Photos

PHTK protesters launched slaugans against journalist, radio show host Jean Monard Methelus and threw stones on the building, breaking several windows.

On Saturday, May 14, 216, the supporters of former President Martelly shouted slogans against journalist and radio show host Jean Monard Methelus and threw stones on the Radio Caraibes building, breaking several windows. It appears that PHTK, the Political Party of former President Michel Martelly, no longer believes in non-violent protests. The violent protest was led by Fednel Monchery of Repons Peyizan and Jude Lajoie of Platfom Viktwa-- both are defenders of Martelly's handpicked presidential candidate Jovenel Moses. PHTK has already disapproved the audit commission created by the provisional president Privert to check the credibility of the election. The agitators were demanding to continue the controversial election which is presently under the scanner of the verification commission. However, the demonstrators consider this delay caused by the audit/verification is in violation of the accord signed earlier, as it is nothing but a step to cancel the earlier election held in the Martelly regime.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of the road accident resulting in Four commandos suspected in Commissariat attack were found dead.

On Tuesday, May 16, 2016, about 50 gunmen wearing faded green uniforms that appeared to be from Haiti's disbanded military, attacked the Les Cayes police station. They killed one police officer (Tisson Jean-Pierre) and wounded at least two others before fleeing. The assailants ransacked the police station, stole guns and tortured the police officers. When they tried to escape in a white van, it swerved off a road and tumbled into a ravine, killing three of the attackers. One of them was killed earlier during a shootout with officers in the police station. Three of the attackers were arrested. One of the arrested attackers has linked former Senator Guy Philippe with this attack. Philippe is a former Tonton Macoutes leader, suspended Haitian Police Chief, and a presidential candidate (Front for National Reconstruction, a guerrilla group). Guy Philippe has a longstanding arrest warrant of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency over charges of cocaine smuggling and money laundering, and the Human Rights Watch has accused him of extrajudicial killings.

Permalink | Comments

Dominican Company took $10 million to build the Parliament building.

When in March 2012 then president Martelly visited the Dominican Republic, he was awarded the country's highest honor for a foreign Head of State, mainly for his effort to lure investment in the reconstruction of earthquake torn Haiti. However, according to an explosive March 31, 2012, report by star Dominican journalist Nuria Piera, Martelly as a candidate, president-elect, and president of Haiti, received bribe close to $2.6 million in over a dozen payments from a Dominican Senator named Félix Ramon Bautista. The payment came from the bank accounts of two Bautista-owned firms and in return, three Dominican companies, connected to Senator Bautista, received Haitian government contracts totaling $343.32 million. Senator Bautista Rosario was also the secretary of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). Those contracts were: (1) Constructora Hadom (98% owned by Bautista) won the contract to rebuild Haiti's Parliament Building, destroyed in the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake, for $33.77 million; (2) Constructora Rofi S.A. was awarded to build a new housing development at Fort National for $174.31 million; and (3) Construcciones y Diseños R.M.N. S.A., won $135.31 million contract to build another housing development in Bowen Field. A closed bid with three companies belonging to the same person is horrendous and when these deals finalized by the former Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive on November 8, 2010, became the target of an audit by the succeeding Prime Minister Garry Conille, he was forced to resign. Since receiving the advance of $10 million, there is no trace of Constructora Hadom. A recent spot investigation made by UCLPB concludes that it was a total waste of money as nothing has been done for the amount disbursed so far.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Mr. Fritz Deshommes, the new rector of UEH.

Fritz Deshommes (born November 18, 1954 in Port-au-Prince) one of the founding members of the Haitian Association of Economists and a professor of economics at the State University of Haiti, has been elected as the new Rector of the State University of Haiti. The election was held in a secret location on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, in the presence of 24 out of 36 members. Fritz Deshommes was elected in the second round of voting (13 votes were in his favor and 10 against). Hérold Toussaint was elected Vice-Rector with 17/3 votes. Deshommes is considered as one of the pioneers of contemporary economics journalism in Haiti. Some of his important publications are: Neo-liberalism Economic Crisis and Alternative Development (1995), Minimum Wage and Subcontracting in Haiti

(2010), Cost of Living and Economic Policy in Haiti (2008), Neo-liberalism, Economic Crisis and Alternative Development (2014), Haiti - The Nation Torn - Between "American Plan" and National Project
(2016).

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of former rebel Guy Philippe as he supporting Jovenel Moise as candidate for President of Haiti.

In last January, former Senator and coup leader Guy Philippe threatened to divide the country unless then President Martelly leaves his office within February 7, 2016 deadline. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has a longstanding arrest warrant against Philippe over charges of cocaine smuggling and money laundering. Furthermore, the Human Rights Watch has accused him of extrajudicial killings and he has alleged involvement in the recent attack at the Les Cayes police station which resulted in the death of a policeman, four attackers, and injuries to five officers. He is a former Tonton Macoutes leader and a suspended Haitian Police Chief. Guy Philippe is popular and has a stronghold in the southern part of Grand' Anse Department. He has endorsed his support for former President Martelly's handpicked presidential candidate Jovenel Moise.

