Photos

Here is President Michel Martelly at World Economic Forum on Latin America in May, 2015 in Mexico

On Thursday, May 7, 2015, President Martelly, accompanied by the Minister of Economy and Finance and the Minister of Trade and Industry, visited a forum on the 10th World Economic Forum on Latin America, at the Hotel Quintana Roo in Mexico. He took the opportunity to present many business and investment openings offered by Haiti to the overseas investors. He spoke before a panel composed of important dignitaries like Presidents Enrique Pena Nieto (Mexico), Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez (Panama) and of Klaus Schwab, Executive Director of the World Economic Forum. President Martelly assured his audience with information about the unique satisfactory investment environment and its infrastructure in Haiti. Outside the forum, he also had some other bilateral meetings including with the President of the National Institute of Entrepreneurs of Mexico and the Director General of small business of this institution (INADEM).

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After coming off of an impressive TKO victory over Patrick Cummings and also after his unanimous decision loss to Ryan Bader, Ovince St. Preux as a first generation Haitian-American and is very proud of his Haitian culture, has decided to join the fight to knockout hunger in Haiti

Harvest107 has one objective: "The goal of Harvest107 is to provide safe and nutritious food for every person on the planet,"

Ovince Saint Preux (born April 8, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Light Heavyweight games, was born and raised in the United States, but finds himself representing another country at heart, his parent's homeland Haiti. So, to knock out the hunger in Haiti, Saint Preux has teamed up with Harvest107. Harvest107 is a kid's dream to feed the 870 million hungry people around the globe. It is a non-profit organization created by a twelve year old girl 'Gracie Pfaff', dedicated to provide safe and nutritious food to every person on the planet. In Haiti, the organization is not only teaching how to grow organic food, but they are teaching everything about the nutritional quality of the food as well. Saint Preux decided to team up with Harvest107 because as per his statement what Harvest107 is doing in Haiti with the micro farms, are really good. They are showing a different way of doing things and at the same time they are teaching making earning from that as well. Saint Preux and Harvest107 have built a boys home named "Zanfan Lakay" where 80 notorious street kids from Cite Soleil came to live in. Here they are getting education, have a roof over their heads, learning a trade so that they can enter back to the society as reformed persons. The proceeds from Saint Preux T-shirts and his contributions are using over allied Harvest107 projects.

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A new "Haiti Plaza" proudly located in the square of the capital capitol city in Quito to honor two of Haitian leaders and the flame of 1804. In May 2015, Ecuador unveiled the statues of Haitian forefathers, Jean Jacques Dessalines who was the first president of Haiti after its independence and Alexandre Pétion considered as the Father of Pan-Americanism, and the statue of a flame with the inscription of "Haiti 1804".

On Wednesday, May 6, 2015, on a new plaza, located on the square of the capital city Quito, Ecuador unveiled two statues of Haitian forefathers, Jean Jacques Dessalines, the first President of Haiti after its independence and Alexandre Pétion, the second President of Haiti and Father of the Pan-Americanism. There was another statue of a flame with the inscription of "Haiti 1804". As their affiliation with ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America), Haiti and Ecuador both enjoy pretty good relation. Ecuador is a core member of ALBA, and Haiti is an observer state. Their bilateral relation centers on the immigration policy, as Haitian immigration to Ecuador has increased dramatically. Ecuador is a good contributor of several development and stabilization projects in Haiti. Since Martelly's last visit to Ecuador in July 2012, the two nations have deepened bilateral relations and cooperation in areas such as health, migration, education, air transport, technology and infrastructure.

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The three-time Mayor of Milot was officially nominated by Platfom Pitit Desalin to become their candidate for President during the next election in Haiti. As the registration of candidacy for president will begin on May 20, 2015, Many of the candidates are already known. However, some who have been observing the the election process estimate that the number of candidates for President in Haiti will go over 100.

