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Here is Sholzer Chancy, Deputy Ennery (AAA)

On the demand of some opposition candidates, the outgoing President Martelly appointed an Independent Electoral Evaluation Commission on December 22, 2015. The report released by the commission on January 3, 2016 clearly concludes that the October 25 election was tainted by irregularities at the polling stations benefitting several candidates through proxy voting and other fraudulent means, committed by their representatives. It further mentions that the Provisional Electoral Commission (CEP) does not have any credibility to hold a free and fair election in the country.

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Haiti Postponed Election

On Wednesday, January 6th, after receiving confirmation from the Provisional Electoral Commission (CEP) President Martelly has announced that a new election day for the presidential and legislative runoffs has been scheduled on January 24, 2016. Earlier on January 1, 2016, on the Haitian Independence Day, President Martelly had announced that as per CEP's information to him such election has to be held latest by January 17th, 2016, if not, there will be no time left to fulfill the constitutional mandate of inaugurating a new president within February 7, 2016. On January 4th, Pierre-Louis Opont, the chief of CEP, informed President Martelly that 12 days of preparation for a postponed runoff will not be sufficient. Then on the next day, on Tuesday evening, he (Opont) informed that he could "guarantee" that the council would be able to organize the final election round one week later. In the last month, on December 16, 2015, the country has celebrated its 25th anniversary of the first democratic election held back in 1990.

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Here is a picture of Me Gedeon Jean, Member of the Presidential Election Evaluation.

Although the Electoral Commission of Evaluation has reported gross irregularity in the October 25, 2015 election, its conclusions and recommendations were well accepted and welcomed by President Martelly's Haitian Têt Kalé Party (PHTK). However, Gédéon Jean, the Secretary of the Independent Electoral Commission of Evaluation (CEEI) is not happy with its simple conclusions and recommendations. He has denounced them and did not sign the report of the said commission, although his name was printed at the bottom of the document. He has criticized the recommendation because he has found the percentage of fraud was alarmingly noticed over 15% of the minutes. He has demanded a thorough investigation of the minutes to purify the whole process from massive frauds. Gédéon Jean is also a representative of the National Defense of Human Rights Network (RNDDH).

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The Haitian entrepreneur Christine Souffrant and Vendedy Street vandor site

Christine Souffrant is a 25-year old Dubai-based entrepreneur and a graduate of Ivy League University. She could not forget her parents' struggle; they eke out a living as street vendors. Christine has founded 'Vendedy International' that would empower the street vendors globally with access to the digital market. During the 2010 earthquake, she was a college student. She saw her mother's most trading partners went missing or were presumed dead and her business collapsed. It was then she decided about building some 'apps' that would facilitate street vending business, digitally. After graduation, she found a job at Baker Hill Finance in New York. Thereafter, she moved to Dubai to study masters in international business and social entrepreneurship at Hult International Business School. It was there she launched her company for vendors online "Vendedy"-- global street markets in your pocket.

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Here is a picture of Ricardo Augustin, member of the CEP

Ricardo Augustin, a representative of the Episcopal Conference was installed as a member of the 9-member Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) on January 23, 2015. He took charge as the treasurer of the CEP and was entrusted with the responsibility of Artibonite department during October 25, 2015 election. He is the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Social and Political Université Notre Dame D'Haiti and General director of Institut Haitien de Social Doctrine Chrétienne (IHDOSOC) Haiti (both since 2011). Recently, in an article titled "The Impossible Consensus", he has said that, for last two decades, Haiti is passing through recurrent political crises, although it is nothing new to this country. There are many instances since the beginning, many elected presidents could not complete their terms. However, this time the crisis has reached such a degree that if we do not take prompt, effective measures, we have to disgracefully surrender to the foreign troop.

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In our Tax Help section, we will help you with all your tax questions

A good tax planning with reasonable tax knowledge can help you to minimize your tax liability. Tax is paid on your income earned during every entire financial year. 'Tax Time' is the period within which you have to submit your return or provision based statements, to the tax assessing authority. Suppose, you have a financial year from January to December. In that case, your tax time should be from January 1- April 15. During the 'tax time' you have to total all your incomes (from every source) to find your total income during the year and from that total, deduct all expenses admissible by the tax authority (called legitimate deductions, like some educational or medical expenses, rent paid, etc) which were essential to your life or were made to earn your income. Such deducted amount is again subject to some deductible allowances like insurance premium, depreciation on assets, etc. You must learn about the treatment for those allowable allowances. Now, the final figure that you have worked out would be your taxable income which is again subject to exemption up to first 20,000 Gourdes.

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An alert for Zika virus infection in Haiti

The symptoms of Zika fever are similar but milder to Dengue fever or Chikungunya. Recently, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) has circulated an Epidemiological Alert in the Americas. The sample specimens of Aedes and other mosquitoes responsible for the epidemic were collected by the Haitian Epidemiology Department and sent for testing to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago-- but those were found negative. No evidence of Zika fever has been found in Haiti. However, as a preventive measure, the Haitian Ministry of Health has decided to maintain its regular surveillance. It has directed health service providers to report immediately, if they ever notice any patient with symptoms of Zika fevers. There is no antiviral treatment of Zika fever, only the symptoms can be lessened by treatments.

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Here is Esaie Prophete, Elected Deputy of Wuartier Morin (OPL)

As per the latest news, the presidential run-off will be held on January 24, 2016-- just two weeks before the deadline for the new president to swear in on February 7. But, there are some problems. The main contestant to this run, second place winner Jude Célestin says he won't take part in the contest. Like other opposition political parties, he also believes that the second election will be nothing but a repetition of the first drama fraught with frauds. Eduardo Gamarra, a political expert from Florida International University in Miami is of opinion that there were frauds in the last election from all participating sides. No single parties to blame, rather many others were actively involved in the felony because of the ineffective electoral system. He also believes that since Martelly cannot run for a second term, he may use Moïse as a sort of puppet in order to stay in power. But he thinks Jovenel would be much more independent than people speculate.

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Here is Garry Bodeau, Deputy of Delmas (Bouclier)

'Delmas' is a district in the West of the capital city Port-au-Prince, an urban continuation of the capital city. With its population growth, economic and social developments, it became a town in 1982. As per 2009 Census, it is the home of 359,451 people within an area of 27.74 square kilometers. Its population is only 15.26% of the metropolitan area of which 54.04% are women. It is a residence dominated area of affluent people with some shopping centers and supermarkets. 'Delmas' is the richest part of the capital city. Two main roadways of 'Delmas' are Autoroute de Delmas and Boulevard de Toussaint Louverture. These roads are numbered in a systematic way: even numbers on the south side and odd numbers on the north side. The residential areas on the hills are very popular and thus 100% of the city is urban. By its economic system, standard of living, infrastructure quality, it is one of the most equipped and developed areas in the country.

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Here is a picture of Me Ocname Dameus.

With repeated allegations of corruption against the members of Provisional Election Commission CEP and the National Office of Electoral Litigation (BCEN), the National Human Rights Network (RNDDH) has written to Me Ocname Dameus, the Chief Public Prosecutor of Port-au-Prince, for a formal investigation. The letter from the RNNDH starts with the startling disclosure of Gerald Jean, a candidate for lower chamber of Deputy from Ferrier/Perches who paid about $25,000 (in a way like an auction bidding) to obtain a decision in his favor from the National Office of Electoral Litigation (BCEN). Me Ocname Dameus has confirmed the receipt of the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) letter denouncing the CEP and BCEN and said the investigation has already been started.

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