Photos

The elected senators sworn on Tuesday, January 12, 2016.

On January 12, 2016, fourteen newly elected Senators were sworn and received their scarves at the Senate of the Republic in the presence of the Andris Riché, the President of the Upper House. Andris Riché, during his speech for the occasion, regretted on the absence of woman among the elected Senators. Two validation committees were appointed to verify the documents of the elected representatives. Out of the 14 new elected Senators, the validation of two Senators, Youri Latortue (President, Ayiti An Aksyon) and Jean Renel Sénatus (League Dessalinienne) have been deferred. The commission has requested clearance from the CEP on the pretext that they were improperly elected. In Haiti, the Senate has 30 members, three per department; they are elected by popular vote to serve 6-year terms and one-third of the Senate is elected every two years. However, it has been operating with only 20 of 30 seats filled due to cancelled elections. Six more Senators will join the presently 14 elected Senators after the next by-election. The names of the political parties and platforms from which these 14 Senators were elected are: Konvansyon Inite Demokratik (KID) - 3; Vérité platform (co-founded by René Préval) - 3; PHTK (Parti Haïtien Tèt Kale) - 2; and various trends parties having single representatives - 6.

Permalink | Comments

Here is the picture of two of the senators Youri Latortue and Jean Renel Senatus.

As the fourteen Senators were swearing in on January 11, 2016, two Validation Commissions were formed consisting three Senators each, who were responsible to verify the records of the newly elected officials. The Validation Commissions so employed, has asked to defer the validation of two newly elected Senators, Youri Latortue (President, Ayiti An Aksyon) and Jean Renel Sénatus (League Dessalinienne) until the CEP gives clear explanation on their method of clearances. The commission dismissed their validation under the pretext that they were improperly elected. If Youri Latortue was not barred from the Senate in this manner, could be one of the strongest and influential men inside the Senate. We would wait to see how these two candidates were elected to become Senators in the first round legislative election on August 9, 2015, with the authorization from both the CEP and BCEN.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of two members of the Chamber of deputies Cholzer Chancy and Jerry Tardieu

On Monday, January 11, 2016, Cholzer Chancy (born, 16 February, 1967) has been elected as the President of the Chamber of Deputies under the 50th Legislature for one year term by defeating Jerry Tardieu. He is a former deputy and a member of Ayiti An Aksyon (AAA) political group. He is a choice of President Martelly who won the first round election on August 9, 2015. Cholzer Chancy on becoming President of the lower Chamber, has announced that his priorities would be to decide on the burning issues before the country. To him, the fund allotments under the budgets should be done with proper prudence and effective measures to control budget expenditures should be strictly adhered to. He believes that it is the responsibility of the parliamentarians to improve their own image to the population.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Jocelerme Privert, Senator of the Nippes Department.

Jocelerme Privert (born February 1, 1954), a native of Petit-Trou de Nippes, is one of the ten Senators in office since the Senate became defunct in January 2015. He is one of the most experienced persons in the Haitian political landscape who had assumed several esteemed portfolios like, the former Director General of Taxation, Minister of Interior and Territorial Communities, an interior minister under Aristide, State Secretary for Finance and an advisor of President Rene Preval. On January 14, 2016, he has been elected as the President of the Senate by defeating Youri Latortue from Ayiti An Aksyon (AAA). There are currently 24 sitting members of Haiti's 30-seat upper house. Privert (INITE) obtained 15 votes, there were seven abstentions and two Senators (Sen. Youri Latortue, an adviser to Martelly, who withdrew himself from the President of the Senate contest and another Senator) left the chambers before the vote. Privert has mentioned his prioritized areas of work as President. They are: a permanent Electoral Council, picking the next head of the PNH, a Constitutional Court, and board of the Central Bank.

Permalink | Comments

Here is the lan for the construction project of the new Ministry of Education.

On Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at the Marriott Hotel, President Martelly inaugurated the construction project of the new Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) building. The President was accompanied by the Prime Minister Evans Paul and other important governmental personalities. The construction will start from next March with a target for completion before the new academic year 2017-2018. During the January 12, 2010 earthquake, several students, teachers, principals, including 11 employees of the Ministry of Education died under the rubble of the collapsed training building. During the occasion, President took the opportunity to salute all the government employees who have worked uninterruptedly despite poor conditions and bad weathers from their temporary shelters in tents. The building over an area of 8,000 square meters will be constructed at a cost of $12 million of which $4 million will come from the treasury and the remaining from the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB)

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Pierry, a Haitian immigrants from Queens in Republican Ad.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has decided to run a series of advertisement campaign to showcase how diversified group of Republicans actively support and belong to their party. They have released a series of five advertisements on air (at a cost of $300,000) during the Fox Business Republican Debate in South Carolina on Thursday, January 14, 2016. The ads feature Mario, a Latino, first-generation college graduate from Pueblo; Katherine, mother of an autistic child from Tampa, Florida; Vallerie, a community leader from Sarasota, Florida; Mike, a small business owner and 9/11 firefighter from the Bronx, New York; and Pierry, the son of Haitian immigrants from Queens. This is an effort of RNC to win back the White House after realizing how poorly they fared in the 2012 election with 6% of the African-American vote and 27% of the Hispanic vote. Recent comments by their candidate Donald Trump about immigrants has made the situation worse.

