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Will Champ de Mars in Port-au-Prince regain its cultural and artistic reputation of the old days? Whether or not it will, there has been some efforts made in that aspect and specially with the renovation works and expansion of the kiosk Occide Jeanty that has been upgraded into amphitheater.

Kiosk Occide Jeanty now an Amphitheater

Renovated and expanded, Kiosk Occide Jeanty was launched in early May. It has become an amphitheater, containing an esplanade, dressing rooms, VIP lounge, shopping venues, and restaurants.

Canadian money funded it at $3.8 million, and the Housing Construction and Public Buildings Unit was the contractor, and Haitian engineer Maurice Solomon its engineer.

KOJ is located in Champ de Mars, a cultural and arts center, and its eponymous name refers to noted musician Occide Jeanty.

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Here it is folks, the race for the next president of Haiti is under way and Senator Steven Benoit says he wants to be counted as he registers as candidate for President of Haiti. He will be running under a banner called Plateforme Conviction

Steven Benoit registers as candidate for President of Haiti, a Prominent Candidate for Presidency

Senator Benoit has registered as a Plateforme Conviction candidate for the Haitian presidency, which election will be held in October. Benoit is considered by many to be a front runner during the campaign.

Other candidates for the office include Gonzague Day for PATRAYIL; Pastor Bazin for MOCHRENAH; and Gerald Dalvius for Alternative Party for the Development of Haiti.

If no clear winner emerges on Election Day, a run-off will occur in December.

What do you think?

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Here is a view of a group of Haitians who were not so happy with the visit of Francois Hollande in Haiti in May, 2015.

French President says No to Reparations for Haiti

French President Hollande made a visit to Haiti recently. President Martelly glossed over France's unwillingness to pay reparations, readily accepting the $145 million in infrastructure projects from them.

Protestors are frustrated Hollande, like other presidents of France, say it owes ". . . only . . . a moral debt . . . not financial compensation."

France forced Haiti to pay $21 billion for an "independence debt" to guarantee its freedom in 1804.

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Here is a picture of some group of Haitian protesters demanding reparations during a visit of Francois Hollande in in Haiti.

When Hollande and Martelly arrived at Champ de Mars to honor heroes of the Haitian revolution with a wreath-laying, 200 demonstrators came to voice their opinions on France's part in ruining Haiti's economy. Until the mid-20th century Haiti labored to retire the debt, but $77 million was still owing. France forgave the balance after Haiti's 2010 earthquake.

Haiti is not France's only victim of blackmail. But Martelly understands if France pays reparations to Haiti, France would be pressured to recompense other countries it has stolen from. Martelly told Hollande ". . . no compensation can repair the wounds of history . . . . Haiti has not forgotten, but Haiti is not stubborn."

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Here is a picture of French President Francois Hollande and Michel Martelly during his visit in Haiti

Hollande's visit brought out protestors, who are angry over France's indebtedness to Haiti. France forced Haiti to pay France $20 billion dollars as recompense for its sugar plantation owners' loss of income, after the slave revolt drove France out of the country. $77 million of the debt was finally forgiven when Sarkozy ruled.

For years France has admitted wrong-doing over the unfairly assigned debt, but does not feel obligated to pay back the $20 billion. They regard the debt to Haiti a moral one not a monetary one. Martelly agrees, acknowledging a "grand injustice" was done but dismissing the issue as "no reparation can change what happened years ago."

Hollande has committed to more financial support of Haiti's infrastructure. France plans to invest $145 million USD to improve the education sector among other projects.

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Here is a picture marking the arrival of Francois Hollande in Haiti

French President Hollande says France owes only a Moral Debt to Haiti

In the more than two hundred years since Haiti achieved its independence from France only two visits have been made by a French head of state. The first was Nicolas Sarkozy, and recently current leader, Francois Hollande, made a stop in Port-au-Prince.

