newsletter

French President Francois Hollande made a surprising statement n regard to the debt to Haiti on his way to Haiti. At the inauguration of a memorial for slavery in Guadeloupe on Sunday, May 10, 2015, he evokes France's 'Debt' To Haiti, but refused to admit that France will pay back the money owed.

Pressure has been mounting on France to pay back the money it has asked Haiti to pay after Haiti's independence. Some believe that this obligation on the new republic after its independence is a major factor in the poverty of te island. In 2013, Francois Hollande evoked France's "debt" toward Africa. In 2010, President Nicolas Sarkozy became the first French seating president to visit Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Over 200 years ago, when Haiti became the first black independent Republic of the world after defeating the army of then French Monarchy, it agreed to pay France an "independence debt. In 1825, the French ruler, King Charles X agreed to recognize Haiti's independence after 14 years of bloody battles on condition that the new Black Republic will pay 150 million gold francs in ransom. It was later reduced to 90 million gold coins and the extorted bounty was distributed to the white slave holders for the loss of "property" they claim to have suffered as a result of the abolitionist Haitian Revolution. Haitians believe that it could be a big reason for Haiti's present suffering because the country was forced to pay most of its wealth to France for own freedom. Between the years 1825 and 1947 (140 years after the abolition of the slave trade), this barbaric and illegal ransom was collected through violent means with an official French ordinance which threatened to re-enslave the self-liberated Africans. On April 7, 2003, the value of the infamous Charles X ransom was estimated at around $22 billion by the Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and he demanded its restitution. For most Haitians, the recent visit of the French President François Hollande to encourage investment is reminding them how their ancestors were punished by the French and forced to pay a big price for country's successful slave revolt for independence.

Permalink | Comments

On Saturday, President Michel Martelly participated in Martinique, to the Caribbean Climate Summit 2015 and in his speech, he stated that this is an opportunity for his Government to clarify his position on the issue. The head of state stated that no one is immune to the disastrous consequences of climate change today. He sent a blanked blame to everyone as being both victims and perpetrators of the major climate shift noticed in Increasing temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, floods, prolonged droughts, and others

President Martelly urges the leaders to work together as only well-coordinated initiatives may give convincing results.

On Saturday, May 9, 2015, President Martelly accompanying the Ministers from the departments of Environment, Economy and Finance, Trade and Industry, participated in the Caribbean Climate Summit 2015, a one-day summit in Martinique's capital, Fort de France. Caribbean leaders from 13 countries had participated the summit, which was chaired by the French President Francois Hollande. It was a preparatory regional summit as the meeting gave participating leaders an opportunity to discuss a joint policy before the 21st session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) scheduled to be held in Paris from 30 November to 15 December of this year. Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, as the Chairman of the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, has said that the summit has given the islands an opportunity to prepare so that its concerns receive due prominence in the Paris talks.

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of the inside of Ciné théâtre Triomphe set for inauguration on May 18, 2015. After so many years in the waiting, it looks like it will finally happen. The population around Port-au-Prince will finally have a comfortable place where they can go to the movies.

What do you think? do you think more movie theaters should be built?

The Movie theater 'Ciné théâtre Triomphe', acquired by the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) will reopen in may 18, 2015, after a complete rehabilitation work at a cost of US$7 million, including the cost of additional land purchased in the adjacent space. The Cine Triomphe was one of the major cinemas in Port-au-Prince. Since closing in 1988, it has been used as a warehouse until it was taken by the State in late 2008 and the rehabilitation started in December 2012. The théâtre Triomphe will finally be inaugurated for the Haitian moviegoers on May 18, 2015 after being postponed in August 2014, due to parking problems. The multiplex has been designed to accommodate state of the art performances for dance, theater, concert, film projections. Two rooms of the new theatre will accommodate 450 and 300 people and a stage that can accommodate at least fifty artists. A third room has been equipped to host conferences, meetings, seminars and forums. The first two rooms will have unique theater systems-- HD Digital, screen of 12m x 6.5m mounted on removable frames (first in Haiti); a professional digital audio system separate of cinema audio system and an automated lighting system.

Permalink | Comments

There are many signs to demonstrate that Fanmi lavalas political party is falling apart. The latest sign is the decision of So Anne to abandon ship and instead join a party which she thinks will give her more opportunities

The former Lavalas activist Annette Auguste has declared her candidacy for the Senate for the West Department under the banner of PHTK. This decision came as a shock to many who remember her activist stands under the Lavalas Party and for former President Jean Bertrand Aristide

Krekol

Gen anpil siy yo ki demontre ke Fanmi Lavalas nan problem. Denye siy yo a se desizyon an nan So Anne pran pou li abandone Fanmi-a pou li aly jwen Tet Kale

Mezanmi, Pgin problem nan fanmi-an

First Lady Sophia Martelly registered to run for the office of Senator of the West Department in this year's legislative elections. She will be running against several candidates, most recognizably Annette Auguste, an ex-Fanmi Lavalas party member.

Auguste is a survivor of ex-president Jean-Bertrand Aristide's administration. After his overthrow Auguste was arrested and held as a political prisoner. She and Martelly will both run as candidates of PHTK.

