheletti said he keeps tabs on his older sibling via his sister, Maria Elena.

"She said so far, he is fine," Aldo Micheletti said Monday afternoon. "She said the country is fine, people are doing business. People were so stressed out the last few weeks, but a weight has been lifted from their backs."

And he has a message for his brother. "I just want to tell him to hang in there," he said. "Hopefully things will turn out better. I pray for him. I am very concerned."

Tribune editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629.

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