Photos

Here is a picture of Presidential Candidate Jude Celestin at the Funeral of Gazzman Couleur's mother.

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016, Presidential candidate Jude Celestin was present in Gonaives to attend the funeral of the mother of his long time supporter Gazzman Couleur. Gazman Couleur is a Konpa superstar who gave his voice (along with his rival singer Gracia Delva) on ads in support to the presidential candidate Jude Celestin of the party INITE, back in 2010. When he was asked by the reporters attending the ceremony, Celestin replied Gazzman is his long time friend and he has been with him since the beginning of his political campaign.

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Here is the picture of Haitian-American Alix Idracheas he was graduating from West Point Military Academy.

Alix Schoelcher Idrache who arrived in the U.S in 2009 with very basic knowledge of English never thought that he would be ever able to complete his dream courses in the United States Military Academy at West Point. A stunning photo, captured by an Army Staff Sgt. Vito T. Bryant, shows tears streaming down the face of second lieutenant Idrache as he stands alongside his peers at the graduation ceremony on May 21. He has said he never imagined that such an honor would be ever bestowed on him. After moving to the U.S. in 2009, he became a U.S citizen, joined his father to serve the Maryland Army National Guard until 2012. He told Army Sgt. Ryan Noyes that Haitians never grow up to be pilots, they don't dream of flying a helicopter. In July, Idrache will attend the Aviation Center for Excellence at Fort Rucker in Alabama, and begin his course to become a pilot--his cherished dream. The photograph became viral as the military academy wrote in its caption on Instagram and Facebook... ""No greater feeling than that of accomplishment!"

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Here is the group dISIP and GAZZMAN COULEUR in HeartBreak.

dISIP is a Haitian band from Miami in the Konpa genre. Its founder and lead singer is Gasman Pierre is better known as Gazman Couleur. To bring out quality music and entertainment, the band was founded in April 2010 after breaking away from the NU Look. 'dISIP' won the ""Winner of Best New Band" reward at Compas on Broadway Awards 2011 and Gazzman Couleur became the winner of "Male Artist of the Year" at Compas on Broadway Awards 2011. The other members of the band are: TBA - Keyboards, Maestro; Jean-Archille "Tchoupy" Clairsainville - Floor Tom; Jean-Baptiste Louis - Drums; Mackenson St-Fleur - Maestro, Guitar; TBA - Congas.

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Here is a picture of Jovenel Moise's Supporters dressed in banana to support him.

On February 2, 2016, the supporters of Jovenel Moise from PHTK party during a demonstration against plans for a postponed presidential runoff, were dressed in banana costumes. Moise, the first round winning candidate from PHTK party is Martelly's chosen successor. Moïse, in his early life, created his first business with little investment JOMAR Auto Parts in Port-de-Paix, which is still in operation today. Thereafter, he began project to supply clean water in rural areas. Later, in partnership with Culligan he opened a water plant. In 2004, he became a member (later president) of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Northwest (CCINO), later promoted to Secretary General of the CCIH. In 2008, he founded Haitian Energy Company SA. In 2012, he founded AGRITRANS SA, with the agricultural project NOURRIBIO at Trou du Nord which was Haiti's first agricultural free trade zone. The project was further extended to include over a dozen of agricultural projects. In 2014, a large-scale banana export plantation, was designed and implemented as a public-private partnership with the Government of Haiti, covering 3,000 hectares of agricultural land. His project has created 3,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs. For Moses, it is important that Haiti finds its place on the world map of exporting countries. He is affectionately called as "Banana Man" by the countrymen.

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Here are some friends and supporters of Jovenel Moise in the streets of Port-au-Prince demanding the holding of the second tour of election.

On Sunday, April 24, 2016, thousands of supporters of presidential candidate Jovenel Moise (PHTK) came to the street demanding quick second phase of elections to end a crisis of power in the country. The runoff has been postponed several times due to instable political conditions and other reasons. In the first round of presidential elections, held on October 25, 2015, Martelly nominated Jovenel Moise secured first position with 32.8% votes, defeating runner up Jude Celestin (LAPEH) with 25.3% votes. There were numerous allegations of false voting, manipulation on counting and there were huge protests against the results published by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) favoring Martelly's candidate Jovenel Moise. On November 29, 2015, Celestin and another seven presidential candidates, representing 49.81% of the vote, gave an ultimatum that no honest, transparent and credible election is possible by the Martelly administration in conjunction with the corrupt CEP along with the support of Police Nationale d'Haïti (PNH). Now Martelly is no more in power. Two bitter opponents, Moise (PHTK) and Celestin (LAPEH), are going to join hands and fight against Interim President Privert, demanding a quick election. There is a possibility to watch a joint rally from PHTK and LAPEH supporters on the streets demanding early elections.

