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The decision of Former Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe to run for President in the upcoming election is yet another sign to show that you should never trust a politician, specially Haitian politicians. After repeatedly saying that he has no plan to run, he proves himself wrong.

On May 20, 2015 he former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe has submitted his nomination to run for seat of president under the banner of platform Peyizan shortly before the election office's deadline. When he was asked why he has changed his mind, he shrugged and kept greeting his supporters. He has joined a crowded arena of contenders in the race to become the country's next president. His other notable contenders include Maryse Narcisse, the leader of the Fanmi Lavalas party and Jude Celestin, the last election cycle's government-backed candidate. His opponents are of opinion that his decision came out of a political provocation and moreover, he lacks proper clearance for use of public funds. However, the eligibility of the candidates to run for election are matters to be decided by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) with the consents of Departmental Electoral Litigation (BCED) and National Electoral Litigation (BCEN).

Lamothe has decided to register under the banner of Peyizan political group. However, this is not where his problems lies. How is he going to prove that he is eligible to run? What about the issue of "Discharge"?

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Police National of Haiti Police has had some success recently. The latest is the capture of renown gang leader Pierre-Daniel Milord aka "Ti bonhomme". These high profile arrests are expected to make the population more secure as the election is near.

On Tuesday, May 19, 2015, around 10 am, the Police of Petit-Goâve has arrested Pierre-Daniel Milord on the street of Roulottes, in the neighborhood of la Hatte. The accused was carrying illegal weapons with usurpation forged titles.
He was carrying a homemade gun (Chilean) and a cartridge, a 9 mm pistol, a charger, a badge of the National Police of Haiti in own name, Daniel Pierre Milord, agent 4, the badges of the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities proclaiming himself as a delegate and as Chargé de Mission. He is recognized as a notorious criminal, wanted by the National Police of Haiti since his escape during the earthquake of January 2010. Several cases of murder and extortion were registered in his name. He is currently held at the police station of Petit-Goâve.

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To publicly recognize Toussaint Louverture as one of the first in the fight to abolish slavery a statue was unveiled in his honor at the Museum of the New World of La Rochelle France. The city of La Rochelle played a very important role during the period of slavery. This great leader fought until his death for the abolition of slavery.

On Wednesday, May 20th, in the presence of the Mayor of La Rochelle, the Senegalese sculptor Ousmane Sow and a Haitian official delegation, a statue of Haitian revolutionary and a leader of independence, Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803) has been unveiled in the courtyard of the Museum of the New World of La Rochelle France. Toussaint Louverture (nicknamed The Black Napoleon) was a former slave, in 1801, promulgated an autonomist constitution for the colony, with himself as governor for life. But in the next year he was forced to resign by forces sent by Napoleon Bonaparte. The 2.80 meter high bronze statue in the costume of governor of the French Republic of Santo Domingo, is a tribute to him for abolishing slavery in the country. Toussaint Louverture died in 1803 in a cell in Fort de Joux (Doubs, Savoie).

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Look at this picture. French government has a big load hanging on top of country. It is the Haiti debt that it owes and it involves restitution for the money the young nation was obligated to pay to France after they fought for their independence. Ironically, French president François Hollande who visited Haiti in May, 2015 stated that We have a moral not financial debt to Haiti".

Two hundred years ago, when Haiti became the first independent black republic after defeating the army of then French Monarchy, it vowed to pay the French ruler, King Charles X an "independence debt of 90 million gold coins". The extorted bounty was distributed among the white slave owners for the loss of "property" they claim to have suffered as a result of the abolitionist Haitian Revolution. Thus, the country was forced to pay most of its national wealth to the French for own freedom. This barbaric ransom was collected between 1825 and 1947 through a French ordinance that threatened to re-enslave self-liberated Africans. This could be a good reason for present suffering of the country. As per 2003 estimate, the Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide demanded $22 billion from France as the cost of restitution. On Saturday, May 9th, during the inauguration of the Caribbean Centre of Expressions and Memory of Trafficking and Slavery (ACTE) in Pointe-à- Pitre, Guadeloupe, the French President François Hollande had said that "in Haiti, I will pay the debt we have." Although his announcement received a rousing applause from the audience, but according to the French National Palace, nowhere he had mentioned that France would be repaying the Haitian independence ransom of $23 billion (at present value). His statement indicating moral debt only without mentioning any monetary value was criticized in Haiti because the collection of the ransom for independence is undoubtedly an act of immoral and illegal turpitude.

