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Here is a picture of Haitian-Canadian Dany Laferrière as he received the traditional Academician sword in the French Academy

This took place during a ceremony in the town hall of Paris. This particular traditional Academician sword was created by the Haitian sculptor Patrick Vilaire.

Recently, in an induction ceremony at the Academie Francaise, French Academy, in Paris, Thursday May 28, 2015, the Haitian-born Canadian writer Dany Laferriere was enrolled as the newest member of l'Academie Francaise in the presence of 300 guests including the former Quebec premiers Jean Charest, Pauline Marois and Bernard Landry. Pierre Karl Péladeau, the leader of Parti Québécois was also present. The Académie française is a 40-member council, founded by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII, in 1635, and that is responsible to maintain the standards of the French language. Laferrière had received his "Academician Sword" from the French novelist and French Academy member Jean d'Ormesson (C) at City Hall in Paris on May 26, 2015. He was elected to the council in December 2013, but the formal induction ceremony, loyal to a 400 year old protocol, was held on Thursday.

Dany Laferrière was born (13 April 1953) in Port-au-Prince and raised in Petit Goâve. He worked as a journalist in Haïti before moving to Canada in 1976 and hosting television programming for the TQS network. His first novel (How to Make Love to a Negro Without Getting Tired) was published in 1985, it was later adapted into a screenplay and won 11th Genie Awards in 1990. He has so far authored about 20 novels, including the award-winning "L'enigme du retour". He is the first Quebec writer to join the "immortals category"-- the term is referred for people named to the council to join the 39 other members, called immortals; they are elected to the institution for life. His introduction speech at the Academy touched on a theme that is often present in most of his works-- "exile".

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Here is a picture of the the American singer Beyonce, a 20-time Grammy winner, as she was in Haiti on May 16, 2015 to monitor progress. As several heads of state and other high officials came to Haiti recently to show that they did not forget the people, Beyonce also wants to show the public that Haiti is on her mid as well in this photo opportunity; however, the actual effect of all these aids that the country received following the 2010 earthquake remains questionable.

On May 17, the , multiple Grammy award-winner Beyoncé visited Haiti on a United Nations humanitarian mission to look at the progress of the reconstruction work made since the devastating earthquake shattered the country five years ago. The American singer, winner of 20 Grammy awards was accompanied by Valerie Amos, the chief of United Nations' humanitarian affairs and the coordinator of emergency relief. Beyoncé was wearing a T-shirt bearing a logo of her charity organization 'BEYGOOD'. During her trip, she met some of the earthquake victims.

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The decision of Former Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe to run for President in the upcoming election is yet another sign to show that you should never trust a politician, specially Haitian politicians. After repeatedly saying that he has no plan to run, he proves himself wrong.

On May 20, 2015 he former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe has submitted his nomination to run for seat of president under the banner of platform Peyizan shortly before the election office's deadline. When he was asked why he has changed his mind, he shrugged and kept greeting his supporters. He has joined a crowded arena of contenders in the race to become the country's next president. His other notable contenders include Maryse Narcisse, the leader of the Fanmi Lavalas party and Jude Celestin, the last election cycle's government-backed candidate. His opponents are of opinion that his decision came out of a political provocation and moreover, he lacks proper clearance for use of public funds. However, the eligibility of the candidates to run for election are matters to be decided by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) with the consents of Departmental Electoral Litigation (BCED) and National Electoral Litigation (BCEN).

Lamothe has decided to register under the banner of Peyizan political group. However, this is not where his problems lies. How is he going to prove that he is eligible to run? What about the issue of "Discharge"?

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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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Look at this picture. French government has a big load hanging on top of country. It is the Haiti debt that it owes and it involves restitution for the money the young nation was obligated to pay to France after they fought for their independence. Ironically, French president François Hollande who visited Haiti in May, 2015 stated that We have a moral not financial debt to Haiti".

Two hundred years ago, when Haiti became the first independent black republic after defeating the army of then French Monarchy, it vowed to pay the French ruler, King Charles X an "independence debt of 90 million gold coins". The extorted bounty was distributed among the white slave owners for the loss of "property" they claim to have suffered as a result of the abolitionist Haitian Revolution. Thus, the country was forced to pay most of its national wealth to the French for own freedom. This barbaric ransom was collected between 1825 and 1947 through a French ordinance that threatened to re-enslave self-liberated Africans. This could be a good reason for present suffering of the country. As per 2003 estimate, the Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide demanded $22 billion from France as the cost of restitution. On Saturday, May 9th, during the inauguration of the Caribbean Centre of Expressions and Memory of Trafficking and Slavery (ACTE) in Pointe-à- Pitre, Guadeloupe, the French President François Hollande had said that "in Haiti, I will pay the debt we have." Although his announcement received a rousing applause from the audience, but according to the French National Palace, nowhere he had mentioned that France would be repaying the Haitian independence ransom of $23 billion (at present value). His statement indicating moral debt only without mentioning any monetary value was criticized in Haiti because the collection of the ransom for independence is undoubtedly an act of immoral and illegal turpitude.