Permalink | Comments

Senator Steven Benoit is on a mission to stop First Lady Sophia Saint Remy Martelly from running for a Senate seat in Hiati. He was present at the Departmental Electoral Office (BED) of the West this week to bring the evidence

Sophia Saint Remy Martelly registered to become a candidate for Senator of the Republic of Haiti for the West Department.

Senator Benoit accuses First Lady Sophia of possible Fraud

Senator Benoit is challenging the legality of First Lady Sophia Martelly's bid to run for Senator of West Department. Sophia, a U.S. citizen, applied for a Haitian passport in 2009. At that time dual-citizenship was not allowed according to the Constitution.

Benoit says Sophia has committed a probable act of fraud by registering for candidacy. The 2015 Electoral Law states candidates must be native-born, and can't hold dual citizenship, as in Sophia's case.

Permalink | Comments

It seems like there are some major changes underway in Washington in regard to Haiti. President Barack Obama announces some changes in its diplomatic personal. Among these changes, he is considering on nominating Mr. Peter F. Mulrean as the new Ambassador to Haiti.

Peter Mulrean who was born in Boston is currently the Deputy Permanent Representative at the U.S. Mission to the UN in Geneva. He became part of the team of the U.S. Foreign Service in 1988. He served at the American Consulate General in Zagreb. He also served two years at the American Embassy in New Delhi, India.

If the nomination goes through, Mr. Peter F. Mulrean will replace Ambassador Pamela A. White who has been there since July 18, 2012

Permalink | Comments

This week, during a visit in the Artibonite department, Prime minister Evans Paul took the opportunity to make his opinion known about a Haitian military force. The Prime Minister who was in the companionship of the officers and soldiers of the Corps of Military Engineering based in Petite Rivière wondered why not a Military force for the protection of the public

On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, the Haitian Prime Miniser Evans Paul visited the hospital La Providence of Gonaïves, the premises of the Agency for the Development of the Artibonite Valley (ODVA) and the Headquarters of the Haitian Corps of Military Engineering, in Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite in the Artibonite department. The Prime Minister was accompanied by three ministers from the Public Health, Agriculture and Defense. The purpose of his visit was to promote and support health care, encourage farmers, and encourages members of the Haitian Military Engineering Corps. Shortly before returning to the capital, he visited the military engineers based in Petite Riviere de l'Artibonite and told them "the nation needs you." He took the opportunity to make his opinion known in favor of a clear military defense corps in the service of the Republic and said if an individual can protect himself at home why not a permanent military defense force to defend the land, air and maritime borders of the nation and the public?

Permalink | Comments

Here is a picture of Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin as she was awarded the Woman of Courage Haiti 2015

On Wednesday, March 18, 2015, MS Pamela White, the Ambassador of the United States to Haiti has honored Mrs. Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin with "Woman of Courage Haiti 2015 award" as a part of the US award "International Women of Courage". Mrs. AJ Villedrouin is the Director of the Institute of Social Welfare and Research (IBESR); she has been honored with this award for her valuable plea for fair legislation, which led to the implementation of the action plan to fight human trafficking and on the criminalization of illicit trade in 2014. She restructured the IBESR, a social protection body, developed programs to record unaccompanied and orphan children and set up programs to reunite them with their families. Every year this award is given to some notable woman as a mark of recognition to her valuable contribution with initiatives, courage, actions and determination which play a predominant role in bringing positive changes in their society around the world.

Permalink | Comments

A Haitian man becomes a victime while shopping for a new home for his family. Kenol Jean who is a former member of the Haitian military was killed in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Canal Jean, 51, an ex-sergeant from Port-au-Prince was killed by an unknown gunman while he was touring on February 26 morning near Fort Lauderdale , accompanying his wife and a real estate agent who was showing them a house on the 2700 block of Northwest Sixth Court. Jean was in the Haitian army till Jean-Bertrand Aristide took over. A nearby surveillance footage showed a man in his mid-50s, running with salt and pepper hair and beard, wearing a hat, jeans and a checked black, beige and maroon long-sleeved, button-down shirt. Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue took Jean to Broward Health Medical Center in downtown Fort Lauderdale, where he was pronounced dead. The Sheriff's Office as per investigator's report believes that the motive behind the murder was robbery.

Permalink | Comments

On this Monday, March 9th, 2015, in a Ceremonial Oath Me. Jules Cantave was installed as the new President of the Court of Cassation and the Supreme Council. He was nominated to fill the position vacated by Judge Arnel Alexis

(Me. Jules Cantave, Président de la Cour de Cassation et du CSPJ)

On March 9, 2015, Mr. Jules Cantave has sworn in as the new president of the Supreme Court and the High Council of the Judiciary (Supreme Council) in place of much maligned Mr. Anel Alexis Joseph, who was forced to resign in last January. Mr. Jules Cantave, while taking this great responsibility for the country, has promised to do everything to make the system a truly independent and neutral judiciary. He has sworn to enforce the laws in force to deliver an impartial distribution of justice and prove himself a worthy and loyal magistrate. He believes that the esteemed responsibility which he has been entrusted is the reward of his 33 long years of service in the judiciary.

Permalink | Comments