Photos

Here is a picture of Haitian Economist Fritz Jean, President Jocelerme Privert & Appointed Prime Minister Fritz Jean
On February 26, 2016, the interim President of Haiti Jocelerme Privert appointed reputable economist Fritz Jean (59) as the new Prime Minister of provisional government. As per Anthony Barbier, the Secretary General of the National Palace, the President has signed an executive order for this appointment. Fritz Alphonse Jean is a Cap-Haitien born U.S. educated economist, politician and writer who had served as the governor of the Banque de la République d'Haïti between 1998 and 2001. He studied economics and mathematics in the United States, in New York. Since 2012, he had served as the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Professions of the North East Department. His two main publications (in French)-- a novel titled "Amethys - Open Wounds" and an economic and historical overview of Haiti, "Haiti - The End of an Economic History".

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here is a picture of Prime Minister Evans Paul and his ministers on the day of the investiture of Fritz Jean as New Prime Minister. Evans Paul refusing to participate at Fritz Jean investiture.

On Friday, February 26th, when Jocelerme Privert announced the name of Fritz-Alphonse Jean as the new Prime Minister, Evans Paul could not conceal his dissatisfaction. In a press meeting with Marie Lucie Bonhomme Opont (wife of CEP President Mr. Pierre-Louis Opont) on February 23, he announced that he would not take part in the investiture of the new PM nominee, because his presence at this investiture would be considered as a symbolic support to this chaotic environment. This announcement of the new Prime Minister by the new provisional president is contempt of the Haitian constitution. Furthermore, the name of Fritz-Alphonse Jean as the new Prime Minister has been announced without the approval of the presidents of the both houses of Parliament, or without the confirmation of the eligibility of Fritz-Alphonse Jean as the Prime Minister and moreover, no confidence vote was taken. The announcement also contravenes the February 6, 2016 agreement.

We might remember that during the investiture of Jocelerme Privert as the Provisional President, Prime Minister Evans Paul was noticed among the attendees, standing in the crowd like an onlooker in a marginalized manner. Was it a coded message from the new provisional president that to let the Haitian Prime Minister know that he has no place in his new administration?

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Here is a picture of Nesmy Manigat, the new President of Global Partnership for Education.

GPE was launched in 2002 and today it is working in 61 developing countries to ensure that every child receives a quality basic education. GPE prioritizes the poorest, most vulnerable and those living in fragile and conflict-affected countries. The organization has allocated $4.4 billion in grants since 2003. Its key results show that about 69% of girls in GPE partner countries have finished primary school in 2013 compared to 56% in 2002. With GPA assistance, the primary completion rate has gone up to 72% from 63% in 2002. In the last year, on December 21, 2015, as part of the second civic education campaign, Nesmy Manigat, the then Minister of National Education, had launched a national level music and literary contest "Nou tout sanble, menm lè nou diferan" in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civic Action. On Thursday, February 18th, on his invitation, a dozen of former education ministers were present at the Ministry Forum. The Minister Manigat explained them how the exchange of ideas and expertise could contribute and improve the quality of education given to every section of the society.

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Here is a picture of Haitian sociologist Anthony Barbier, general secretary of the National Palace.

In a memo dated February 22, 2016, Anthony Barbier has informed all the former administrative members of the National Palace, who is holding government vehicles belonging to the National Palace and using for personal or unauthorized purposes, to return them to the National Palace car park within the next 72 hours of the memo issued. He has also advised on the restricted use of tinted glass, sirens and strobes on cars.

Jean Renel Sanon has served as the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Dean and Chief Prosecutor of Port-au-Prince's Civil Court. Recently, following the departure of former President Martelly on February 7th, there were reports of looting at the official residence of the president. Jean Renel Sanon, as the then Secretary General of the National Palace categorically denied such reports and had said that the property of the republic is intact.

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Here is a set of pictures of alleged kidnapper Clifford Brandt who was recaptured by the Dominican Police

On January 28, 2016, during the trial of Chris Brandt Jr, the Judge Me Jean Wilner Morin, after the identification process of the accused and his five other accomplices in the court room [Sawadienne Jean (30), Carlo St-Fort (30), Carline Richemard (30), Pierreval Ricot (39), Saint-Fort Carlo Bendel and Evens Larieux (45)], ordered the suspension of the hearing and announced the resumption of the trial on 15 February, 2016. A dozen of lawyers were present in the courtroom to defend Clifford Brandt, who has been arrested on charges of Kidnapping, illegal restraint against ransom, conspiracy, usurpation of title, death threats, forgery and use of forgeries, illegal possession of firearms and money laundering. The trial was again postponed on February 15, because the accused Chris Brandt was absent in the courtroom.