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It is now a matter of time before the National Bureau of Electoral Disputes makes it official. In the meantime, several reliable sources said the candidacy of the first lady Sophia Martelly is history. It has been rejected.

According to Miami Herald, a spokesman for Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), did not want to come out and confirm the news. Here are the reasons for rejecting the candidacy of Sophia Martelly for the Senatorial race in the West Department: She is an American citizen, was administering and needs a discharge to run. The first lady was also accused of committing fraud by voting in the 2010 presidential elections as a U.S. citizen

Electoral Council says First Lady ineligible for a Senate run

First Lady Sophia Martelly cannot run for a senate seat later this year. According to the National Bureau of Electoral Disputes, she lacks requirements of Haitian citizenship to make a senate bid.

Although she gave up her U.S. citizenship in 2014, the opposition claims she didn't apply for a Haitian passport at 18, a deal-breaker.

The Electoral Council made a public announcement notifying the public of their final decision.

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Here is a picture of some innocent school children in Haiti

There is one group of Haitians who doesn't believe that election in Haiti will do anything for them. This group, although considered to be the largest group of the population, has always been ignored in so many aspects. This is the group where you will find the highest rate of unemployment, the highest rates of violence, the highest rate of imprisonment and also the highest rates of death. Most of the youth in Haiti have seen a hard life. They are the youth of Haiti

As legislative, presidential, and local elections approach later in 2015, one segment of the population will not bother to show up at the ballot box, its youth.

Young people want to elect their representatives, but are aware politicians could care less about their views. They suffer more unemployment, violence, incarceration, and death than other age groups.

Haitian well-to-do and moderate-income citizens dismiss youth as thugs and think they possess little value to society.

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Nothing last forever in Haiti. One of the relationships many think was made in heaven proved to be not. Me Newton Louis St. Juste and André Michel split as both men have great political ambitions and would not negotiate any alternative. Unfortunately, I believe both men will end up loosing as this only demonstrated they were engage in this fight with the current government for their own selfish gain.

Newton Saint Juste withdraws from Plateforme Justice over Ethical Concerns

Attorney Newton Saint Juste, who had wanted to run as nominee of Plateforme Justice in the presidential election, has withdrawn his membership in the party.

He had asked for democratic and transparent rules of the Articles of Justice to be used to validate his candidacy. The JP in denying his request went against its own principles.

JP instead chose his colleague Me Michel Andre to represent the party.

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We just learned that the Haitian musician Jean Gesner Henry Jr aka Coupé Cloue Junior was shot and killed in on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 in Delmas 7.

According to the report, Coupé Cloue Junior was shot four time and was pronounced dead that same night.

Stay tuned. As we find more information on the shooting death of the son of this great Haitian musician, Coupe Cloue, we will bring it to you immediately

Haitian Kreyol:

Nou jis aprann ke yo tire mizisyen Ayisyen yo bay pou Jean Gesner Henry Jr ke yo rele tou Coupe Cloue Junior. Selon rapò a , Coupe Cloue Junior te pran kat bal yereswa nan mitan lannwit nan Delmas 7. Rete branche . Kòm nou jwenn plis enfòmasyon sou lanmò pitit gason gwo mizisyen ayisyen, Coupe Cloue , nou pral pote li imedyatman bay ou

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Career journalist and former Minister for Communication in Haiti, Ady Jean Gardy, was awarded by the International Cultural Association "Arts and Letters of France", of the prestigious"Grand Prize International of history" for his work "stories of the Arawak Indians of Haiti".

Ady Jean-Gardy (born Haiti: 15 September 1967) is a man of many talents. He is a historian, reformist, international press activist, an international leader of peace, Chief of Staff of the Haitian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then became the Minister of Communication in Haiti between 2012-13. Ady Jean-Gardy has been awarded the French Academy Institute of Arts and Letters International History Prize during the weekend of May 2-3, 2015, on the International History Prize in the 47th annual history contest conducted in Bordeaux. The competition was limited to unpublished works: in particular, historical research not yet unveiled. The jury of the International Cultural Association has described his 500 page document as a project that has shed a new light on the life of Indian Arawaks of Haiti. The research has gone back to the days of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and the time when Arawaks arrived in the Caribbean in 1,500 years BC. His prize will be awarded to him at a gala ceremony in the French Academy on June in Angoulême.

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