Photos

Here is a picture of President Michel Martelly as he was returning the presidential sash to the National Assembly.

On February 7, 2016, the former President Martelly to symbolize his departure, returned the presidential sash to the National Assembly by handing it over to the then National Assembly President Jocelerme Privert. The presidential sash is an important symbol of the continuity of the presidency, designed to resemble the nation's flag, or the country's national colors and symbols, especially those of Latin American presidents. Its value as a symbol of the office of the head of state can be compared to that of a crown in monarchies. To symbolize a change, Jean-Bertrand Aristide as a new President chose a peasant woman to put the Presidential sash on him. The next morning, President Aristide served breakfast to hundreds of homeless people and street kids at the National Palace.

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Here is a picture of Yonel Previllon, former PHTK Deputy Candidate for Desdunes wo was assassinated.

On Saturday, February 9, 2016, the body of Lyonel Previlon was found in the area of Delmas 75 near the vehicle of presidential candidate Jovenel Moïse whom he was accompanying. Lyonel is a former PHTK parliamentary candidate from the Commune of Desdunes. We might remember that Lyonel Previlon was one of the 14 candidates (13 for deputies and 1 in the Senate) who were delisted by the CEP following the acts of violence on voting day of August 9 in several electoral constituencies. In the August 9, 2015 election, he was a candidate for deputy from Desdunes (Artibonite); he was accused on charges of violating of the election acts and removal of ballot boxes. The PHTK platform is well known for preaching tolerance and condemning violence. The platform PHTK has conveyed condolences to the family of the victim and has called for an immediate, serious independent investigation to find the culprit behind this assassination.

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The period of instability continues in Haiti. A Police Officer was killed in Martissant.

In the early morning on February 12, 2016, a Haitian police officer was killed by multiple gunshots while he was patrolling on a motorcycle in Martissant, 21, a rough section of the country's capital. The PNH has confirmed that the slain officer was an employee of the Directorate of Traffic, named David Dume. He was in uniform, left home for his workplace. There have been no arrests in Friday's killing. As per Haitian National Police spokesman Frantz Lerebours, an investigation is under way. Martissant is a troubled district long known for gang activity.

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Here is a picture of Ladouceur Mejuste, Caraibes by Night.

Radio Haiti (later renamed to Radio Haiti-Inter) was the first independent radio station (1935) in Haiti. With the emergence of broadcasting media during the 1930s, many other radio stations which are still well known today were also created. Some of their names include: Radio Haiti (1935), Radio Caraïbes (1949), Radio Voix du Nord (1945), Radio Citadelle (1950), Radio Indépendance and Voix Évangélique. On October 12, 1977, by a decree issued during the regime of Jean Claude Duvalier, a controlling and regulatory body (National Council of Telecommunications or CONATEL) was created. Radios are a major part of Haitian Culture, about 97% of the population own a radio set and at least there are over 300 radio stations are believed to be operational. Attacks and threats are nothing new to the Haitian radio stations. In recent past, two journalists of Radio Haiti Inter (Jean Dominique, Jean-Claude Louissaint) were killed at the radio station on April 3, 2000. They were well known for their political commentary and investigative reporting. Maxime Seide, Dominique's bodyguard was killed on the previous Christmas day. Radio Haiti is one of the first stations to broadcast in Creole language rather than in French. Recently, Radio Télé Kiskeya was a target of gun attack and its two senior reporters, Liliane Pierre-Paul and Monard Metellus earned ire of the former President Martelly.

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Here is a picture of Patrick Elie, former Secretary of State for Public Security.

Patrick Elie, a longtime pro-democracy activist and Haiti's former Secretary of State for Public Security passed away at the age of 66, in the morning of Friday, February 12, 2016, in a private hospital in Port-au-Prince. He fractured his femur bone after a fall and was suffering from a stomach ulcer. He died of internal bleeding. He delivered his last public speech on February 5, 2016; it was about the march of the disbanded army on the streets of Port-au-Prince. Patrick Elie had been in Haiti as a political activist since 1986, when people's popular movement drove former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier from the country. He took part in movements with Rene Preval, Jean-Bertrand Aristide and Antoine Izmery. He was a companion of many other pro-democracy activists who fought against the military governments that assumed power after Duvalier was ousted.

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Here is a picture of Edgard Leblanc Fils, former coordinator of the OPL.

