Photos

Here is a picture of Michaëlle Jean as she was elected new secretary general of la Francophonie.

A refugee from Haiti, Jean came to Canada in 1968. After graduation from university in Canada, she worked as a journalist and broadcaster for Radio-Canada and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation CBC.

Haiti's current UNESCO special envoy, the former governor-general of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, was named as the new secretary general of the French-speaking nation's union, la Francophonie.

In her assent to the post, she beat out others including the president of Burundi, a diplomat and writer from the Congo, and the premier of Mauritius. Before politics, Jean worked as a journalist on Canadian radio. Now, at 57 year-old, she will take the helm from former secretary general, president of Senegal,Abdou Diouf.

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Here is a picture of Ms. Lucie Tondreau, the former North Miami Mayor. She is charged for participating in an $11 million mortgage fraud scheme.If convicted, Ms. Tondreau could spend up to 30 years in prison

Disgraced and ousted former Mayor of North Miami Lucie Tondreau is set to begin trial for fraud shortly. The jury selection has begun for a group of Ms. Tondreau's peers who will decide whether she was guilty of being part of a mortgage scheme that defrauded some $11 million or not. If convicted, the suspended mayor could spend up to 30 years in prison. While Karl Oreste, her business partner, has pled guilty, Tondreau turned in a plea of not guilty for the charges.

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Hundreds of applicants got whittled down to 20 short-listed Haitian bright-sparks, and from that heavily truncated list, Haiti's Ten Outstanding Young Persons for 2014 were named. They are, in no particular order: Lonick Garius, for business or economic affairs; Iléus Papillon, for cultural achievements; Samanda Leroy, for government or political legal affairs; Anne Martine Augustin, for academic achievement and leadership; Haveson Badine Florvil, for personal development and achievement; Elie Joseph, for medical innovation; Djenika Mars, for moral or environmental leadership; Chenet Caty, for voluntary work and humanitarian leadership, Daniel Tilias, for children's and human rights, world peace; and Jasmin Reginald Cherenfant, for technological and scientific development.

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This is a classic case of custody battle and the power of technology. You are seeing a picture of a 13 year old Haitian boy reuniting with his mother after 4 year in captivity. The boy was declared missing 4 years ago during a visit to his father Gregory Jean.

According to the report, the boy spent 4 years behind a linen closet at his father's home. Finally, the boy was able to downloaded a cellphone app to contact his mother this week, saying he was being beaten by his father

By now most have heard the story of the teenage boy found holed up in a wall behind a linen closet. His parents, Haitian-born father Gregory Jean (37) and step-mother Joy Davis (42) answered charges on his imprisonment on November 30. The boy, reported missing for the past four years after being sent to visit Jean, was found behind a false wall in his father's Jonesboro home in Atlanta, Georgia. The child was recovered after he texted his mother using an app he'd downloaded on his phone.

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Despite recent news that the value of the Haitian gourde was depreciating at a rapid rate, Governor of the Central Bank, Charles Castel, remains convinced that the dollar will not touch 50 gourdes by the end of 2014, though the month is still young, and the dollar is already at 47 gourdes. His reason for thinking this is that December and the season represent a time when foreign remittances will be high. Apart from certain steps being taken by the bank to stop the process, the call has gone out for a ramp up in the production of local goods to reduce the import bill.

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The opposition finally met with US Ambassador Pamela White.
The closed-door meeting that took place in the party offices of Haiti's Social Democrat Fusion party on December 2nd, 2014

Opposition Leaders and Martelly Stand Toe-to-Toe

Pamela White, U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, met opposition leaders at FUSION headquarters to negotiate with them.

Anti-government leader Jean Victor said his comrades were clear with White ". . . the current crisis is . . . of Haiti's making, and it is up to Haiti to find a solution . . ."

Nation-wide protests have been occurring, calling for Martelly to step down. If he doesn't and elections aren't held by January 12th, Parliament will be disbanded and Martelly can rule by Presidential decree.

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Here is a picture Kriz Rara in the streets of little Haiti in Miami Florida.

Kriz Rara Rev Nou Inc. Celebrates Haitian Culture

Kriz Rara Rev Nou, Inc is a Haitian Marching Roots Band that is trending in Little Haiti, Florida, begun one year ago. Kriz Rara, every Saturday night at eight or nine, makes a processional around Little Haiti, playing Haitian folk music.

During the march the band of 13 makes several Salutations to acknowledge the neighborhoods. The parade lasts two hours and 200-plus people have joined the party by the end, where they join a hanging out session.

People Experience High Spirits Traveling with Kriz Rara Rev Nou Inc.

Kriz Rara Rev Nou Inc. is a marching band that has become a Saturday night institution in Little Haiti.

The march/dance starts at Baz for a safe journey. More marchers join as the procession goes block-to-block, and refreshments are available along the way.

The march ends at Baz again where participants are encouraged to hang out, but you need to reserve a chair for the Trip as it is called.

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Here is a picture of the famous Haitian musical band Rara Lakay in little Haiti Miami Florida.

Big Night in Little Haiti is held every third Friday of each month. November's theme was Haitian Roots, part of an eight-day festival, the 31st Miami Book Fair International, hosted by Miami-Dade College's Center for Writing and Literature.

BNLH introduced Lakou Mizik to American audiences. The concert was a pastiche of music styles, influential musicians, and timely social issues, but also traditional music, reinvented for today's audiences. Lakou Mizik has recording spaces in Port-au-Prince and Jacmel.

Rara Music Embodies the Haitian Spirit

Rara, the latest genre of Haitian music, is an electronic dance music format. It is percussion-based using petwo drum rhythms from Africa. Tin horns and cylindrical bamboo trumpets round out the Rara sound.

A popular Rara group called Rara Lakay leads dancers through Little Miami streets during Lent. Other times they hold private events at homes.

The lively Rara sound emerged in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, symbolic of the resiliency of the Haitian spirit.

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Here is a picture of President michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe giving Honor and Merit to Fabrice Rouzier, Clément Bélizaire and Eric Virgal

Musicians Esteemed with Haiti's Highest Award

Prime Minister Lamothe and President Martelly bestowed the Honor and Merit plates on musicians Fabrice Rouzier, Clement Belizaire, and Eric Virgal at the National Palace for their enrichment of Caribbean and Haitian music.

Martelly, in a moment of nostalgia, said, "Our reunion today reminds me the years of performance with you on stage" He also made special mention of Martiniquan Virgil whose songs ". . . make him a son . . . of Haiti . . . through . . . songs like 'Gonaives' and 'Yon ti zetwal pou Ayiti'."

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Here is a picture of the Haitian singer Luck Mervil with an international reputation. The singer is currently in a lot of problem with the law. Mervil has been charged with sexual assault and sexual touching of a minor.

Luck Mervil Out of Luck with Sexual Battery Charge

Luck Mervil, a well-known Haitian-Quebec musician, is alleged to have inappropriately touched a minor back in the 90s. He did not show up in court to answer charges, letting his attorney speak for him. He is being charged on one count of sexual touching, and one count of sexual assault on an adolescent.

Mervil's career has included the release of several CDs, film and TV work, music composing, and stints as a game show host.

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