Permalink | Comments

Here Deputies Caleb Desrameaux and Gracia Delva.

Gracia Delva (born June 9, 1972) is a winning candidate for Deputy from Marchand Dessalines (Artibonite) under Haitian Tet Kale (PHTK) banner. He secured 61.06% of the votes in the August 9, 2015 election against his other contenders. He is a singer, Konpa maestro, actor, former MP, better known by his stage name as singer Gracia Delva Marchand-Dessalines. Gracia is one of the 8 members, including 4 PHTK candidates who were elected in the first round of election. His application for candidacy was initially rejected for delayed submission of "title to authentication". Caleb J. Desrameaux is a winning candidate for Deputy from Tabarre under VERITE banner. He is a TV star and radio personality with many appearances in movies and documentaries. Caleb is a former Communications Director of the Ministry of Tourism and Executive Director of TNH (Television Nationale D'Haiti) and he is a self proclaimed "Deputy of Culture". During his election campaign he had stressed that if he comes out as an elected Deputy, he will work to implement policies for the benefit of the youth.

Permalink | Comments

Here a picture of the Electoral adviser Vijonet Déméro.

The representative of the Protestant Federation of Haiti (FPH), Vijonet Demero, calls it quit. He resigned from the CEP on Friday, 1/15/16. Vijonet Demero was also the Secretary General of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP)

In a letter dated January 15, 2016 addressing President Michel Martelly, Mr. Vijonet Déméro, the Secretary General of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and an electoral adviser, representing the Protestant Federation of Haiti (FPH) has submitted his resignation from the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) for reasons beyond his control and has disclosed his plan to return to his earlier role at the Protestant Church. We might recall that in the last December Senator Desras had broadcast on several radio stations that Demero took $ 30,000 for favoring a candidate for deputy. An investigation was initiated by the Federation Ethics Committee, together with other bodies, including the National Defense Network of Human Rights (RNDDH). However, they found no evidence supporting the allegation. His resignation came within a week of the resignation (January 7, 2016), of another adviser Ricardo Augustin, a Representative of the Catholic Church. Ricardo was forced to resign on that day.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Rolin Jean, Florida ‪Powerball‬ winner in January, 2016

Rolin Jean (50 yr old), is the newest millionaire in Florida. He is one of the few luckiest men to win the Powerball Jackpot that had reached over $1.5 billion. He has matched the five white balls in Wednesday's (January 13, 2016) historic ‪Powerball‬ drawing. There are two other winners as well in this world's largest jackpot-- one from California and the other from Tennessee. Rolin purchased his ticket from Orion Gas, located at 10301 Northwest 7th Avenue in Miami. The retailer will receive $100,000 for selling the jackpot-winning ticket. The Florida winner's share (1/3rd) of the jackpot comes to $528.6 million, the lotto says. Powerball drawing on January 13, created with an annuity value of $1,586,400,000 was the largest jackpot in world history. The winning white ball numbers announced at 9 p.m. on January 13 were: 8, 27, 34, 04, 19 and the Powerball was: 10.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Royal Caribbean ship in Labadee, Haiti.

'Labadee' is a tourist oriented resort on the northern coast of Haiti leased to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. until 2050. It is located some six miles from Cape Haitian. The place is very nice, as are its beaches. They are pleasant, relaxing with lots of beach chairs. Since 1986, when RC Cruise made its deal with Baby Doc Duvalier in 1986, Royal Caribbean Cruises has been contributing a larger portion of their revenue to Haiti. Royal Caribbean does not pay any rent of any kind for the 260 acres of waterfront property, but its passengers pay a $12 head tax (it was $10 till February 2015). This private beach resort features pristine beaches, coral reefs and lagoon-like bays surrounded by forested mountains. The location is named after its first French settler marquis de La Badie, who came here in the 17th century. A typical day in Labadee may include snorkeling, filling up your plate at the buffet BBQ, zipping across the water on the 2,600 ft long Dragon's Breath Flight Line or snoozing in a beach chair on a private beach of 25 people.

Permalink | Comments