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Owners of Private Mortgage Funding Corporation (PMFC) have run a scheme on Haitian homebuyers in the Fort Lauderdale area. Gabriel Chauvel and Joan Jean targeted Haitians interested in buying a home.

The couple showed properties and demanded buyers ink a three-month contract, with deposits of $5,000-$15,000. Their checks went into owners' bank account. When buyers wanted to end their contract, they found PMFC offices closed and calls were un-returned. No actual sales were ever made by PMFC.

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Martelly is doing everything he can to avoid holding legislative elections by year's end. The Permanent Electoral Council (PEC) is necessary to prepare and hold elections, but Martelly has effectively aborted its functioning.

He has instituted a major remodeling project, shutting the offices down. He has also bribed PEC leader Ménard to not challenge him.

Prime Minister Lamothe is determined to hold 2013 elections and has the PEC introducing a bill to Parliament to declare elections be held by year's end

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As climate change affects world powers, agencies are developing programs for K-12 about water resources.

National Resource Centers conducted a workshop for K-12 teachers about local water quality and quantity. It informed them about water-borne illnesses afflicting emerging nations.

In Haiti, an individual gets nine liters of water daily, half of the required 20 liters. Water samples also revealed feces contamination.

Students must apprehend problems about endangered water resources. In adulthood they will need to address the water emergency head on.

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President Martelly has failed to satisfy Parliament's opposition. In response to their resistance, he appeared on the airwaves and challenged them to a dialog in front of 10 million viewers.

He teased them, saying he is their leader because the country elected him as the best person for the job.

The opposition demands Martelly resign because he has failed to hold legislative elections by year's end. Martelly, in retaliation, has threatened to disband Parliament and establish a dictatorship.

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The Patriotic Democratic Movement (MOPOD) has announced that it would not be taking part in the August 14, 2013 meeting put on by President Michel Martelly at the Karibe Convention Center. MOPOD's speaker, former Senator Turneb Delpe stated that this snub was in response to the President's insult to the political parties during a restaurant visit and Hotel Karibe meeting in August of 2012. He further states that the parties take great offense to Martelly's injunction of the electoral law of 2008.

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Issued upon maturity at age 18 to all Haitians, the National Identification Card is a non-transferable paper that is acceptable nationwide and has an official status. This personal ID card is mainly for identification and is a right of each Haitian. Flaws in the system have made it so that many Haitians are still without their National ID's. Persons wishing to gain their identification papers should contact the National Identification Office, the organization tasked with registering Haitian citizens.

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United States citizens wishing to travel to the Caribbean country of Haiti have been warned by the U.S. State Department to travel with more than just their sunscreen. In a recent release from the State Department, the high rate of crimes in Haiti, especially those against Americans, juxtaposed with the lack of reliable medical services such as ambulances and the limited scope of the protection offered by security forces, make the need for personable measures safeguarding individual safety necessary.

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Ma Ying-jeou, President of the Republic of China, still considered by most of the world as beholden to Mainland China, planned his trip in the western hemisphere around a visit to Paraguay. This visit was for the witnessing of the inauguration of Horacio Cartes, Paraguay's President-elect. It is a strategic move as well as a diplomatic and symbolic gesture, as Taiwan depends on Paraguay, the only country in the South of America that recognizes its sovereignty.

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Haiti remains one of only 23 world countries that recognize the sovereignty of the Republic of China. The President, Ma Ying-jeou made Haiti one of its stops during a recent tour of those Caribbean nations which give Taipei its support. Also on President Ma's itinerary for a visit is Paraguay, the only South American country that recognizes Taipei, ST. Lucia, ST. Kitts and Nevis and ST. Vincent and the Grenadines. The support is important to the Asian island as Mainland China still considers it as part of its holdings and objects to other country's offering diplomatic recognition.

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Scheduled to be completed by 2015, the ground for the $16 million dollar Supreme Court building, funded by the government of the Republic of China, was broken recently by the presidents of both countries. Speaking at the occasion was the Republic's President, Ma Ying-jeou, who said he was heartened by the move to use the donation for this project as it spoke to Haiti's serious consideration for the 'rule of law'. The original courthouse was destroyed by the 2010 earthquake.

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