Détails

Catégorie : En Bref

Création : 7 mai 2026

Supporters inside and outside the courtroom followed arguments about Homeland Security’s moves to end TPS for Haitians and Syrians
by The Haitian Times Apr. 29, 2026
Overview:
Scores of immigrants, advocates and supporters rallied outside the Supreme Court as justices heard arguments over the Trump administration’s attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians. The case centers on whether the Department of Homeland Security followed required legal procedures in its decision to end TPS.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump’s past derogatory statements calling Haiti a “s**hole” country and blaming Black and brown immigrants for “poisoning the blood of America” and having “bad genes” came back to haunt government lawyers on Wednesday as they defended the administration’s efforts to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians.
Meanwhile, scores of immigrants, their advocates and other supporters held a pro-TPS rally outside of the country’s highest court as the justices heard arguments from the government defending the Department of Homeland Security’s controversial decision to end TPS.
The main issue is where DHS, under then-Secretary Kristi Noem, followed the legal procedures to determine whether Haiti and Syria were still facing the disastrous conditions that qualified immigrants from those countries to receive TPS. The court’s decision is expected by late June or early July.
Wednesday’s rally is part of a coordinated campaign that includes an array of groups filing amicus briefs to support keeping TPS in place and introducing a bill in Congress to keep the program active through 2027.
“Everyone is covering all bases,” said Claudette David, of Faith in Action International, which was among the groups that filed a supporting brief with the court.
On Wednesday, she was there with about 100 people at about 9:30 a.m., just before the arguments began.
“Right now, there is a feeling of excitement and camaraderie,” she said during a phone interview after leaving the gathering. “You see Haitians out there, you see Hispanics out there, you see white people, white Americans – everyone’s

Détails

Catégorie : En Bref

Création : 7 mai 2026

After Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé rejected its initial proposal as excessive, Haiti’s electoral council was forced to resubmit its plan, raising new questions about election costs and feasibility.
by Juhakenson Blaise May. 01, 2026
THE HAITIAN TIMES
Overview:
Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council has submitted a revised elections budget after Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and political actors rejected its initial $250 million proposal as excessive. While reports suggest the new estimate could drop to around $190 million following consultations with international partners, the CEP has not confirmed the figure and continues to defend the original cost, citing inflation, security challenges and logistical constraints.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) announced that it has submitted a revised electoral budget to the Haitian government, following criticism from Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and political parties that signed the National Pact over the $250 million initially proposed for organizing the elections.
As announced, the CEP complied on April 28 with the prime minister’s demands, after he described the initial $250 million budget submitted by the council as “absurd and unacceptable.” The head of government made it clear that he would not approve such funding to organize elections for a population of 12 million.
According to the CEP, this new budget—whose amount has not been disclosed—results from consultations carried out by a commission composed of council officials, as well as representatives from the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
Meanwhile, local media reports that the electoral budget has been revised downward, dropping from $250 million to $190 million. This adjustment aims to align financial resources with the evolving realities of the process. The figure could fall further, as sources close to the talks among officials say the government has already decided to cap election spending at $150 million.
Critics describe the proposed budget as “excessive” and argue that the 2016 elections cost the country $50 million and that it is unrealistic for elections planned after a 10-year gap to cost four times that amount. At this time, the CEP is defending the proposal, stating that comparisons with 2016 are misleading.
CEP officials explained that those elections were partial and relied heavily on existing infrastructure and support from the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). It also pointed to increased costs linked to inflation, logistics, and security requirements.
According to the CEP statement, the revised budget reflects the various technical and operational options considered for organizing the vote in a context marked by insecurity and travel constraints across the country. Despite these constraints, the electoral body says it reaffirms its commitment to conducting the electoral process in an inclusive, impartial, independent, and transparent manner.
This step follows the April 24 submission of the revised draft electoral decree to the executive branch. The draft aligns with provisions of the National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections and reflects amendments to the Dec. 1, 2025, decree.
The National Pact, signed by more than 100 political parties, recognizes the prime minister as the sole head of the executive branch, backing the current interim government. Articles 12–14 authorize the CEP to oversee the constitutional amendment process through a referendum at the parties’ request.
This project to amend the 1987 Constitution was initially abandoned by the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) in October 2025, after it dissolved the Steering Committee for the National Conference and Constitutional Referendum. The move followed criticism over its illegality, lack of legitimacy, misuse of public funds, and failure to address urgent national priorities such as security, humanitarian aid, healthcare, and elections.
The CEP said it is revising the electoral calendar and expects to publish it soon to relaunch the suspended electoral process.
After registering political parties — 282 of which were approved to participate in the upcoming elections — the CEP had planned to begin voter and candidate registration in April.

