History

Here is a picture of Luckner Lorient, a Haitian Pastor who was arrested in Miami for his role in a deadly fire in New York

Brooklyn pastor, once honored by N.Y. State Senate, arrested for role in deadly 2014 fire
Luckner Lorient (78), a longtime pastor at Eglise Baptist Clarte Celeste in Flatbush once honored by the New York State Senate and commended by the state senate for his ministry, was arrested at Miami International Airport on Tuesday (July 26, 2016) for his role in a 2014 (November 19, 2014) fire that killed one man and injured 14 others. He was arrested on charges of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree reckless endangerment, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Lorient owned a building at 1434 Flatbush Avenue, that housed his church on the ground floor and cramped apartments above which was basically a single resident occupancy apartment. Lorient, had illegally subdivided the floors into 11 multiple cramped, dangerous living spaces for 23 people, according to city records, but at that time Lorient argued his ignorance and blamed the tenants. The fire started with an overheated water cooler and the faulty electrical system, erupted into flames on the second floor. Tenants on the third floor were trapped. The fire killed resident Jeff Frederic, 24.

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Here is Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité Bonheur, the spouse of Jean-Jacques Dessalines. The got married in 1800 and together they had seven children

This famous Haitian woman was born in the city of leogane and her family never knew slavery. Her Father was Guillaume Bonheur and mother, Marie-Élisabeth Sainte-Lobelot.

One great act she is known for was during the siege of the city of Jacmel in 1800. She took care of the wounded and starving soldiers and somehow managed to convince her husband Jean-Jacques Dessalines to allow those wounded in the city to get out in order to receive proper medical care. later on she went into the city with food and medicine.

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Here is a picture of the Home of Marie-Claire Heureuse.

Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité Bonheur, the first Empress consort of the independent Haiti, was the daughter of two poor but free Haitians from Leogane. She was born sometime in 1758. After becoming widow of her first husband Pierre Lunic in 1795, she married Jean-Jacques Dessalines in 1800 and became the Empress consort of Haiti (1804-1806) as the spouse of Jean-Jacques Dessalines. In early 1804, when Jacques Dessalines (born 20 September 1758, died 17 October 1806) issued drastic order, the extermination of the entire White population of Haiti, Marie-Claire was adamantly opposed to this policy and she made no secret of the fact. From her earliest days, she had been a nurse and teacher by heart. She maintained her principles and values, relentlessly worked to alleviate the suffering of prisoners and wounded men irrespective of their colors and races. In 1843, she was granted a modest pension by the government, but it was not because she was a former imperial consort; it was offered because the government confiscated all of her husband's extensive properties leaving nothing to her. Marie died on 8 August 1858 (aged 99-100).

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Here is the location of Grotte Marie-Jeanne in relationship to the city of Port-à-Piment in Haiti

In Haiti in the Coteaux Arrondissement is Port-a-Piment commune. In the southern section of Port-a-Piment stands La Grotte Marie Jeanne, covering two and a half miles of ground.

A three-tiered cave, it contains stalactites, a rose-hued deck, and dangling vines. Archaeological riches have been excavated there, harking back to the indigenous Tainos. To date 36 chambers have been found, with possibly more yet undiscovered.

The entry fee to explore the caves along with experienced guides in $2 USD.

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The Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Jean Monestime who is a Haitian-American, did not stay quiet during the Haitian Cultural Heritage Month in Miami-Dade County. As part of his efforts to educate as many children about the Haitian culture, he has been organizing a Haitian History Bee contest every year for the past three years. This year is no exception. The participants are elementary, middle and high schools students from Miami-Dade

Miami-Dade held the Haitian History Bee in May. The event was funded by Jean Monestime, Miami-Dade's County Chairman.

Three Miami-Dade schools each sent four teams to vie for the top spot, selected from public and private, primary, middle- and high school levels.

The contest coincided with Haiti's Haitian Cultural Heritage Month. One competitor said, ". . . Haitian history is difficult but ". . . . I think it's a hidden gem."

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Here is the book released by ISPAN in the presence of Ambassador of USA, 200 monuments and sites of Haiti, listed by ISPAN.

The National Heritage Protection Institute (ISPAN) with the support of a grant of US$41,500 from the United States named "U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (2012)" has published an illustrated cultural document-- "200 Monuments and Sites of Haiti". A copy of the book has been gifted by Joan Dithny Raton, the Haitian Minister of Culture to the U.S Ambassador in Haiti Ms. Pamela A. White during a ceremony held at the historic Fort-Jacques, in recognition of her country's contribution to the publication of this cultural document. During the occasion, Patrick Durandis, the Director of ISPAN has said that it is a matter of regret that our historic sites and our heritage are better known to others than the Haitians. The book contains some of the most representative photographs and information on our diverse heritage and rich culture that everybody must know.

