Photos

Several cases of Haitian mothers found to be abandoning their children in hospital in Dominican Republic.

Dominican Hospitals tasked with finding Homes for Abandoned Children

Haitian mothers are deserting their children at Dominican hospitals. Arturo Grullon Hospital Director, Dr. Morel, says the hospital must take care of the children while CONANI looks for foster families or an orphanage.

She says mothers bring in a sick child, get them admitted, and then flee, never to return. She adds new policies will be implemented for Haitian mothers bringing in sick children, to stop the practice of child abandonment.

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Haitian singer Belo was awarded "World Citizen Artist 2014" for his song "Citizen of the World"

BelO's Message: Global Peace and Unity

Musician BeIO is Haiti's representative on the world stage. Among many awards, he has garnered the Prix Radio France International 2006 Discoveries. His music is a blend of modern genres along with Afro-Haitian rhythms.

BeIO, a socially-conscious artist, released Haiti DEBOUT following the earthquake. He has toured in Europe, Asia, Canada, and the U.S. His song "Citizen of the World" was penned ". . . to plant the seed of global peace and unity in the minds of the listeners"

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Here is a picture of Miami-Dade County Court Judge Fred Seraphin.

Fred Seraphin's Roots Deep in the Miami-Dade Community

Fred Seraphin, selected by Governor Bush, became county court judge in Miami-Dade in 2001, the first Haitian honored. After earning his law degree he worked as assistant public defender in Miami-Dade for a decade, interspersed with a stint in private practice.

Seraphin is a community builder: co-chairman at Haitian Families Neighborhood Resource Center. He also mentors in the Big Brother, Big Sisters program.

In 2001, the Haitian Lawyers Association bestowed its Humanitarian Award on him.

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Here is a picture of the Public market of Fontamara that is currently in Construction

Fontamara Public Market Construction Moving Forward

Office of Communication of the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation announced Fontamara public market project is 25% done. The project that began April 1st is receiving funding from the government treasury, whose benefactor is Petrocaribe.

The large-scale market will contain 300 stalls; a parking lot; an operations center; cafeteria; toilets; and infrastructure for safety, sanitation, and loading/unloading decks.

Plans to build a dock on the coastline close to Fontamara will improve the fishing industry in the area.

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President Michel Michel Martelly has agreed with all the recommendations made by the Commission, including the resignation of his Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe

President Martelly has followed the recommendations of a special commission, and asked Prime Minister Lamothe for his resignation. With Lamothe's resignation, Martelly hopes to end a protracted political fight thwarting elections.

Everyone is confused about when a new Prime Minister can be installed, but it needs to happen before January 12th, or else Martelly rules by decree.

The opposition is worried Martelly will operate a dictatorship, so he can control presidential elections in 2015.

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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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Here is a picture of the new members of the CSPJ. Ms. Anel Alexis Joseph, president of CSPJ. many demand his resignation as head of CSPJ, Mr. Anel Alexis

After the recommendation of the presidential committee, Mr Arnel Alexis find himself in a position where he could no longer stay in the position.

As for the departing members of CTCEP they have complied with the request to resign, understanding sacrifice is necessary to solve the political crisis of the last several weeks. Lucien Jura, spokesman for the presidency, talking about the new CTCEP said, "The new electoral advisers have realized the need to now be part of the solution rather than the problem."

Martelly has conferred with CEP members, Senators Desras and Thimoleon, and will meet with Supreme Council President Joseph to get the electoral process started immediately.

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In an attempt to follow the recommendations of the executive committee to find a somution, President Michel Martelly is meeting with the CSPJ President, Me Anel Alexis Joseph. As you may recollect, one of the recommendations of the committee is the resignation of Me Anel Alexis Joseph as head of the CSPJ

Appointments to the Supreme Court and Permanent Electoral Council prepare Haiti for Elections

President Martelly appointed Me Anel Alexis Joseph to be the new President of the Court of Cassation that has been operating without one dating back to 2004. Martelly also appointed another judge, Jean-Louis Maecenas, to the COA, leaving four seats to be filled. The appointments have been held up because the Senate has submitted names of questionable character.

One of Joseph's first tasks was witnessing the swearing-in of nine new members of the Transient College of Permanent Electoral Council (CTCEP), who are replacing nine departing members, asked to tender their resignations, according to the Consultative Commission's recommendations. This turnover of the CTCEP fulfills one of the demands of the opposition, who want a new CTCEP to organize free, fair, and democratic state and local elections. After the swearing-in, the new members from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches will travel to the CTCEP in Petion-Ville to begin the task of organizing elections quickly.

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Here is a picture of Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe with his friend Haitian President Michel Martelly

The protestors want government corruption to stop and believe it should start with the disbandment of the Martelly-Lamothe government. They have been scuffling with police outside the National Palace, fired upon by U.N. peacekeeping soldiers and tear-gassed by local police. So far, one man has died near the rubble of the presidential palace.

Martelly is scheduled to meet with members of the CC on Monday to go over its recommendations. Currently three names are being floated for replacing Lamothe: Senator Jocelerme Privert, erstwhile interior minister; ex-prime minister Jean-Max Bellerive; and present Finance Minister Marie-Carmelle Jean-Marie.

During Lamothe's time in office he earned recognition for his involvement in pivotal infrastructure projects. But rumors and allegations he mis-handled funds for the Petrocaribe Fuel Program, and he spent too much government money to make himself a favored candidate for the presidency in 2016, turned his political supporters against him.

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Here is a picture of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe with an elderly Haitian Woman.

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe Resigns under Mounting Political Pressure

Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, under pressure from the government, civil society, and the international community, declared he was resigning from office on TV in the wee hours of Sunday morning. In his remarks he said he was leaving office ". . . with a feeling of accomplishment" That Saturday, President Michel Martelly, who had welcomed the suggestions of the Consultative Commission (CC), asked for Lamothe's resignation in order to break the gridlock of delayed general elections. Overdue by three-and-half years, it has caused wide-spread violent demonstrations in the capital and elsewhere in the country.

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