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Paul Magloire ("Kanson Fé) being decorated by President Dumarsais Estimé

Paul Magloire (

Here is a picture of General Paul Magloire being decorated by Haitian President Dumarsais Estimé

Magloire was from the rising, black middle-class in Haiti. "Kanson Fé" or "Iron Pants"), as he was known, Magloire overthrew the disastrous regime of President Elie Lescot in 1946. He later allowed the election of a liberal black president, Dumarsais Estimé. When President Dumarsais Estimé, tried to extend his term of office in 1950, with the help of a local elite, Magloire ousted him and took power.

Paul Magloire ("Kanson Fé) being Decorated by President Dumarsais Estimé
Paul Eugène Magloire (July 19, 1907 - July 12, 2001) was a Haitian general's son. He joined the army in 1930 and became Police Chief of Port-au-Prince in 1944. In 1946, he participated in a successful coup against President Élie Lescot. In 1950, while he was serving as an army general, he ousted President Dumarsais Estimé with the help of a local elite and installed himself as ruler.

Before the long dictatorship of the Duvaliers which took the country back again in a period of oppression, his period of rule as president between 1950 and 1956 is marked as a period of unusual peace and efforts at modernization. Many consider Magloire's period as Haiti's golden age - during his era, tourism reached at its peak and Haitian coffee exports drew high prices. He refurbished towns and built roads, a cathedral, public square, the country's first major dam and other infrastructure projects and cultivated good relations with the Dominican Republic. Attempts were made to invite foreign investments and implement economic and social planning. Women were given voting power and direct popular election of the president was introduced.

However, the good days ended in 1954 when Haiti was hit by Hurricane Hazel. The hurricane inflicted heavy damage on the economy, relief funds were stolen, and Magloire's popularity fell. After two years, he was ousted by the military and went into exile in New York. When François Duvalier took the presidency, he stripped Magloire of his Haïtian citizenship. At the end of Duvalier dictatorship in 1986, when Jean-Claude Duvalier (Baby Doc) fled to France, Magloire returned to Haiti. He was an unofficial adviser to Henri Namphy, who briefly ruled Haiti in 1988. It was a mark of appreciation for his past deed to the country.

The mulattos were happy under the reign of Magloire because their shameless privilege and racism received patronage and reached the apogee of their power, and Magloire's tough stand (Kanson Fé) with the mulattos took them to a height of command and enjoyment. He restored the elites to the prominence.

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Haitian Police Force, Garde D'Haiti, FAD'H trained during US Occupation of Haiti

Haitian Police Force, Garde D'Haiti, FAD'H trained during US Occupation of Haiti

Here is a picture Haitian Police Force, also known as Garde D'Haiti which later became FAD'H being trained during US Occupation of Haiti

In spite of the resentment with their occupation, the Americans during their 19 years of occupation built many new roads, schools, irrigation, agricultural projects, piers and many lighthouses. They also trained an important political force, the Haitian National Police force (Garde D'Haiti). However, the great depression of the 1930s forced the U.S to justify its huge spending to occupy an unpromising land like Haiti. In 1930, the U.S President Hoover, sent a delegation to the Haitian President Louis Borno for considering to hold elections and began the process of withdrawing American administrators and forces. The last Marine left Haiti on August 15, 1934 after a formal transfer of authority to the Haitian military Garde d'Haiti. However, a small American delegation remained there till 1941 to defend American economic interests.

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Individuals claimed to be former FADH burned Police Station in Arcahaie

Individuals claimed to be former FADH burned Police Station in Arcahaie

It was reported that over a dozen armed bandits dressed in military claiming to be former FADH military have terrorized the population of Arcahaie today. According to witnesses, they burned Police Station in Saint-Medard and also took the opportunity to rob a credit Union in the same area.

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Williams Régala, member of Haiti's National Council of Government.

Williams Régala, member of Haiti's National Council of Government.

Here is a picture of Mr. Williams Régala, a former member of Haiti's National Council of Government. He participated in the council of February 1986. During the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier, he was the head of the secret service. Williams Régala was also Minister of Defense during the short lived government of Leslie Manigat. He also occupied the position of Interior Minister under the National Council.

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Williams Regala and Henri Namphy

Williams Regala and Henri Namphy

This is the picture of Williams Regala and Henri Namphy together.