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It is now a matter of time before the National Bureau of Electoral Disputes makes it official. In the meantime, several reliable sources said the candidacy of the first lady Sophia Martelly is history. It has been rejected.

According to Miami Herald, a spokesman for Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), did not want to come out and confirm the news. Here are the reasons for rejecting the candidacy of Sophia Martelly for the Senatorial race in the West Department: She is an American citizen, was administering and needs a discharge to run. The first lady was also accused of committing fraud by voting in the 2010 presidential elections as a U.S. citizen

Electoral Council says First Lady ineligible for a Senate run

First Lady Sophia Martelly cannot run for a senate seat later this year. According to the National Bureau of Electoral Disputes, she lacks requirements of Haitian citizenship to make a senate bid.

Although she gave up her U.S. citizenship in 2014, the opposition claims she didn't apply for a Haitian passport at 18, a deal-breaker.

The Electoral Council made a public announcement notifying the public of their final decision.

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One of the agreements signed during the visit in Haiti of French President Francois Hollande is the construction of a high school in Coteaux

Hollande says France is pledging to invest $145 million from 2015-2020 in infrastructure improvements. Of that amount, $56 million will be used to develop the education system. Protestors feel otherwise. They demand much more money in reparations be spent on education, healthcare facilities, and the road system.

Some citizens though believe Hollande may provide more job opportunities than currently exists. And it is interesting to note France forgave the remaining $77 million owed by Haiti following the 2010 quake.

Martelly and Hollande sign Six Bi-lateral Agreements

During French President Hollande's state visit, he and President Martelly acted as co-signatories on six bi-lateral agreements between both countries:

Updating National Institute of Professional Training to form division of water trades.

Building a high school in Coteaux, funded by Association of French Regions.

Allowing Haitian farmers to export organic bananas.

Creating a financial recovery plan for Electricity of Haiti.

An agreement between Civil Aviation General Directorate, Air Navigation Directorate, and Civil Aviation National Office.

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Here is a picture of some innocent school children in Haiti

There is one group of Haitians who doesn't believe that election in Haiti will do anything for them. This group, although considered to be the largest group of the population, has always been ignored in so many aspects. This is the group where you will find the highest rate of unemployment, the highest rates of violence, the highest rate of imprisonment and also the highest rates of death. Most of the youth in Haiti have seen a hard life. They are the youth of Haiti

As legislative, presidential, and local elections approach later in 2015, one segment of the population will not bother to show up at the ballot box, its youth.

Young people want to elect their representatives, but are aware politicians could care less about their views. They suffer more unemployment, violence, incarceration, and death than other age groups.

Haitian well-to-do and moderate-income citizens dismiss youth as thugs and think they possess little value to society.

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Here is a picture of Mr. Ginot Bonnet who was installed as the new Director General at the Ministry of Interior

The Minister of Interior and Territorial Communities (MICT), Ariel Henry, helped to install new MICT Director General Ginot Bonnet.

Minister Henry urged Bonnet to work together with all actors of MICT to create an environment to support the peaceful holding of upcoming elections.

Bonnet assured Henry and employees and executives of MICT he would acknowledge their ableness and commitment ". . . to strengthen MICT interventions for better services to local government."

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Nothing last forever in Haiti. One of the relationships many think was made in heaven proved to be not. Me Newton Louis St. Juste and André Michel split as both men have great political ambitions and would not negotiate any alternative. Unfortunately, I believe both men will end up loosing as this only demonstrated they were engage in this fight with the current government for their own selfish gain.

Newton Saint Juste withdraws from Plateforme Justice over Ethical Concerns

Attorney Newton Saint Juste, who had wanted to run as nominee of Plateforme Justice in the presidential election, has withdrawn his membership in the party.

He had asked for democratic and transparent rules of the Articles of Justice to be used to validate his candidacy. The JP in denying his request went against its own principles.

JP instead chose his colleague Me Michel Andre to represent the party.

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Here is a picture where President Michel Martelly was personally driving France President Francois Hollande to airport following his visit to Haiti

Martelly says its okay France doesn't pay Haiti Reparations

President Martelly has been under fire for agreeing with French President Hollande France need not repay $21 billion, extorted from Haiti as penance for claiming its independence in 1804.

Hollande will, though, invest in projects, especially the Free and Compulsory Education program, with funding of 50 million Euros.

Martelly said "such repairs . . . can . . . open the way for development for Haitians, who have never had the same educational opportunity

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