french

Here is a picture of French President Francois Hollande during a visit in Haiti on May, 12, 2015. He actually fall in a stairway as he was going up to speak

France won't pay Haiti Reparations: Martelly says it's Time to Move On

President Francois Hollande arrived in Port-au-Prince with a commitment to invest $145 million into Haiti's economy. Although government and business sectors welcome Hollande's largesse, protestors with long memories about France's extorting $20 billion from Haiti as payment for its independence, are fuming.

One protestor shared how many feel about France's wresting $20 billion in reparations for plantation owners' losses: "We Haitians know . . . a big reason why we are suffering today is because we were forced to pay France for our freedom . . ." An event coercing Haiti to pay ". . . ten times the country's annual revenues . . ." was a world-wide embargo led by the French in 1825. French warships threatened to bomb Port-au-Prince harbor if Haiti didn't pay up.

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Here is a picture of the Haitian Canadian writer Dany Laferriére as he was wearing his Academician suit while holding his Academician sword. He made his official entry as a member of the Académie Française on May 28, 2015.

Haitian-Canadian author Dany Laferriere was selected to be one of the "immortals" in the Academie Francaise in 2013.

Laferriere has produced a large of body of work, 20 novels over 30 years. The subject matter of many of his books is the experience of being an exile.

He was introduced to the Academie in a formal ceremony on May 28th 2015 He says he is ". . . proud of being a writer."

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French remains the language of the affluent and privileged in Haiti, often used n polite society such as the upscale Supermarkets high above the capital's shanty towns, selling brie and baguettes. Many Haitian parents are often willing to let their children stumble in their coursework just to learn a language that even their teachers barely speak. Creole on the other hand is seen by some as the language of the impoverished masses

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New cultural magazine on RFI, Koze Kilti

On Sunday, March 27, 2016, the Radio France Internationale (RFI) has introduced a new program in Haitian Creole and French which would be broadcast exclusively on its Haitian antennas. The program named "Koze Kilti" (Talk about culture, in Creole) is a 27 minute program under presentation of the Haitian journalist Dangelo Néard which would be broadcasted every Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and rebroadcast at 8:30 p.m. (Haiti time). It is a program produced in partnership with the French Institute in Port-au -Prince and recorded in the Institute's Port-au-Prince studio. The program will include local and international cultural news of the week from areas like literature, film, music and visual arts. Radio France Internationale (RFI) is available via the satellite bouquet Canal Sat Caraïbes. In Haiti, the program will be available on the following FM channels: Port-au-Prince (89.3 FM), Cap Haïtien (100.5 FM), Gonaïves (90.5 FM), Jacmel (96.6 FM) Jeremiah (92.7 FM) and Les Cayes (106.9 FM).

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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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Here is the Haitian senator from North of Haiti, Moise Jean-Charles speaking in French. There has been a lot of critics about the ability of the senator to express himself into the French Language.

There is a general understanding in Haiti if you are unable to speak French therefore you are not educated or smart.

Senator Moise Jean Charles has become a controversial figure in Haitian politic as he is in opposition to the government of Michel Martelly. He has accused the government for corruption and others.

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Here is a picture of Michaëlle Jean as she was elected new secretary general of la Francophonie.

A refugee from Haiti, Jean came to Canada in 1968. After graduation from university in Canada, she worked as a journalist and broadcaster for Radio-Canada and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation CBC.

Haiti's current UNESCO special envoy, the former governor-general of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, was named as the new secretary general of the French-speaking nation's union, la Francophonie.

In her assent to the post, she beat out others including the president of Burundi, a diplomat and writer from the Congo, and the premier of Mauritius. Before politics, Jean worked as a journalist on Canadian radio. Now, at 57 year-old, she will take the helm from former secretary general, president of Senegal,Abdou Diouf.

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Here is a picture representing the freedom Haiti took from France. That is when the Haitians declared themselves free from the French colonization

Although we are still paying the price for who we are, it is important to know our real place in history so that we can at least teach our children about our history

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If there is one word that the Communication Minister, Mr. Rudy Hériveaux, wishes to take back if he could would be his word "Cafards" eloquently put in his now famous article "Le Syndrome du Cafard".

This editorial was published on "Le Nouveliste" newspaper in November, 2014. Cafards translated into English means cockroaches. In his article, the most controversial and damaging sentence was: "....Emportés dans une espèce de frénésie destructrice, ces cafards s'agitent dans un folklore dégoutant dans les rues pour tenter d'assauter le pouvoir....." As it was clearly noted by Marie Lucie Bonhomme during her interview with Minister Heriveaux this was a direct reference to the opposition in stating that "These Cockroaches.........

Here is a copy of the entire article by Communication Minister Rudy Hériveaux:

" Engagé dans une dynamique remarquable de transformation du paysage socio-économique, le Gouvernement Martelly-Lamothe a doté le pays de nombreuses infrastructures routières, scolaires, hospitalières sportives, portuaires et aéroportuaires. Cette performance n'a pas laissé indifférente nos compatriotes. L'admiration et le respect qu'ils expriment devant ces multiples réalisations à travers les émissions de libre tribune et sur les réseaux sociaux en témoignent grandement.

D'un autre côté, le pragmatisme et le dynamisme de l'équipe au pouvoir représentent un véritable cauchemar pour la vieille garde de cette opposition sclérosée, prisonnière de ce réflexe malsain qui consiste à nager dans les eaux troubles de la déstabilisation.