The platform Pitit Desalin officially has nominated former Senator Jean-Charles Moïse as its electoral candidate for the President of the Republic of Haiti who will be sworn-in on Sunday, February 7, 2016. The time limit for submitting registration of presidential candidates was set between May 11 and 20, 2015. The campaigning for presidential candidates will begin on June 8, 2015 for the scheduled election on October 25, 2015. So far, dozens of personalities have publicly declared their intention to replace President Michel Martelly at the National Palace on 7 February 2016. Senator Jean-Charles Moise, three-time Mayor of Milot, appears to be one of the frontrunner, but a divided opposition may threaten an ultimate run. Senator Jean-Charles Moïse is considered as the man behind this new political platform 'Pitit Desalin'.

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Here is a picture of Former Minister of Sports Magalie Adolphe Racine as she is making a bid to run for Deputy of Mirebalais and Boucan Carre

Ms. Magalie Adolphe Racine, the former Minister of Youth, Sports and Civic, has submitted her nomination to run for the post of Deputy of Mirebalais and Boucan Carre on behalf of Repons Klas Mwayen (The Middle Class Response) party. She is a former deputy of Abel Descolines, a leading member of the Martelly administration, Parliamentarians for Stability and Progress (PSP) bloc of the 49th legislature. She has served as an adviser and the chief of protocol to the First Lady Sophia Martelly. Her mother was a notorious "tonton makout. In 1963, she became chief commandant of Port-au-Prince. Magalie has a background in the fashion and modeling industry. She is a beauty trainer, former supermodel and an active entrepreneur in organizing fashion shows in Haiti.

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French President Francois Hollande made a surprising statement n regard to the debt to Haiti on his way to Haiti. At the inauguration of a memorial for slavery in Guadeloupe on Sunday, May 10, 2015, he evokes France's 'Debt' To Haiti, but refused to admit that France will pay back the money owed.

Pressure has been mounting on France to pay back the money it has asked Haiti to pay after Haiti's independence. Some believe that this obligation on the new republic after its independence is a major factor in the poverty of te island. In 2013, Francois Hollande evoked France's "debt" toward Africa. In 2010, President Nicolas Sarkozy became the first French seating president to visit Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Over 200 years ago, when Haiti became the first black independent Republic of the world after defeating the army of then French Monarchy, it agreed to pay France an "independence debt. In 1825, the French ruler, King Charles X agreed to recognize Haiti's independence after 14 years of bloody battles on condition that the new Black Republic will pay 150 million gold francs in ransom. It was later reduced to 90 million gold coins and the extorted bounty was distributed to the white slave holders for the loss of "property" they claim to have suffered as a result of the abolitionist Haitian Revolution. Haitians believe that it could be a big reason for Haiti's present suffering because the country was forced to pay most of its wealth to France for own freedom. Between the years 1825 and 1947 (140 years after the abolition of the slave trade), this barbaric and illegal ransom was collected through violent means with an official French ordinance which threatened to re-enslave the self-liberated Africans. On April 7, 2003, the value of the infamous Charles X ransom was estimated at around $22 billion by the Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and he demanded its restitution. For most Haitians, the recent visit of the French President François Hollande to encourage investment is reminding them how their ancestors were punished by the French and forced to pay a big price for country's successful slave revolt for independence.

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On Saturday, President Michel Martelly participated in Martinique, to the Caribbean Climate Summit 2015 and in his speech, he stated that this is an opportunity for his Government to clarify his position on the issue. The head of state stated that no one is immune to the disastrous consequences of climate change today. He sent a blanked blame to everyone as being both victims and perpetrators of the major climate shift noticed in Increasing temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, floods, prolonged droughts, and others

President Martelly urges the leaders to work together as only well-coordinated initiatives may give convincing results.

On Saturday, May 9, 2015, President Martelly accompanying the Ministers from the departments of Environment, Economy and Finance, Trade and Industry, participated in the Caribbean Climate Summit 2015, a one-day summit in Martinique's capital, Fort de France. Caribbean leaders from 13 countries had participated the summit, which was chaired by the French President Francois Hollande. It was a preparatory regional summit as the meeting gave participating leaders an opportunity to discuss a joint policy before the 21st session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) scheduled to be held in Paris from 30 November to 15 December of this year. Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, as the Chairman of the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, has said that the summit has given the islands an opportunity to prepare so that its concerns receive due prominence in the Paris talks.

