michel martelly

Here is the Haitian President Michel Martelly paying respect to the people who died during the Kanaval accident where many people in the float of Barikad Crew were electrocuted

16 Dead in Carnival Accident: State Funeral to be held for Deceased

Haiti's Carnival celebration was interrupted when an overhead high-tension cable fell as a parade float attempted to pass underneath it. A man aboard the float had been trying to move the cable out of the way with a stick, and was electrocuted when the sparking cable swung through the air, shocking him. Others on the float were shocked as well, yet some others managed to escape by leaping off the float.

The sparking, swinging cable created a panic among thousands of parade watchers, starting a stampede, killing some caught underfoot and injuring many more. The casualties totaled 16 dead at last count, with 78 more injured.

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Haitian women enjoying Kanaval 2015

Carnival History in General & Haiti Carnival History
Carnival (also known as Kanavalin Haitian Creole) in Haiti started in the year of its declaration of independence in 1804. Haiti celebrates many carnivals throughout the year, however, its main carnival (Kanaval) starts on January 6th, on the twelfth day after Christmas leading up to Mardi Gras and serves as a final shebang before the 40-day abstinence of Lent. The day of 'Mardi Gras' is the day before the Ash Wednesday, and that is always 46 days before Easter. The three immediate days before the Ash Wednesday, a final celebration is hosted grandly in Haiti especially in Port-au-Prince and Jacmel. These three days are known as "les trois jours gras," or, "three fat days". The country celebrates this carnival with colorful grand parades of floats with elaborate costumes. There are musical competitions, cultural shows, and display of specific characters in the parades dedicated to the Carnival, are some of the major highlights of this annual event.

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Here is a picture during the inauguration of the dam and of irrigation system of Rivière Grise by President Michel Martelly and the Ambassador of the United States accredited to Haiti, Pamela White

The new dam being built at Rivière Grise is expected to improve the wealth of some 15,000 farmers. The site was visited recently by President Michel Martelly, who announced that the plan was exactly what was needed in the current Haitian climate. On the visit, the president had with him a delegation including Prime Minister Evans Paul. They took the time to tour the site, which began construction in May 2014 from grant funding from the government of the United States valued at $9 million.

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On Tuesday February 10, President Michel Martelly walked among a crowd that was, indeed, happy to see him as he surveyed the grounds for the new premises of CIMO. The visit was an inspection of Cité Soleil's Wharf Jérémie and the home of the Body Intervention and Maintenance of Order in Delmas 2. Accompanying him on this visit were the First Lady, Sophia Martelly, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Pierre Richard Casimir, Communication Minister Rothchild Francis Jr., and Prime Minister Evans Paul.

The sites of Wharf Jérémie and CIMO was constructed using funds the country accrued as a benefit of the PetroCaribe deal, so they are the culmination of work done by the country's two last presidents, Preval by instigating the deal with Venezuela, and Martelly as the construction falls under the framework of his administration's activities to make the conditions under which the PNH officers work better.

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Martelly, like the crowd that was expressive in their favor, seemed quite pleased with the work's progress. The work itself at Wharf Jérémie started in November of 2013, following the launch on September 24. The estimated time for its completion, as given by the site's engineers, is September of this year.

Following their look at Wharf Jérémie, the group continued on to Delmas 2 where they visited the Body Intervention and Maintenance of Order location. There, they were greeted by members of the police force as well as the Directeur General. The president, while there, looked at the building's different areas which will soon house the National Police's specialized unit. The building is over 1,500 meters square and its 3 stories will be fully equipped with a shots hall, sports facilities, cafeteria, and sleeping quarters for some 400 PNH officers.

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Here is the actual content of the call by Vice President Joe Biden Call with Haitian President Michel Martelly on January 16, 2015

United States Vice President Joe Biden spoke via telephone with the Haitian President, Michel Martelly, on January 16, 2015, following the disappointing end to Haiti's parliament. The US had taken a vested interest in the affair, citing their continued support of the smaller country's development and progress in democracy. It is reported that the President of Haiti was commended on his efforts to secure the necessary parliamentary vote to facilitate an election on the island, including numerous concessions, not the least of which was securing the resignation of his then Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe.

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President Michel Martelly swore in Evans Paul as new prime minister

Haiti's newly sworn Prime Minister, Evans Paul, was given his formal welcome into the post by the President, Michel Martelly, on January 16, 2015. The swearing in ceremony was attended by many prominent members of the political field and other diplomats. Despite this official ceremony, Prime Minister Paul has not been approved and ratified by parliament, since the country has been without a functioning parliament since January 12. Paul, a member of the opposition, vowed to incorporate more opposition figures within the cabinet to form the promised consensus government.

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The Special Envoy of the World Bank Mary Barton-Dock received some harsh words from the Ambassador of Venezuela in Haiti, Pedro Antonio Canino. This came to be following her critic of the government of Martelly-Lamothe for the way they have been handling fund from PetroCaribe.

According to Pedro Antonio Canino, the World Bank had no business to interfere in the Petrocaribe program

,publicly criticized the government for the way he has been managing the fund from PetroCaribe

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Here is a picture of Minister of Plannification, Yves Germain JOSEPH and President Michel Martelly.

When Haitian President Michel Martelly called a vote that would extend parliament and thus facilitate elections for the country, a deal that was being brokered by the United States, members of the political parties of the opposition failed to show up leaving the proposal floundering. The opposition has made their feelings - that the President has played a game to place himself in the de facto position, ruling by decree - and also their intentions - to keep their protests alive until they accomplish their one mission, to get the President out of power - well known.

Haiti isn't new to political unrest, as the world has seen documented, but in recent years, a new era of democracy had begun and hopes were high for that to continue. When issues began last year that would lead to the current dissolution of parliament, the governing administration blamed the opposition senators, and they in turn blamed the President.

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Minister of Communication, Rotchild FRANCOIS JR, receiving his folder from Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly

Accusations against President Martelly have morphed slightly, away from his instigating the stalemate that led to the dissolution of parliament and his eventual rule by decree, to his now plotting to secure his chosen successor - amidst all this, he has promised not to alter the country's constitution to seek another term, having been at the head since 2011.

The new members who have been sworn in include Carel Alexandre, Secretary of State for Public Security; Yves Germain Joseph, Planning Minister; as well as six previous members of the cabinet such as the ministers of defence, health and foreign affairs. These changes come just before a council of 15 nations is set to descend upon Haiti to undertake a mission of fact finding. More changes are expected, including the creation of a 9-member electoral council, all with the aim of producing an election for the country before another year runs out.

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