En effet, une espèce d'hystérie collective s'est emparé des forces anti-démocratiques devant les performances du Gouvernement Lamothe.

On assiste aujourd'hui à un cirque lamentable où la folie du pouvoir conjuguée à la phobie des élections, génèrent les comportements les plus irrationnels et les plus dégoutants.

La question cruciale des amendements à la loi électorale que refuse de voter systématiquement une frange rebelle du Sénat de la République, est étrangement banalisée par une faune politique qui, paradoxalement et bruyamment, réclamait l'organisation des élections.

Depuis, leur discours s'est radicalisé. Ils ont décidé d'étaler au grand jour leurs sordides machinations. Vecteurs chroniques d'une instabilité endémique, ils renouent avec leur exercice favori :S'abrutir dans l'engrenage infernal du "Rache Manyok".

Emportés dans une espèce de frénésie destructrice, ces cafards s'agitent dans un folklore dégoutant dans les rues pour tenter d'assauter le pouvoir. Un triste spectacle quasi quotidien, symptomatique de la bêtise d'une certaine classe politique rétrograde, figée dans l'archaisme et les vieilles pratiques démagogiques qui ont fait tant de torts à notre pays.

Cet acharnement pathétique à vouloir par tous les moyens court-circuiter les règles du jeu démocratique, illustre parfaitement leur mépris pour le peuple qui dans toute démocratie est toujours source organique et fonctionnelle du pouvoir politique.

Catalyseurs d'un débat intense dans les médias haïtiens sur l' 'utilité' et la 'nécessité' d'un chaos politique, ces adeptes de la politique du pire rejettent tout appel au dialogue et refusent tout compromis.

Incapables de formuler les éléments d'une réflexion sérieuse pour la conduite du destin national comme l'a confirmé l'un de leurs représentants sur les ondes de Vision 2000 à l'émission 'invité du jour' de Valéry Numa, ils restent attachés à une tactique médiocre de chantage, de surenchère en piétinant de manière indécente les principes cardinaux de l'Etat de Droit et les valeurs républicaines.

Dans cette atmosphère polluée, le Président de la République a voulu éviter avec humilité et intelligence les effets pervers d'une crise politique dommageable. De multiples concessions ont été faites jusqu'ici par le chef de l'Etat. les discussions du 24 décembre 2012 qui avaient conduit à la mise sur pied du CTCEP avec la médiation de Religion pour la paix, l'Accord d'El Rancho, Best Western, les multiples changements opérés au niveau du CEP, l'intronisation à la tête de cette institution d'un représentant du pouvoir Législatif, bref une louable ouverture d'esprit et une volonté inébranlable de préserver la Paix, la stabilité et l'harmonie au sein de la grande famille haïtienne.

Une énième invitation a été envoyée aux partis politiques de l'opposition radicale. Mais derrière cette carapace rebelle qui les rend imperméables à toute idée de conciliation, ces opposants farouches et aveugles préfèrent se retrancher derrière les murs de la démagogie et de la médiocrité.

Ainsi ils ont choisi de se lancer dans cette aventure au bout de laquelle les attend une cruelle désillusion...

Haïti ne reviendra pas en arrière. Tous les acteurs politiques doivent définitivement divorcer d'avec ces pratiques délétères pour embrasser la modernité politique. Notre histoire est traversée par des luttes fratricides, stupides, inutiles et malsaines. Nous avons le devoir de tirer les enseignements nécessaires de ce passé tourmenté pour en ouvrir une nouvelle page.

Ce nouveau chapitre s'est ouvert avec le Président Martelly et le Premier Ministre Lamothe au timon des affaires. En dépit des multiples obstacles dressés par le groupe des 6 et l'aile dure de l'opposition, le Président Martelly poursuivra les consultations politiques dans la perspective des prochaines joutes électorales en Haïti.

Dans ce climat de tensions et de malaises palpables, le Chef de l'État fait preuve d'un leadership éclairé et remarquable. Viscéralement attaché à la paix, la stabilité et aux principes de la bonne gouvernance, il mettra tout en Å"uvre pour la tenue des élections, passage obligé pour le renforcement des institutions républicaines et la poursuite du redressement socio-économique d'Haïti."

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Here is a statue of the Haitian hero Toussaint Louverture standing proudly in Fort de Joux in France With French and Haitian Flag.

Francis Domenica Breda or Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803) as he was more popularly known, is one of the great leaders in the history of the Haitian revolution. He was born in a slave family and the first Black to become the governor of a colony. Toussaint was a self educated revolutionary who defeated Europe's best-trained forces, including armies from France, England and Spain and France. After securing its independence, Toussaint renamed St. Domingue as "Haiti" and his policy on abolition of slavery eventually aroused the ire of Napoleon Bonaparte. On June 7, 1802, He was captured in Saint Domingue by an act of deceit by a French General of Division named Jean Baptiste Brunet. Toussaint, who had never remained far from his warm sea-level Caribbean life, was transported to Fort de Joux in France by ship and sentenced to a cold solitary cell measuring 6,50 x 3,90 meters. He was one of the fort's most noted prisoner. He suffered from loneliness and died in the prison out of a certain malady of the lung. Today, the fort is a tourist site, tourists come to pay tribute to his statue at Fort de Joux gifted by Haiti to mark the bicentenary of his death. The statue has French and Haitian flags on both sides.

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