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Haitian writer Kettly Mars

Haitian writer Kettly Mars

Here is a picture of Haitian writer Kettly Mars.

Kettly Mars (born September 3, 1958) is a Haitian novelist, poet, and essayist. She is one of the most successful Haitian writers of today. For the past twenty years, she has portrayed the sincere and insightful aspects of her country's common peoples' joys and suffering, their emotions, and desires in a precise language which is not only breathtaking but heartbreaking as well. Although her novels and their themes are based on Haiti, they have universal approach with diversified social classes, genders, human race, spirituality, power and violence. She studied classical language and spent first twenty-five years of her career in office administrative jobs. She had love for poem since her young age, but her creative impulses made her to write first poetry when she was thirty-five, perhaps with some reluctance, because they were very much different from her later matured works. Her first poetries were erotically charged with the importance of love, nature, human body and sexuality in everyday life. She proceeded to write with a new style since 1996 and received her first prize in the Jacques-Stephen Alexis contest which further encouraged her to write poems, short stories and novels with inspiring love, the beauty of nature and everyday objects. Kelly started writing about realistic and vivid paintings of societies which are tormented by deep economic and political antagonisms.

Kettly writes in French and her books have been translated in English, Dutch, Italian, Danish and Japanese. Her first major collection of short stories and poetry, "Un parfum d'encens", was published in 1999. Her first novel "Kasale" came out in 2003. "Kasale" has deep root in Haitian culture and the voodoo spirituality. It tells the story the of common villagers' struggle for existence against unknown super powers. The first novel was followed by L'heure hybride (2005), Fado (2008), Saisons sauvages (2010), Le prince noir de Lillian Russell, with Leslie Péan (2011), Aux Frontières de la soif (2013).

Recently on November 21, 2015, she has been honored with the "Prix Ivoire Award" by the jury for African Francophone Literature in French for her novel "Je suis vivant (I am alive)" published in April 2015 by Mercure de France Press. "Prix Ivoire" is an important literary prize awarded every year by the Ivorian Ministry of Culture and Francophone and the French Embassy in Cote d"ivoire at the initiative of the Ivorian Association for Akwaba Culture.

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Haitian journalists received certificates from VOA

Haitian journalists received certificates from VOA

Some Haitian journalists received Journalism and Social Media certificates from VOA.

Haitian Journalists Updated on Journalistic Practices

Voice of America (VOA) gave ten Haitian journalists certificates upon completing the "Journalism and Social Media in the Context of Elections" workshop. The Port-au-Prince U.S. Embassy financed the program.

The journalists were instructed in writing pieces that were unbiased, coherent, and represented differing views. They also received instruction on how to post their articles on social media.

VOA's Haitian affiliate, VOA Creole, is acknowledged as the top international news agency airing on Haitian radio.

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Rodney St Elois at Académie des lettres du Québec

Rodney St Elois at Académie des lettres du Québec

Here is a picture of Rodney St Elois who became a member of the Académie des lettres du Québec.

Highly honored poet and author, Haitian-Canadian, Rodney Saint-Eloi, has been warmly received into the Academie des letters du Quebec.

His work has been published in English, Spanish, and Japanese, resulting in many awards of recognition.

As a member of the Literary Academy he wants to raise awareness of French language, literature, and cultural in the Francophonie. To honor him further he is up for the sought-after Governor General's literary award.

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Kompas Artistic Danse Lesson

Kompas Artistic Danse Lesson

Do you want to learn how to dance Haitian Kompas Music? When you go to a Haitian party, do you want all eyes to be focused on your dance moves? Kompa Artistic dance Lesson is the solution for you.

Kompa Artistic dance is Kompa dance class that is enriched. The classes are provided by two competent instructors: Cliford and Gaelle Jasmin who have been dedicated to make Kompas dance even more beautiful and richer. Some of the steps in Kompa dance have been taken directly from the Haitian folklore, while others, coming from the creativity of the Haitian people

We have several locations in several countries to help you. Below is a list of addresses where you can learn how to dance Kompa Artistic dance

NORTH MIAMI BEACH
SALSABOR FLORIDA dance class
on Saturdays 3-4PM
at VK Dance studio
3363 NE 163rd street
North Miami Beach, FL 33160
MIAMI
SALSABOR FLORIDA dance class
on Saturdays 6-9PM
at Little Haiti Cultural Center
212-260 NE 59th Terrace
Miami, FL 33137

MARGATE (BROWARD)
SALSABOR FLORIDA dance class
on Thursdays 7-11PM
at Gold Choice Ballroom
345 South State Rd. 7
Margate, FL 33068

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Quebec elementary school textbook contains racist material

Quebec elementary school textbook contains racist material

Here is a picture taken from a Quebec elementary school textbook that the Haitian community called racist material.