Out of the 13 candidates who vied to become the next interim president, late on Friday 12, 2016, the list was shortened by a bicameral commission in parliament to '3'-- (i) Senator Dejean Bélizaire, former head of the National Assembly; (ii) Senate President Edgard Fils Leblanc and; (iii) Senate chief Jocelerme Privert. At least nine of the candidates had deposited the required filing fees ($8,414) for this 120 day temporary job. The money deposited was intended to be transferred to the State University of Haiti account. However, the members OPL (Struggling People's Organization) of which Edgard Leblanc Fils is a former coordinator, was divided over the candidacy of Edgard Leblanc Fils. They did not support his candidacy as they are equally opposed to the Privert's candidacy and his following success. The OPL Coordinator Sauveur Pierre Etienne has said that starting with a separation of powers, a lot of principles have been violated by this accord. Privert had played a leading role in making the accord and he is now taking benefit from it.

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Maryse Narcisse, Mildred Trouillot Aristide at Jocelerme Privert's investiture.

The inauguration ceremony of former Senator Jocelerme Privert as the Provisional President at the National Palace on February 14, 2016 was attended by many personalities from the political and diplomatic worlds. Many noted business personalities and political allies like Jean Charles Moise, Mathias Pierre, US Ambassador Peter F. Mulrean, head of the PNH, and some hardcore oppositions of Martelly like Dr. (Mrs.) Maryse Narcisse (presidential candidate of Fanmi Lavalas) and former First Lady Mildred Trouillot Aristide (wife of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a rare political appearance) were seen among the witness of Privert's investiture. Prime Minister Evans Paul was seen among the attendees, watching as an onlooker in a marginalized manner. Could this be a message to the Martelly aids that they have no place in the Privert's administration? Privert will pick Haiti's next Prime Minister, in consultation with the Speakers of the House and Senate.

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Here is a picture of Prime Minister Evans Paul during the investiture of Provisional President Jocelerme Privert.

On February 14, 2016, during the ceremony of investiture of Jocelerme Privert as the Provisional President of Haiti, many hardcore oppositions like Maryse Narcissi and Mildred Aristide, wife of former President Jean Bertrand Aristide, Jean Charles Moise, Mathias Pierre, Joanas Gué from the Platform of Truth, losing candidate Dejean Bélizaire, and many noted businessmen were present at the National Palace. In his speech for the occasion, Privert sent many thanks to his former colleagues of the Parliament who have bestowed their confidence on him. It was surprising to note that Prime Minister Evans Paul was standing in the crowd in a marginalized manner like an onlooker. Was there any coded message from the new provisional president that to let the Haitian Prime Minister know that he has no place in his new administration? Privert will pick Haiti's next Prime Minister, in consultation with the Speakers of the House and Senate.

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Here is a picture of La Gonave.

The former President Michel Martelly had made a plan with an unknown institution to transform the La Gonâve Island into an International Financial Center with three official languages: English, French and Creole. As per the plan, an area of 100 square kilometers within the 743 square kilometer Island of Gonâve will be transformed into a sustainable green island community consisting the following projects. (a) renewable energy project, Jatropha farm and biodiesel plant that would employ over 18,000 Haitians; (b) luxury estate housing; (c) waterfront villages; (d) international and private airports; (e) industrial city with deep sea port; (f) all inclusive destination resorts with spas, golf courses and casinos; and (g) home port for large cruise ships. The agreement withholding the description of financial institution was made public by an Executive order issued by the Martelly government on January 7, 2016. The private entity will be empowered to build necessary infrastructure as per the requirement of the project and collect revenue to cover their investment. The plan was originally conceptualized in September 2010. It was a surprising fact that a public disclosure of such status was unknown outside of the principles involved.

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Here is a picture of two haitian Presidents Jocelerme Privert and Michel Martelly.

Less than 24 hours before the scheduled departure of Martelly, the Haitian leaders were able to manage and find a consensus for a short-term provisional government necessary to hold the postponed presidential and legislative runoff. However, such consensus was arrived by overruling the Haitian constitution on deals between the executive and legislature; the agreement was signed by Martelly, Privert, and the Speaker of the House and it was brokered by the OAS members. As the ruling Senate Chief, Jocelerme had also played a central role in those discussions. Recently, Privert has told the Associated Press that a new electoral council will be created soon to ensure that the postponed runoff is held within the scheduled time frame in a fair and transparent manner.

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