Permalink | Comments

5.18.16 - Collier County, Florida. Six children sent home from school for wearing t-shirts with the Haitian flag and national coat of arms on Haitian Flag Day.

Five school girls were sent home for wearing T-shirts with the Haitian flag and national coat of arms on Haitian Flag Day, because it was a breach of the Collier County school district's student code of conduct. However, according to such code of conduct, only four flags can be worn in school: The United States flag, the POW/MIA flag, the Florida state flag, and the school's flag... but no Haitian flag. The POW/MIA flag was designed during the Vietnam War, as a symbol of national concern about U.S. military personnel who were Prisoners Of War (POW) and those who are still Missing in Action (MIA). The students later said, they felt discriminated, because, their parents were from Haiti. The Haitian Flag day is indisputably a symbol of general pride for all people of Haitian descent. Every year, it is observed in Haiti and in a number of U.S. cities with large populations of Haitian Americans. It marks the day (May 18, 1803) when the first Haitian flag was flown during the slave revolt against the French that led to the nation's independence. The school is situated in the town of Immokalee, Florida, where 8.9% of the people are Haitian descent.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Mr. Mosler Georges, Executive Director of CEP who just announced his resignation.

On May 21, 2016, Mr. Mosler Georges (born May 10, 1974), the Executive Director of CEP, submitted his resignation by a letter addressing Mr. Léopold Berlanger, the President of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). His resignation came amidst increasing criticism from political actors demanding his departure from the CEP. He has been replaced by Uder Antoine, the General Coordinator of the Office of Management and Human Resources (OMRH). His resignation came without any prior information or explanation. As per his statement, his decision to resign would take effect on receipt of the letter. Mr. Mosler Georges is an experienced lawyer. He was the Head of legal affairs of the NPC / North and legal advisor to the electoral section of MINUSTA. He has represented and took charge of many important offices relating to investigation of electoral process and drafting of electoral bills. With a specialization in human rights, he was the member of the Office of the Secretary of State for the Integration of Disabled Persons.

Permalink | Comments

Haitian Attorney Andre Michel wants PHTK disqualified from the electoral process and listed as terrorist organization.

Michel Andre, a lawyer and the former presidential candidate of JISTIS, considers that the Parti Haitien Tet Kale (PHTK) of former President Michel Martelly, should no longer be considered as a democratic political party, but a terrorist group and has asked the Ministry of Justice to revoke their party credentials in the next election. This was his reaction following the armed attacks at the Les Cayes police station in the dawn of May 16, 2016 which resulted in the death of a policeman, four attackers, and injuries to five officers. One of the captured attackers has told the local reporters that former Senator Guy Philippe, a presidential candidate (Front for National Reconstruction, a guerrilla group) who was a former Tonton Macoutes leader and former Haitian Police Chief, was behind the attack. Andre criticized the demonstrations led by the PHTK that resulted in the destruction of citizens' property. He also feels that CEP should have taken proper action against the PHTK much earlier, because they were behind the violence leading up and during the August 9, 2015 elections and massive frauds undertaken during the October 25, 2015 polls.

Permalink | Comments

Here is Jocelerme Privert in Arcahaie during the celebration of the Haitian Flag.

On May 18, 2016, President Jocelerme Privert visited Arcahaie to attend the 213th anniversary of Haitian Flag. On Wednesday, the President arrived in the city of flag despite the threats from the supporters of the Tet Kale party who burned tires and blocked major arteries into the city of Arcahaie. There were reports that they would not allow President Privert to enter the city and participate in the traditional ceremony on that day. However, the events unfolded in a different way. The ceremony was celebrated without a hitch and the President was able to send a strong message to these partisans. He has said, there would be no election in the country until the verification commission sheds light on the happenings of October 25th election. Although he did not mention any name, it was easily understood that his prime target was Martelly's Parti Haitien Tet Kale (PHTK), because they are the only political party in Haiti opposed to a verification of the last elections; the election was conducted during Martelly's regime and he along with his supporters were accused of massive frauds.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Uder Antoine, the new Executive Director of the CEP.

On May 23, 2016, as per the announcement of the electoral institution, Uder Antoine, has been installed as the new Executive Director of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), Haiti. He has taken charge from his predecessor Mr. Mosler Georges, who resigned on Friday 20 May. Since December 2015, during the presidency of former President Michel Martelly, Uder Antoine had been serving as the general coordinator of the Office of Management and Human Resources (OMRH). On Monday, May 23, his investiture ceremony took place on the Stéphen Archer Street in Petionville. Léopold Berlanger, the President of the CEP installed him as the new Executive Director of CEP replacing the outgoing Director Mr. Mosler Georges.

Permalink | Comments