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To publicly recognize Toussaint Louverture as one of the first in the fight to abolish slavery a statue was unveiled in his honor at the Museum of the New World of La Rochelle France. The city of La Rochelle played a very important role during the period of slavery. This great leader fought until his death for the abolition of slavery.

On Wednesday, May 20th, in the presence of the Mayor of La Rochelle, the Senegalese sculptor Ousmane Sow and a Haitian official delegation, a statue of Haitian revolutionary and a leader of independence, Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803) has been unveiled in the courtyard of the Museum of the New World of La Rochelle France. Toussaint Louverture (nicknamed The Black Napoleon) was a former slave, in 1801, promulgated an autonomist constitution for the colony, with himself as governor for life. But in the next year he was forced to resign by forces sent by Napoleon Bonaparte. The 2.80 meter high bronze statue in the costume of governor of the French Republic of Santo Domingo, is a tribute to him for abolishing slavery in the country. Toussaint Louverture died in 1803 in a cell in Fort de Joux (Doubs, Savoie).

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This is Fort Ogé in Jacmel.

Joan Dithny Raton, the Haitian Minister of Culture visited Fort Oge to discuss necessary conservatory measures to protect the heritage monument. The first and foremost interventions they considered necessary, were: setting up a protective fence, opening a visitor center, installing sanitation facilities, signage, etc.

The Minister and the Director General met the representatives of the youth organization that oversees the monument. The Minister has ensured the full support of her ministry on the conservancy work undertaken by these volunteers. The licensee of the Ministry of Culture (MC) also made a trip to the old house of Hannibal Price. Hannibal Price was a former British soldier who had an interest in sugarcane production; he settled in Haiti in the eighteenth century and installed a steam mill built in 1818 by Lindsay & Co Workshops, Liverpool, England. According to some experts, the mill never operated. 'Moulin Price' is a machine controlled by Hannibal Price for juice extraction and production of cane sugar. The machine is classified as an item of 'world heritage' by the Smithsonian Institute, and it is one of the only two specimen steam engines listed, around the world, on its kind. The Minister has discussed about finding proper ways to identify and conserve these treasured pasts.

Fort Ogé (Cap Rouge) is a small location in the South-East of Haiti near the city of Jacmel surrounded by beautiful beaches, such as Ti-Mouillage Beach, Cayes Jacmel, etc. The fort was built in 1818 as a defensive system to stall the return of the French, if by any chance, they decide to re-invade Haiti and once again impose slavery. The fort is named after Vincent Ogé, a leading figure of the Haitian Revolution.

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This is a meeting between President Michel Domingue and General Igracio Gonzalez in 1875.

One of his first moves as president was to appoint himself a public function manager. In the capacity of the President of the Council of Secretaries of State, Septimus Rameau became, in essence, the true president of the country while Domingue was considered largely a figurehead. Another of Dominique's earliest acts was to sign an agreement with their neighbors, the Dominican Republic, stating that both nations recognized the other's individual sovereignty in an attempt to stop many years of conflict. To this end, it was Septimus Rameau who dealt with the Dominican president, Ignacio Maria Gonzalez. President Domingue's chief of staff was sent in his stead to make preparations for the agreement.

Soon, the issues of fraud and corruption, though not that of the administration, caused moves that would lead to Septimus Rameau being assassinated following accusations of having two generals killed, and Domingue himself seeking refuge in the United States embassy before gaining asylum as an exile in nearby Jamaica. He would die a year following the 1876 end of his term as president.

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Here is a picture of Haitian President, Lysius Salomon.

The life of former Haitian President, Louis Lysius Félicité Salomon Jeune, before he became leader of the country was riddled with stages of discord for his family with various factions. He was born in Les Cayes in 1815, and his family were an influential set who often clashed with the elite mulattoes of the south where they lived. They were forced to flee the country to live in exile in Neyba during the rule of Charles Riviere-Hérard.

This exile would not be the only one endured by Salomon. With a shift in power, as the rule of the country turned over to Faustin Soulouque, the soon-to be-president returned to Haiti and was named minister of finance, a role he would keep until Soulouque was removed from power. At that time, Salomon had to, yet again, flee Haiti in exile, living in Paris and London until it was safe for him to return.

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