Montreal

On Friday, September 4th, 2015, Justin Viard, the Consul General of Haiti in Montreal was called back from his office by the Martelly-Evans administration for some undisclosed reasons. He was simply terminated without any viable explanation. It was a sudden revoke that caused many reactions of misunderstanding within the Haitian community of Montreal, because he earned a solid reputation with his active role in the lives of many Haitians living in the province of Quebec. He is a Lawyer (Faculty of Law from the University of Port-au-Prince ), a Member of the AMF (Financial Market Authority), Institute of Business Administration (IAE-third cycle) of France, member of the AMF Quebec, Lawyer body, and a University Professor. He served as the Regional Director of North PROMOBANK (2003 to 2008) and Regional Director of South UNIBANK (February 2009 to September 2010). On June 6, 2016, he has been reinstated by the transitional Government of Jocelerme Privert to his earlier post as the Consul of Haiti in Montreal replacing Kurdy Larèche, the former Vice Consul since 2012, who had held the position of Consul since Viard's dismissal.

Permalink | Comments

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.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of former Consul General of Haiti in Montreal, Justin Viard. He has been removed from the position by the Martelly Government.

Justin Viard, the Consul General of Haiti in Montreal has been removed from his office by the Martelly-Evans administration on September 4, 2015 for some undisclosed reasons. The exact cause that might have motivated his removal is not known, however, some sources indicate that it could lead to the use of diplomatic representation of Haiti by a third party for private commercial purposes. No reason for his sudden removal or future assignment has been disclosed by the government, not even by the Consul General himself; he was simply revoked. Kurdy Laréche who had been the Vice Consul since 2012 and then Consul in Montreal since 2014, has been appointed as the new Consul General in Justin's place since September 8th, 2015.

Permalink | Comments

The wax statue of the son of Petit-Goâve, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Montreal, Quebec, Canada and France, Dany Laferrière was unveiled at the Grevin Museum in Montreal.

Canadian-Haitian author Dany Laferriere has had a wax statue of his likeness exhibited at Montreal's Grevin Museum.

Recently inducted into the French Academy in Paris, he came to witness the unveiling. He has been enthroned alongside other greats, Jean Drapeau, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley.

French Consul General Laurendeau said Laferriere was a ". . . keen observer of everyday life, he seized situations and characters . . . described with great accuracy . . ."

Permalink | Comments

Victor Déjean, 58, a Canadian businessman of Haitian origin a resident of Toronto and his companion Maryland Don't, 42, a resident of Montreal have been arrested on suspicion charges for smuggling drugs from Haiti to Canada. They were arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) of Toronto and officers from the Police Service of the City of Montreal, followed by an investigation conducted by the Division of Federal and Airport Surveys (SEFA). A total of 4kg of cocaine was found with the suspects. Déjean Victor is the owner of Pavillon Marquette, a Medical Clinic, and also Cristina complex, which is a banquet center and a theater. He is a well known figure in the Haitian community in Montreal. Earlier on December 30, 2009, he was arrested with his brother Abel, for the same reasons in Port-au-Prince airport while they were waiting for a Canadian flight with a load of 2.35 kg cocaine. He was arrested by the Haitian police and was sent to the prison of Port-au-Prince. However, when the prison collapsed in the 2010 earthquake, he managed to escape home on an aircraft responsible to repatriate Canadian nationals.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Mr. Déjean Victor, owner of Pavillon Marquette in Montreal.

Victor Déjean, 58, a Canadian businessman of Haitian origin and one of his accomplices a Montreal resident Merlande Dont were arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) of Toronto and officers from the Police Service of the City of Montreal on a charge for smuggling drugs from Haiti to Canada. They were also accused of recruiting and using Canadian smugglers (carrier or mule). Their arrest was followed by an investigation conducted by the Division of Federal and Airport Surveys (SEFA) with the assistance of National Police of Haiti (PNH) which led to the arrest of several other suspects of Victor's gang. They were carrying a consignment of 4 kg of cocaine when arrested. Victor Déjean is a rich well known person in Montreal. He is the owner of Pavillon Marquette, a Medical Clinic, and Cristina complex, which includes a banquet hall and a theater. On an earlier occasion (30 December, 2009) Victor Déjean was arrested and imprisoned with his brother 'Abel' from Port-au Prince Airport while waiting for a Canadian flight with a load of 2.35 kg cocaine. But he escaped when the prison of Port-au Prince collapsed in the 2010 earthquake; he boarded an aircraft responsible to repatriate Canadian nationals.

Permalink | Comments

This is the project to improve La maison D'Haiti in Montreal, Canada.

Located in Montreal, Canada, the La maison D'Haiti is a place that tries to facilitate the smooth integration of Haitian immigrants into Canadian society. Going above its call on January 12, 2010, the community center became the place where Haitians, anxious to hear news about the turmoil back home, gathered for news. Five years later, the day was remembered at the centre with a three-day ceremony entitled "Ayiti là! Histoires d'un tremblement de cÅ"ur", which translated means, Haiti! Stories of a quake that shook our hearts.

Permalink | Comments

Well-known Haitian promoter Ewald Etienne was found dead by Montreal police outside a home in Montreal on Thursday, December 18, 2014,

What is further speculated, is that the two men who contracted the debt left the country, leaving Mr. Etienne with the debt. He then filed a complaint with the authorities and was promptly threatened to withdraw it, but was unable to. Whether this is a viable lead remains unsaid by the police, but witnesses had described Etienne as being scared following the affair.

His death has been the third murder in the northeast region of Montreal within the last three weeks. It puts the yearly total just one homicide down from the 28 of 2013.

Permalink | Comments

The Dominican Republic (DR) is experiencing fallout from the ruling threatening to displace more than 250,000 Haitians, descendents of illegal immigrants.

Haitians have struck back at the DR's $4.5 billion tourist industry. At an airport terminal, they placed an image of a bikini-clad woman sunbathing on a beach. She has bloodied hands and the lettering below the image says the DR denationalizes more than a quarter of a million human beings.

The DR is under pressure from CARICOM to reverse the ruling.

Permalink | Comments

Bourassa is a home of large Haitian population and various ethnic groups. Three high profile candidates are running for nomination in the forthcoming the Bourassa riding. Stéphane Moraille from NDP, George Laraque, NHL enforcer for the Green party and Emmanuel Dubourg, who is seeking selection for the Liberal party. Stéphane Moraille is an experienced lawyer specialized in arts and communication law and winner of many singing awards including a Juno for "Glee". NDP leader Tom Mulcair approved his support and said he was honored to have a candidate of her stature. The diverse Bourassa, the north end riding, is reined by Coderre for last 16 years.

Permalink | Comments