General Henri Namphy (born November 2, 1932) had been always remained on close terms with the Duvalier family during their thirty years of monarchy. There he held several key positions such as the Deputy Commander of the Presidential Guard and Chief of Staff, but all the time he had distanced himself from the worst aspects of the Duvalier dictatorship like killing and other ugliness. He had maintained a close, cordial relationship with the brutal rulers. Some acquaintances describe him more as a counselor than a close friend. However, he is considered by many as a disciplined man and a good administrator with some down-to-earth bent. Once, a foreign diplomat who worked with him in a hurricane recovery operation termed him as ''a soldier's soldier.''

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Lt. Gen. Henri Namphy and Gen. Williams Regala 1988

Lt. Gen. Henri Namphy and  Gen. Williams Regala 1988

Here is a picture of Lt. Gen. Henri Namphy and Gen. Williams Regala 1988

When he went before the Haitian people to announce that he has seized power from the civilian President Leslie Manigat, there was no outpouring of admiration and support. Although he used to enjoy the reputation of being honest, his administration was rather known as "Duvalierism without Duvalier". His close acquaintances used to know him as a dedicated military man and "a great party-goer". His house always had parties, all the time and his friends were his life.

General Namphy had presided over one of the bloodiest and most chaotic periods in the recent Haitian history. The U.S government found that it was difficult to deal with General Namphy because he had failed in his every promise to restore democracy-- his attempt to hold election was better known as "debacle". He served his second term as the President from June 20, 1988 until his deposition on September 17, 1988 in a coup d'état.

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Colonel Henri Nanphy among other FADH Officers

Colonel Henri Nanphy among other FADH Officers

Here is a picture of Colonel Henri Nanphy of the FADH Officers

On Feb. 7, 1986, when the Haitian dictator Baby Doc after the 30 years of own family dictatorship fled the country with his family into an exile, within a few hours of his departure, a five-member civilian-military council led by Lieutenant General Henri Namphy took the charge of the country. Henri quickly established himself on the council as the "first among equals" and served as the Interim President of the Haitian Ruling Body or National Council of Government between February 7, 1986 to February 7, 1988. His government promised free elections and democratic reforms. The first attempt of the election on November 1987, ended with the death of some three dozen voters who were killed in clashes as there was no security forces at the voting places, and instead some soldiers joined civilian thugs in the killing of at least 34 voters. In January 1988, Leslie Manigat won elections, but that was widely considered as fraudulent, and Namphy by overthrowing the civilian President, seized power in June 1988.

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Prosper Avril, Haitian political figure, President of Haiti from 1988 to 1990

Prosper Avril, Haitian political figure, President of Haiti from 1988 to 1990

Entrusted by the Duvaliers for the management of much of their overseas portfolio Prosper Avril became President of Haiti from 1988 to 1990

Matthieu Prosper Avril, born near Port-au-Prince in 1937, was Haiti's President between 1988 and 1990. His term began when he led the coup against the transition military government that had been set up following the exile of the second Duvalier government. His career began under the eye of Francois Duvalier, who called him the "Intelligent Prosper Avril." When the President's son came into power, Avril was forced into retirement, but later returned as Colonel in 1986 following the overthrow of Jean-Claude Duvalier's rule and subsequent exile.

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Jean-Bertrand Aristide Returned With US Military

Jean-Bertrand Aristide Returned With US Military

Here is a picture of the US force that accompanied Jean-Bertrand Aristide in Haiti after his first exile to the United States. He is accused for allowing Foreign troops to come to haiti. In the past, Jean-Bertrand was very vocal against foreign countries into Haiti.

He became a leading figure in the Ti Legliz movement when he was a Catholic priest

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Henri Namphy, military leader, born in Grande-Riviere-du-Nord

Henri Namphy, military leader, born in Grande-Riviere-du-Nord

Grande-Rivière-du-Nord's Rich Heritage as you are looking at

former Haitian military leader Henri Namphy who was born in Grande-Riviere-du-Nord

Grande-Rivière-du-Nord is a repository of historical events, people, and remnants of its past.

Gallifet Sugar Plantation was the site of a Voodoo incantation, leading to the Haiti Slave Rebellion. A few miles away sits military fortress, Citadel Laferriere, which housed battle contingents.

Grande Rivière gave birth to several rulers including Jean-Jacques Dessalines. Pioneering ethnologist, Jean Price Mars, was also born there.

One fact the town can boast of is a significant number of centenarians, one of few places in Haiti where they exist.

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