Some members of Montreal's black and Haitian communities have reported that a French Textbook (Ardoise grammar book), meant for Grade 3 and 4 students contains racist material and it should be withdrawn from the curriculum. They consider the book as racist because no other perspective of Haiti has been presented to the kids in the book, but it describes poverty, ignorance and backwardness of the Haitian community. The controversial part of the textbook is a story of an 11-year-old small girl from Haiti, named Fancia who does daily household chores of a woman. She lives in a Haitian community of poor and black people where doing daily chore is a normal practice, but hope to get educated is nothing but an absurd dream of a small girl. The given description could be an individual instance, but never a describing representation or a part of children education.

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Haitian officials master's degree ENAP of Quebec

Haitian officials master's degree ENAP of Quebec

Here is a picture of the ceremony for the Haitian officials graduates of the master's degree ENAP of Quebec.

On October 6th, 2015, at the Hotel Karibe Convention Center, a graduation ceremony of the National School of Public Administration (ENAP) of Quebec, in Haiti, wash held. Twenty Haitian executives from the ministries and decentralized agencies of the State who have undergone a 30 month course under a support program to 'Strengthen Public Management in Haiti', received their parchment from the hands of the Head of Government, Prime Minister Evans Paul and André Bourret, the vice rector for Academic Affairs of ENAP of Quebec. The Prime Minister, in his remarks for the occasion has mentioned that this line of cooperation has correctly addressed the needs of the State to equip itself with the right personnel in the public administration and management. Haiti welcomes every similar endeavor and he conveyed many good wishes to ENAP of Quebec to grow and prosper.

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Building Inauguration of Lycée Alexandre Pétion

Building Inauguration of Lycée Alexandre Pétion

Here is a picture taken on the occasion of the Building Inauguration of Lycée Alexandre Pétion in October, 2015

On an earlier occasion while launching the construction project of the Toussaint and this School in December 2013, the President had mentioned, education is the weapon that can open all doors to make your dreams come true and the government is there to support you in this endeavor.

Mr. Boniface Alexandre, a former President of the country during the transition period (2004 to 2006) after the departure of President Jean Bertrand Aristide, and a former student of the school was present during the occasion.

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View of Lycee Alexandre Petion

View of Lycee Alexandre Petion

Here is a view of Lycee Alexandre Petion during the inauguration of its building in October 2015

The new building has a total 43 classrooms: out of which 16 are dedicated for primary section and 23 for secondary section accommodating about 2,600 students and 167 teachers. The school was almost destroyed during the 2010 earthquake; now it became functional once again with including multi-sports fields, five laboratories, cafeterias, and an auditorium with 250 seats.

During his speech for the occasion, the President mentioned 'Lycée Alexandre Pétion' as the first secular educational institution in the Caribbean. As the success of an educational institution depends on the participation of all, the new school calls for the supports of every part of the society. Now, the children of Bel-Air can attain the best education here, and the concept of building and running a successful educational institution in an impoverished area like Bel-Air should be understood by the countrymen as a model, an example which other disadvantaged areas in Haiti should follow where the children can learn about the modern technologies and inventions.

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View of Classroom at Lycee Alexandre Petion

View of Classroom at Lycee Alexandre Petion

Here is a view inside of a classroom at Lycee Alexandre Petion during the inauguration of its new building

On Thursday, October 8th, 2015, the Haitian President Martelly accompanied by the First Lady Sophia Martelly, Prime Minister Evans Paul and several other ministers, including Nesmy Manigat, the Minister of National Education, and several hundred participants, went to inaugurate the new premises of 'Lycée Alexandre Pétion' in Bel-Air, Port-au-Prince. 'Lycée Alexandre Pétion' is the first secondary school in Haiti, founded in 1816 A.D. It was initially known as the Grand College of Port-au-Prince, but later the name was changed to its founder's name-- Alexandre Petion (2 April 1770 - 29 March 1818). The new premises covers an area of 9,400 square meters, and in 2016, it will celebrate its bicentennial year.

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North Miami School Principal Jean Coty Ridore Arrested

North Miami School Principal Jean Coty Ridore Arrested

Here is a picture of Haitian-American Jean Coty Ridore who was the School Principal at North Miami Adult Education Program. He was arrested for corruption

Jean Coty Ridore (38), the principal of North Miami Adult Education Center has been arrested on Monday, October 5th, on multiple felony charges, such as accepting unlawful compensation, official misconduct and grand theft. Multiple law enforcement agencies are investing his conduct after receiving anonymous complaints about his hiring and employment practices. Ridore used to pay employees who did not show up to work and some employees used to receive higher than their real wage so that Ridore can collect his kick back from them; some even lost their jobs who earned the ire of Ridore. On Monday he was arrested on complaints that he took $1,000 in cash to hire a no-show employee and then arranged for illegal kickbacks from the man. North Miami has suspended this year's (2015-16) grant funding of about $100,000 to the school. Ridore with salary around $110,000 had been with the school since July 2005; he was in charge of more than 400 employees.

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