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Here is a picture of the inside of Ciné théâtre Triomphe set for inauguration on May 18, 2015. After so many years in the waiting, it looks like it will finally happen. The population around Port-au-Prince will finally have a comfortable place where they can go to the movies.

What do you think? do you think more movie theaters should be built?

The Movie theater 'Ciné théâtre Triomphe', acquired by the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) will reopen in may 18, 2015, after a complete rehabilitation work at a cost of US$7 million, including the cost of additional land purchased in the adjacent space. The Cine Triomphe was one of the major cinemas in Port-au-Prince. Since closing in 1988, it has been used as a warehouse until it was taken by the State in late 2008 and the rehabilitation started in December 2012. The théâtre Triomphe will finally be inaugurated for the Haitian moviegoers on May 18, 2015 after being postponed in August 2014, due to parking problems. The multiplex has been designed to accommodate state of the art performances for dance, theater, concert, film projections. Two rooms of the new theatre will accommodate 450 and 300 people and a stage that can accommodate at least fifty artists. A third room has been equipped to host conferences, meetings, seminars and forums. The first two rooms will have unique theater systems-- HD Digital, screen of 12m x 6.5m mounted on removable frames (first in Haiti); a professional digital audio system separate of cinema audio system and an automated lighting system.

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Here is a picture of Kiko Saint Remy with his sister, First Lady Sophia Saint Remy Martelly

Kiko Saint Remy, Brother of First Lady Sophia Saint Remy Martelly

Sonson Lafamilia and his accomplice Renel Lecref, these two criminal leaders of the Galil gang jointly worth an unaccounted annual valuation of$44 million. They were involved in numerous cases of kidnapping, false imprisonment against claims of ransom, money laundering, murder, drug trafficking, and criminal conspiracies. They were arrested and booked several times against serious culpable crimes, but released every time with highly questionable legal orders. Kiko Saint Remy, the brother of the First Lady Sophia Martelly is a known drug trafficker. He was once a business partner of Sonson La Familia alias Woodly Etheard aka SOS. They used to run a restaurant business named "La Souvenance" located at Morne Brun, in Petionville which used to supply food at the National Palace and other important government departments of the country.

Once, Clifford Brandt, an alleged kidnapper, the son of a prominent Haitian businessman and one among the 329 inmates who escaped from a Haitian prison (but was subsequently recaptured in August 2014), had revealed to the U.S investigators that 'Kiko Saint- Remy', the brother in law of Haitian President Michel Martelly is the second most important person in a kidnapping ring. By the end of the last year, when political pressure against Martelly was mounting, Kiko took part in an anti government protest on November 18, 2014, and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. Kiko accused him on charges of masterminding political arrests, exploiting justice, neutralizing competitors, operators and activists. Kiko is one of President Martelly's closest clan and a man in his inner circle; he fights for Martelly's control of territory. Now, without Lamothe, President's Tet Kale Party (PHTK) will be able to use $44 million from the fund of a free man named 'Sonson La Familia' who had been released through an unlawful procedure. PHTK can clear the candidacy of Martelly's wife, fund campaigns and buy fraudulent votes for the party.

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Here is the picture of a Tourist taxi for driver guides in Cap-Haitien

Cap-Haitien's new Tourist Taxis to improve Tourist experience

President Martelly visited Hugo Chavez International Airport to present keys of 18 new tourist taxis to taxi drivers in Cap-Haitien.

Taxi drivers are benefiting from a partnering of car dealers, Banque Nationale de Credit, Haitian Popular Bank, and Management of Destination.

The drivers have formed associations to qualify themselves as professionals. The aim of the new taxis and organization of drivers is to improve tourist transportation, offering tourists more help getting around tourist areas.

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