Hollande's purposeful visit was to visit the reconstruction of Haitian University Hospital, demolished during 2010's earthquake. Less than half of the hospital remained standing. France and its funding partner, the U.S., gave a total of $50 million for rebuilding. It is expected to be finished in 2017. Martelly and Hollande acted as co-signatories on several agreements to improve trade between the two countries.

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We just learned that the Haitian musician Jean Gesner Henry Jr aka Coupé Cloue Junior was shot and killed in on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 in Delmas 7.

According to the report, Coupé Cloue Junior was shot four time and was pronounced dead that same night.

Stay tuned. As we find more information on the shooting death of the son of this great Haitian musician, Coupe Cloue, we will bring it to you immediately

Haitian Kreyol:

Nou jis aprann ke yo tire mizisyen Ayisyen yo bay pou Jean Gesner Henry Jr ke yo rele tou Coupe Cloue Junior. Selon rapò a , Coupe Cloue Junior te pran kat bal yereswa nan mitan lannwit nan Delmas 7. Rete branche . Kòm nou jwenn plis enfòmasyon sou lanmò pitit gason gwo mizisyen ayisyen, Coupe Cloue , nou pral pote li imedyatman bay ou

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There are efforts being made to improve the quality of the drinking water in the communities of Fonds-Brache, Grande Caille, Bel Air in Bizoton. This will be made possible by the catchment works of the source of Chaud'eau with the development of four water distribution kiosks built

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Here is a picture of Mr. Patrice Cadet at the Superior Council of the Judiciary

On Wednesday, April 15, 2015, Practice Cadet, the President of the Bar of Petit-Goâve, has been sworn in as a new member of the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ). The swearing-in ceremony was performed in accordance with the Act of November 13, 2007 that brought the CSPJ into existence. The ceremony took place in the presence of the Head of the State, President Martelly, who said "I count on your invaluable contribution to the revitalization of the Council." Practice Cadet thanked him for his efforts towards the independence of the judiciary and promised to respond effectively on the diverse needs of his new responsibility.

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Here is a picture of Beaudouin "Jacques" Ketant and Jean Bertrand Aristide

Jacques Beaudouin Ketant was virtually an unreachable drug lord, a close friend and business partner of Haiti's vicious tyrant, dictator Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Although Ketant was indicted in 1997 but continued to live a posh royal life in a hilltop mansion overlooking Port-au-Prince. On June 17, 2003, the federal authority put him on a plane to Miami in conspiracy charges for money laundering and importing 30,000 kilos of cocaine into South Florida, New York, Colombia and other locations over a period of 12 years. The U.S. District Judge Federico A. Moreno sentenced him 27 years imprisonment and slashed a fine and forfeiture of $30 million. At his 2004 sentencing hearing, Ketant told the judge, he had help from his close friend, the Haitian president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Aristide is a drug lord who controls the drug trade in Haiti. He has turned the country into a narco-country. Ketant began cooperating almost immediately after his arrest. However, his U.S. based attorneys denied Ketant's allegations, Aristide, was never charged, but was ousted later that same year and spent seven years in exile.

Ketant pleaded guilty immediately and allowed to forfeit his "Midas like collection of wealth". However, his collection of 200 rare paintings & $5 million cash... all disappeared from his $8 million worth mansion. The U.S officials have acknowledged that one of his five ex-wives with the support of a Haitian chief police officer, had looted the mansion after Ketant's expulsion.

As per news dated April 20, 2015, Ketant has received a big reduction in his 27-year term. It was cut in half to 13.5 years, by a federal judge after the U.S. attorney's office in Miami recommended that reduction is because of his good behavior in the prison, and great assistance as approver that led to the successful prosecutions of 5 top ranking officials under the former President Aristide, including the police chief of the capital city and the security chief at Port-au-Prince's airport. His cooperation has helped the conviction of at least a dozen other corrupt officials from Haiti and some high-level cocaine traffickers. Ketant is serving his term in an Arkansas federal prison till the Christmas Eve of 2026, the reduction would make him eligible for release within a few months.

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