People

Here is a picture of Mirlande Manigat with {Provisional President Jocelerme Privert as she is a possible candidate for Prime minister.

On February 16th, 2016, Provisional President Privert had a meeting with Mr. André Michel at the National Palace along with several other political leaders. Mr. André Michel was the presidential candidate under the banner of the JISTIS. Mirlande H. Manigat was also present there in her capacity of the General Secretary of the Rally of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP). After the conclusion of the meeting, Michel said he has proposed the name of Mirlande Manigat as the new Prime Minister to lead the Transitional Government and President Privert was convinced that there would be no problem of cohabitation with Mirlande Manigat as his Prime Minister. André looked confident on the belief that the President would accept his choice.

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Here is a picture of Dr. Rony Gilot who became Secretaire Adjoint of the national palace.

Dr. Rony Gilot, a veteran politician and author, has been chosen as the Secretaire Adjoint of the National Palace. Dr. Gilot was once the Information Minister of Baby Doc Duvalier and used to maintain regular communication with Baby Doc when the junior Duvalier was in exile in Paris. He has written a biography of the Papa Doc Duvalier titled "The Misunderstood". Gilot is sympathetic and partially supports the autocratic rules of the Duvalier era, because he believes that it was in some ways, were similar to the postwar German and Italian rules, necessary to make a nation disciplined. His latest book released in 2012 was titled as "In Grateful Memory of Jean-Claude Duvalier or Luck Overused". He has also written a book on the former Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille titled as "At the Option of the Memory ̶ Garry Conille or the Passage of a Meteor."

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Here is a picture of Haitian Agriculture Minister, Joanas Gué.

The former Minister of Agriculture, Jonas Gué was one among the six potential candidates to the post of the Prime Minister which was published on Friday, February 19. His other five contenders for the post were: the economist and former Governor of the Haitian National Bank, Fritz Jean (the present Prime Minister); Director of the Radio Télé Antilles international, Jacques Sampeur; Myrlande Hyppolite Manigat, a presidential runner-up in 2010; the former Senator Dieusseul Simon Desras ; and the former Senator Edgar Leblanc Fils from OPL (Organisation du peuple en lutte). We might remember that in February 2010, following the devastating earthquake, then Agriculture Minister Jonas Gué asked for debt relief when he visited Rome to meet with senior officials of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) during the 33rd session of the Funds' Governing Council. He convinced them to ease the burden in order to rehabilitate and strengthen Haiti's agriculture and rural sector following the previous month's devastating earthquake. In July 2010, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cancelled its $268 million debts owed by Haiti and extended a loan support amounting to $60 million under extended credit facility (ECF) plan.

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Here is a picture of Assad Volcy from Pitit Desalin and the New Provisional President Jocelerme Privert at the National Palace.

Assad Volcy, the General Secretary of the Haitian party Pitit Dessalines, was one of the Martelly's strongest oppositions who never wanted to settle for anything less than the resignation of President Michel Martelly. On 23 December 2015, he even rejected the new Electoral Assessment Commission created by Martelly after the postponement of October 25, 2015 election. When Privert took charge as the provisional president and called private sector representatives, the personalities of the Lavalas movement and the irascible opponents of Michel Martelly at the National Palace to build a national consensus to continue the election, Assad was looking like a victorious soldier. He said, the country is entering a "new political dynamic."Jocelerme Privert has made required commitments to the Audit Commission to complete the electoral process. The crisis would be resolved. Assad believes, for those who want justice, the transitional government would shed light on the management of Martelly administration.

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Here is a picture of Lilianne Pierre-Paul, reporter for Radio Haiti International in the 1980s.