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On February 7, 2016, President Michel Joseph Martelly made a twenty minute farewell speech to the nation. Addressing the Haitian people he has said, since the moment he took his office on May 14, 2011, he had worked 'night and day' to improve the country for the Haitian people. His biggest regret was the postponement of presidential election. He has justified his every act with the statement that he is ready to answer before the court of history. February 7th, 2016, was the end of his constitutional term of 5 years as the President of the Republic. He thanked Haitian people for entrusting him the great responsibility to hold the state's highest office. In his farewell speech, he insisted that he was leaving office to contribute to constitutional normalcy. On early Saturday, he shifted power to Prime Minister Evans Paul in an effort to stop unruly street protests and avoid a dangerous power vacuum.

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Here is Canadian of Haitian origin Dominique Anglade who was elected to the National Assembly of Quebec.

Dominique Anglade (42) is a member of the National Assembly of Quebec, former president of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) and the CEO of Montreal International, an agency responsible to promote the city to foreign investors. After graduating in Industrial Engineering from the Polytechnic School of Montreal (EPM), she began her career at Procter & Gamble in Ontario in 1996. In 2003, she completed Master of Business Administration (MBA) from HEC Montreal (Hautes Etudes Commerciales). She provides strategic advice to many leading companies. Anglade was born in Montreal, but her parents (Georges Anglade and Mireille Neptune) were originally from Haiti, and had returned to live there permanently. Her father was a writer and professor, co-founder of the department of geography at Université du Québec à Montréal. Unfortunately, both of them died in the Haitian earthquake of January 2010. Anglade is Quebec's new minister of the economy, science and innovation and digital strategy.

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Here is a picture of the plan for the reconstruction of Haiti Ministry of Interior. The cost of construction of the Ministry is estimated at $ 17.5 million with funding provided by PetroCaribe-Treasury.

It is estimated to create more than 150 jobs.

Work for this building is underway and scheduled to be done by January 2014.

On Thursday, February 4, 2016, President Martelly inaugurated the new building for the Ministry of Interior and Territorial Communities (MICT) located at the corner of Paul VI and Monseigneur Guilloux, on the site of the General Tax Directorate (DGI) which was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake. The five-storey building, with the financial support of the Treasury and the PetroCaribe funds, will house the MICT office, a meeting room, an infirmary, a cafeteria and a parking space for 120 vehicles at the ground level and for about thirty vehicles in the basement. The building will be equipped with three lifts and two emergency staircases-- everything meeting the norms of modern standard practices. Two construction companies, Constructora ROFI" (Dominican) and "Overseas Engineering & Construction Company" (Taiwan), were employed for the construction of the new MICT building.

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Here is a picture of the new Wharf Jérémie, in the commune of Cité Soleil.

The project was initiated in November 2013 under the various five year action plans undertaken by the Martelly Administration to put Haiti on the road to prosperity by building supportive infrastructure to rejuvenate its competitiveness and facilities for development. To allow the implementation of the project, 323 families were relocated. They voluntarily dismantled their homes and shifted to makeshift shelters or houses. The plans undertaken by his administration also include the construction of the Port of Petit-Goâve, the North Quay of the Port of Port-au-Prince, and the construction of the Unit of Port of Cabotage of Jérémie and of La Saline.

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Here is a picture of the ceremony for the removal of presidential sash from President Michel Martelly.

On Sunday, February 7, 2016, Michel Martelly made his farewell speech to the nation as he left his office without any replacement. His day of departure coincidentally became the first day of Port-au-Prince's annual three-day Carnival celebration, which was called off as violent protests erupted in many places. It was as well as the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship. Martelly left the country in the hands of a disputed interim government amid one of the worst political crises in recent years-- and without a president. However, an agreement for a transitional government was reached just twenty two hours before Martelly left his office. To symbolize his departure, Martelly returned the presidential sash to the National Assembly by handing it over to the then National Assembly President Jocelerme Privert.

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