Détails

Catégorie : En Bref

Création : 7 mai 2026

The first edition of ‘Sikannou’ was held to celebrate World Circus Day
by Onz Chéry Apr. 27, 2026
THE HAITIAN TIMES

Circus performer Davideson Desamours holding a giant tripod with three lit torches under his nose during the first edition of Sikannou at Place d’Armes in Cap-Haïtien on April 19, 2026. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times

Overview:
From juggling machetes to putting fire in their mouths, relive Sikannou circus performers’ most dangerous moments from the first edition of the show in these images.
CAP-HAÏTIEN — Davideson Desamours, a circus performer sporting a bright yellow shirt, juggled three machetes in the middle of a circle of about 100 people with eyes fixated on him. Desamours threw the machetes from behind his back, then under his leg. Children and adults’ eyes opened wide as he performed at Place d’Armes in Cap-Haïtien on April 19.
Desamours later sat on one of the machetes and rested another one on the top of his head. At that point, the crowd applauded with intensity. That cheer was a testament to the fact that World Circus Day certainly did not go unnoticed in Cap-Haïtien.
Bouyon Atizay (Art Soup), a group of college students, organized the show to celebrate World Circus Day, which fell on April 18. It was the first edition of Sikannou, Creole for “Our Circus,” and it had the theme of “Life is a risk animated by fire.”
In addition to juggling machetes, performers juggled lit torches, blew fire, rode unicycles while carrying lit torches among other stunts. Relive the thrill of Circus Day in Cap-Haïtien in this series of images.

Ericson Germéus, a circus performer who also goes by Smoky G, inserted a string in his nose then pulled it from the inside of his mouth. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times

Ericson ‘Smoky G’ Germéus juggles while sitting on Davideson Desamours’s shoulders who is riding a unicycle. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times

Comedian Antoine Saint-Jacques Jean, also known as Pè Antoine (Father Antoine), attempts to climb on top of the shoulders of Micken ‘Poet Funeste’ Jeanite to mimic the stunt. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times

A performer pretends to get burned after attempting to put a lit torch in his mouth. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times

Davideson Desamours carries a lit torch under his nose while holding two other ones. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times

Antoine Saint-Jacques Jean raises his arm in the air. The comedian wore a gray dress shirt and came to the show with his pipe. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times

Micken ‘Poet Funeste’ Jeanite also attended Bouyon Atizay’s first circus show in his Sunday best attire. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times

Davideson Desamours juggles three lit torches. Attendees watch him in awe. One man holds his phone up to record Desamours. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times

Ericson ‘Smoky G’ Germéus [left] juggles with Davideson Desamours [right]. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times

Davideson Desamours looks down as he holds three machetes. Attendees watch him in awe, some smile while others hold their phones up to record him. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times

Détails

Catégorie : En Bref

Création : 7 mai 2026

May 5, 2026 Rédaction Culture VBI
Le poète haïtien René Depestre a reçu le prix Goncourt de la poésie Robert Sabatier le mardi 5 mai à Paris. La distinction intervient alors que l’auteur célèbre son centenaire.

Paris, 5 mai 2026. — L’annonce a été faite par l’Académie Goncourt lors de la session de printemps.
Né en 1926 à Jacmel, René Depestre est une figure majeure de la littérature haïtienne et francophone.
Son œuvre est marquée par l’exil, la liberté et les réalités sociales caribéennes. Il a vécu dans plusieurs pays d’Amérique latine et d’Europe.
Parmi ses ouvrages les plus connus figure ‘Hadriana dans tous mes rêves’, qui lui a valu une reconnaissance internationale.
En 2026, plusieurs hommages sont organisés en Haïti et dans la diaspora pour célébrer ses 100 ans.
Cette distinction renforce la place de René Depestre dans la poésie francophone. Son œuvre continue d’influencer chercheurs et écrivains.
À 100 ans, il reste une référence majeure de la littérature haïtienne et mondiale.
Moïse François
Vant Bèf Info (VBI)