The relentless efforts to expose social problems and injustice have always forced Lilianne Pierre-Paul to remain the most outspoken critic of the government since the final days of the Duvalier regime. Lilianne is the star reporter of 'Radio Haiti International and Radio Kiskeya'. She is a pride of the Haitian society, President of the Association of Haitian Media and also the leading reporter and a regular host of Radio Kiskeya. In recent times, she was vocal against all irregularities and election frauds of Martelly administration as well. Her bold reporting curtailed the Pierre-Paul's movement, she was imprisoned for her views on governments, faced numerous death threats and she was on several hit lists. Many times, her entry was prohibited from entering certain government buildings and Lilianne was sent on a six-year exile in Venezuela and Curacao-- but she has always refused to remain silent. Her devotion and commitment helped her to win the 'Courage Journalism Award' in 1990 by the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF). She won the 'Roc Cadet SOS Freedom Prize' in 2014. On December 13, 2012, she was honored by the 'Havana Guitar Show'.

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Here is a picture of President Michel Martelly crying as he spent hi final moments in Office as President of Haiti.

President Michel Martelly made his 20- minute farewell address to the Haitians while leaving his office on February 7, 2016. In his speech before the parliament, he said one of his biggest regrets was that the presidential election could not be completed. He thanked those who accompanied him, defended his family against accusations of embezzlement. He said, people will remember that once there was a certain Michel Joseph Martelly who loved, gave, and built. He has worked night and day for the country and is ready to answer before the court of history. During the final moments in the office, he became emotional; drops of tears were shining in his eyes.

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Here is a picture of President Jocelerme Privert and wife Ginette M.PRIVERT.

On Tuesday, February 23, 2016, Dr. Ginette Michaud Privert, the first lady of the republic, visited the construction site of the Faculty of Medicine. The 2010 earthquake caused severe damage to this Haiti's medical school. A Canadian coalition, initiated by the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), in collaboration with other medical groups is working to rebuild it. The First Lady was accompanied by Dr. Max Rudolph St-Albin, Director General of the Office of Industrial Accidents Insurance, Sickness and Maternity (OFATMA). On the next day, she paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of Haiti in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and met Ambassador Magali Jeanty Magloire. Her husband, Jocelerme Privert, the present interim President was a former Interior Minister and the President of the Senate Committee on Economy and Finance.

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Here is a picture of Senator Jean Baptiste Bien-Aime. On February 24, 2016, Senator Jean-Baptiste Bien-Aimé unearthed another scam. As per his source report, Emmanuel Ménard, the director of the National Old-Age Insurance Office (ONA) in a letter dated 18 January 2016, instructed the Republic Bank of Haiti to transfer huge sums favoring an account of the Unibank SA (A/c No: 102-1011-301-898). The transfer of the sum, as per his description was initiated by the Tet Kale team, intended to bribe the parliamentarians to ensure their party's continuity in power. On the same day, there was another estimated billion gourdes transfer to an account of the BRH (A/c No: 131-669-799). There was another suspicious transfer of funds amounting $20 million to an Israeli firm. The reasons of all these transfers of public money were never properly disclosed and thus they call for a serious investigation.

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Here is a picture of Haiti's provisional president Jocelerme Privert with appointed prime minister Fritz Jean on February 26, 2016 during his investiture ceremony.

In his acceptance speech, Jean has acknowledged that his task is huge. It is a lot more than creating the necessary conditions to hold a free, fair and credible presidential election; simultaneously, he has to re-establish the macro- economic stability in the country. Jean has also said that the country is facing serious social and economic difficulties. We must set aside our differences for the sake of the country. Jean as a person is more technocrat than a politician. He was tapped by Privert for the number two job in the administration after two weeks of consultations with political and civic leaders.

However, the appointment of Fritz, Jean as the new Prime Minister is not free from controversies. As per amended Haitian constitution (1987), a Prime Minister must get a vote of confidence from the parliament. Some members from the Martelly's camp are arguing that Jean is neither apolitical nor the consensus prime minister that the accord demands. He and the interim President Jocelerme Privert have the same political root (Fanmi Lavalas Party). However, some analysts are of opinion that Jean's selection is a sign of Privert's optimism that the provisional government could play a larger role than merely organizing elections.

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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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