Government

Here is the picture of Haitian Prime Minister Evans Paul with Haiti Special Coordinator Thomas Adams and U.S. Ambassador Pamela White.

Prime Minister Paul Meets with U.S. State Department regarding Upcoming Elections

Prime Minister Paul took a meeting with U.S. State Department Special Coordinator for Haiti, Thomas Adams. The meeting agenda included elections preparation, political party funding, adjustments to the present budget, government corruption, and anti-Martelly protests.

Paul emphasized the government's vow to hold fair, honest, and democratic elections. He added the government would finance political parties for inclusion in them. Addressing demonstrations he said government would honor individual freedoms and the right to peaceful assembly.

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Here is a picture of Mr. Ariel Henry. He has been designated as the new Minister of the Interior under the Government of Evans Paul

New Interior Minister promises Democratic Elections

Member of opposition INITE, Ariel Henry, has been appointed Interior and Territorial Communities Minister. He is replacing Minister Reginald Delva. State Secretary for the Interior, Patrick Joseph, was present at the installation.

Henry assured everyone the government is committed to holding ". . . satisfactory elections, free, democratic, and inclusive"

He gave assurances regarding immigration/emigration policies his ministry would stop at nothing to foster a ". . . a climate of peace and security . . ."

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Martelly Reneges on Promise to Form Consensus Government

President Martelly has not honored his word to form a consensus government. His new cabinet contains several ministers, who worked under ex-Prime Minister Lamothe. Ex-senate president, Desras, says, ". . . only one opposition member made the cabinet list . . ."

Martelly's opposition also criticizes his choice of planning minister, Yves Joseph, an intimate of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier.

Holding state and local elections is critical, but Martelly needs to seat an Electoral Council first.

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Me Anel Alexis Joseph resigns as President of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary

It finally happened. The President of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, Chief Justice Anel Alexis Joseph, finally resigned resigned on Wednesday .

There are several rumors around the resignation, including one mentioning the fact thath Judge Anel Alexis Joseph was paid the sum of $300,000 for his resignation. This has not been confirmed.

Other developments involve the ratification of Prime Minister Evans Paul that seems to have difficulties at this time. Some sources revealed that the Lavalas Leader is not in favor of his nomination

Within the first few weeks of the new year, and amidst the current political drama caused by the dissolution of parliament, Haiti's chief justice, Anel Alexis Joseph, tendered his resignation as President of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary. this move came at the end of a set of meetings which lasted the entire day between Haiti's President and senators. His resignation came nearly a month following the recommendation, made by the special committee set up by the President, that he, along with the Prime Minister, resign in order to usher in a new government. For his resignation, it is said Joseph asked for the salary from his remaining 7 years of the term which was to last 9 years.

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Here is a picture of haitian President Michel Martelly with Dr. Florence Duperval Guillaume who is the current acting Prime Minister on day of heroes, 2015.

Haiti's fight for independence began with a slave revolt lasting ten years. The event that set off the revolution was a Voodoo ceremony, presided over by a Hougan priest named Boukman. Boukman, once a slave of British occupiers, was sold to a French plantation owner. Because of Boukman's intimidating appearance and terrifying temper, he was put in charge of the plantation slaves. But Boukman turned the tables by performing a Voodoo ceremony to empower the slaves to revolt against the French. On August 14, 1791, with the help of a Voodoo priestess, Boukman called upon God's help. The words he used have become part of Haiti's cultural lore.

Boukman first acknowledged God's great creation. He next acknowledged God's awareness of the war crimes perpetrated against the slaves. He finally invoked God's almighty power: "He will direct our arms, and stands beside us. Destroy the image of the white men's god . . ." Boukman ended with a rallying cry: "Listen to the voice of freedom rising in our heart." Once the French caught Boukman and executed him, the killing provoked the slave revolt.

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This is a picture taken during on the day of Heroes in Haiti or January 2, 2015. Some of the people in this picture include President Michel Martelly, acting Prime minister, Dr. Florence Duperval Guillaume and current Prime Minister designated, Evans Paul, aka K-Plim.

Haiti celebrates its National Independence Day on January 1st. This year marks the 211th anniversary of Haiti's liberation as the first black-led republic in the world. Christopher Columbus first discovered Haiti and conferred the name Hispaniola on the entire island, which included the Dominican Republic on the eastern portion and Haiti the western. Later French colonists renamed Ayiti, Haiti.

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Breaking News. We just learned that a new interim Prime Minister has been designated.

Former Health minister, Florence Duperval Guillaume became interim prime minister on Sunday December 21, 2014. She will replace Laurent Lamothe.

Based on the guideline set by the Haitian constitution, Ms. Duperval Guillaume can only hold this interim Prime Minister position for up to 30 days. A permanent has to be designated and confirmed within that period

Haiti's interim Prime Minister, Florence Duperval Guillaume, began her governmental career in 2011 when she was named Minister of Health. Within that role, she earned the regard of aid agencies around the world, and made it her mandate to try and reach the 40% of the country that didn't have basic health care, which she outlined as her biggest challenge. The role of Acting Prime Minister is sanctioned under the Haitian Constitution for no more than 30 days, after which parliament must choose a permanent Prime Minister for the embattled country.

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In the wake of the forced resignation of former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, Health Minister Florence Duperval Guillaume was named in the post of interim Prime Minister for a period not over 30 days, within which a new, permanent candidate would be sought to fill the post. The Council of Minister's Secretary General, Enex Jean-Charles, made the announcement that Prime Minister Guillaume would be given the post as Acting Prime Minister pending the elections that await approval from the parliament.

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Here is a picture of Mgr Ogé Beauvoir who participated in the Presidential Commission to find a solution to the election crisis

Haiti commission calling for Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe to resign

A curious change in the recent demands for executive resignation was the Haiti commission's call for the stepping down of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. Undoubtedly, most of the cry, while it would include the entire administration of the President, was toward the Head of State, Michel Martelly. Possibly even more surprising is that the commission was set up by the President himself.

The panel of 11 members that consisted of religious leaders and former officials was set up on November 28, 2014 with the aim to find a resolution for the current political situation that has seen the overly-long, hotly-contested delay of the municipal and legislative elections in the country. The panel met for eight days, and at the end of it came up with this solution of the Prime Minister stepping down, so that a consensus government could be formed.

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There is life after Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. The executive and the legislative power understand that clearly. This is a meeting between Deputy Jacques S. Thimoléon, M. Simon D. Desras and President Michel Martelly consulting to form a new government.

Consultative Commission Urges Opposition to Declare a Truce

President Martelly has abided by a special commission's recommendation that Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe be asked to resign. Lamothe offered his resignation Sunday December 14th.

Demonstrators have demanded the Martelly-Lamothe government be ended when the holding of general elections in October did not occur.

The commission is asking the opposition to declare a truce so both sides can agree to hold elections before Parliament closes down and Martelly rules by presidential decree.

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