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Here is a picture of the logo for LAPEH and PHTK.

Now the Haitians are waiting to watch one of the most famous reunions. From once worst enemy, fighting against the Martelly administration (PHTK), now LAPEH is planning to join PHTK and fight against the government of Privert. In last April, Jean Hector Anacacis, the coordinator of the Alternative League for Progress of Haiti (LAPEH) has said his party is equally worried like PHTK about the willingness of Privert administration to hold elections. He did not preclude the possibility of being in the street with PHTK supporters against Privert as they share common interests. On January 2016, at the Kinam Hotel, Jovenel Moïse, the presidential candidate from PHTK, mentioned his LAPEH opponent Jude Célestin as a competitor, not an opponent. As per his statement, Jude Célestin is a competitor who is Haitian. We can sit down together and talk for the benefit of the country.

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Here is a picture of Mr. Rony Celestin, Deputy of Cerca-La-Source in Thomassique.

Rony Célestin (born June 24, 1974) under PHTK banner is one of the 92 deputies who sworn in on January 10, 2016 and took office in the Lower House of the 50th Legislature under the constitution. He is a member of Oganizasyon Lavni (LAVNI) political party and by profession, he is an Accountant and Engineer. So far, the responsible offices that he had held include, Member of the Commission of Economy, Finance, Trade and Budget; Member of the Commission of Interior and Territorial Communities, Decentralization and border development; and Member of the Board of Tourism and Culture. He won the first round of legislative elections of August 9, 2015, (Senators and Deputies) with 64.84% votes from the Cerca la Source (Centre) constituency. In the March 2011 election, an opponent contestant from INITE political party complained that Rony and his supporters attacked one polling station and ripped most of the ballots, because Rony was afraid that his opponent might win. In March 2016, there was a rumor that he had received a Nissan Patrol 2015 car as gift from some undisclosed sources in the Ministry of Planning.

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Here is the meeting conducted to finalize the terms for the creation of the Commission of Verification. Present at the meeting was President Jocelerme Privert, PM Enex Jean-Charles and others.

As per news reports dated 17 April, 2016, the terms of reference of the Independent Commission of Electoral Evaluation and Verification were submitted to the Interim President Jocelerme Privert for validation purpose. On the same day, these terms of references were discussed, approved and signed by the representatives of more than a dozen of political parties after several hours of discussions on the work of this Commission. Some of the important terms of reference which were approved include: (a) development of a methodology for a technical analysis of the data; (b) purify the voting process by analyzing the signing and counting sheets, partial electoral lists, ballots, minutes of counting, minutes of deficiency and incidence minutes; (c) evaluation of registered complaints; (d) compliance of voting and counting processes; and (e) identify the perpetrators, beneficiaries and victims of serious irregularities or frauds.

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Who is Senator Andris Riche?

Andris Riche (born 15 September 1947) is a former pastor and a Senator who became the president of the Senate of the Republic between 29 January, 2015, and 14 February 2016. He was imprisoned and exiled during Duvalier regime. In early 2013, then President Martelly termed him as 'demagogue' in Haitian politics. A 'demagogue' is a politician who tries to get support by making false claims and promises by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the common people. Andris is a self-claimed president of the defunct constituency since January 12, 2015. In January 2015, he appealed to the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative dispute (CSC/CA) for a discharge for the former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and requested for a management audit for Lamothe as the Prime Minister (16 May 2012 - 14 December 2014), Foreign Minister (24 October 2011 - 6 August 2012) but not as the Minister of Planning (since 6 August 2012), because as a former Prime Minister, Lamothe is entitled to a relief. However, his plea was not well received by his peers.

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We have learned that there is an involvement of some Haitians in the Panama Papers leaks.

The Panama Papers are an unprecedented leak of 11.5 million files from the database of world's fourth largest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca, specializing in the creation of offshore companies. The leak has also revealed how the rich and powerful people, sometime hide their assets. Some documents found in Panama leak, suggest how politically connected Haitian officials tried to make profits from fuel shortage in Haiti out of a 2014 oil deal valuing $30 million between Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago. Some of the Haitian characters involved in the scandal are, Georges Andy René, who served as head of the Centre de Facilitation des Investissements (from August 2012 to February 2014), an ex-bank executive, and Ralph Pereira, a close friend of former President Michel Martelly. Georges Andes Rene, as the head of Haiti's State-run investment agency, and advisor to then Prime Minister Lamothe, set up shell companies - through Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca to benefit from the deal. In last month, Senator Ronald Lareche said, a special commission would be created to investigate the spending and contracts under former President Michel Martelly's 2011-2016 administration.

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