Statement Regarding
Ambassador White’s Meeting with the Group of Opposition Parties, Tuesday, December 2
On December 2, U.S. Ambassador Pamela White met with representatives from major Opposition parties at Fusion headquarters on Christ-Roi in downtown Port-au-Prince.
The Ambassador wishes to thank the nine opposition representatives who attended the meeting, which lasted for more than an hour. Ambassador White was extremely impressed with their analysis of the current political situation, dedication to Haiti's future and willingness to truly negotiate for the betterment of their country. She left the meeting optimistic that a way forward can be found.
The Ambassador looks forward to further meetings with a broad variety of political organizations and to continue providing strong U.S. support for a Haitian-led solution to the range of current political issues.
Anti-Government Protesters carry Poutine pictures
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSDEC. 5, 2014, 6:21 P.M. E.S.T.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Thousands of people marched through Haiti's capital Friday demanding that long-delayed elections be held and calling for the president and prime minister to resign.
Protesters in Port-au-Prince burned tires and threw rocks at police, who responded with tear gas. No deaths or major injuries were reported.
It was Haiti's third anti-government protest in about a month and the first one in recent years to push through the security perimeter at the National Palace.
Some protesters carried pictures of Russian President Vladimir Putin asking him for help. They accused the U.S. of supporting Haiti's current leaders although Washington has pushed Haiti's government to hold the elections.
President Michel Martelly was supposed to call elections in 2011 for a majority of Senate seats, the entire Chamber of Deputies and local offices. But both he and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe have accused six legislators of blocking the vote by preventing a quorum to approve an electoral law.
The six senators have said the legislation is unconstitutional and favors the government.
Michel Martelly signs his autobiography
On Friday evening at the Karibe Convention Center, President Martelly caused a surprise by having a book signing of his autobiography "Michel Martelly" whose publication was unknown by everyone until that day. The book itself was also a surprise, because few Haitian politicians in office have written one before him. Generally, we know nothing of their life, of their past or of the path which they traveled before reaching the office which they occupy.
That night, many people came to buy the publication (2,500 Gdes- $50) and have it autographed- including members of the diplomatic corps, ministers, senators, members of parliament, personalities of the music world and medical world, the business communities and numerous friends.
Once they bought their copy, readers needed to stay in line to arrive at the podium and obtain a dedication from the president, who was seated beside his wife Sophia who wrote the foreword.
During a break, the Head of State used the opportunity to thank his wife his and four children, the numerous personalities present, as well as friends who came for the evening. He particularly thanked Pierre-Raymond Dumas, who edited the first draft, and Ghislaine Rocourt-Deeb, who edited the final draft of the autobiography.
Everyone expected to discover details about the real life of the President, but there are many who wondered, not having read the book yet, if this autobiography will reveal the dark side of this artist, whose fate led him to the highest elected office in Haiti.
Caution if you go or live in Haiti, recommends the American government to its citizens
The American Government called upon American citizens traveling to or living in Haiti to exercise caution. The warning, which replaces one from March 12th, 2014, especially emphasized the lack of adequate emergency medical installations, the risks of thefts and, the unpredictability of spontaneous public protests.
The American government encouraged travelers to Haiti to use organizations which have solid evacuation plans and options for medical support in position.
"The infrastructure in place in Haiti to manage emergencies remains in poor condition. The medical establishment, including ambulance services, are particularly inadequate. Some American citizens injured in accidents, and others with grave health problems, were incapable of finding necessary medical care in Haiti and had to get organized and pay for their medical evacuation in the United States. We strongly encourage visitors Haiti to obtain evacuation insurance, advised the United States.
On the other hand, the American government acknowledged that kidnappings have experienced a significant decline.
The last warning also urged American citizens to remain aware of the possibility of aggravated theft, in particular in the region of Port-au-Prince, especially when leaving the airport. From May till October, 2014, there were 64 cases of American citizens having been victims of theft after leaving the airport.
"The Mission of stabilization of the United Nations in Haiti (Minustah) stays in Haiti to support the activities of the National police force of Haiti ( PNH). The PNH, with the Minustah’s assistance, is responsible for maintaining law and order and providing assistance. However, given the possibility and the unpredictability of the spontaneous public protests, their ability to help the American citizens during disorders is very limited. The evacuations facilitated by the American government, such as the evacuation that took place in Haiti in 2010, occur only when no safe commercial alternative exists," concluded the note.
Luc Mervil, accused of sexual offenses, didn’t appear before a judge
The Canadian singer of Haitian origin, Luck Mervil, whose real name is Lucknerson, was called to appear in court on Wednesday, December 3rd, to answer to charges of sexual assault and sexual misconduct on a teenager.
The case was opened in October, but the act was committed in 1996 over a period of 6 months. At the time of the attacks the victim was a minor and Mervil was 29 years old.
The singer Luck Mervil is also a comedian. He had a part in the successful play “Notre-Dame-de-Paris” and has worked actively to rebuild the country. Mervil is president of the foundation "Vilaj Vilaj" whose objective is to build a village in Payen to benefit the victims of the earthquake of January 12, 2010.
Two big Haitian writers in Miami Book Fair
Two major writers of Haitian literature were present at the Miami Book Fair on Saturday, November 22nd, 2014. Frank Etienne and Edwige Danticat represented Haiti at the biggest book fair in the United States, which took place from November 16th to the 23rd.
Miami Book Fair International has been organized at Miami-Dade College since 1984. It attracts thousands of people from around the world. Haiti was well and truly represented in this year’s edition of the Fair through two internationally renowned authors - one representing the explosive literature of the inside of the Island (Frank Etienne), the other one representing the vibrating literature of the Diaspora (Edwige Danticat).
Bill Clinton invites the Dominican Republic and Haiti to settle their conflict peacefully
Former American president Bill Clinton urged the Dominican Republic and Haiti to overcome the tensions generated by the 168-13 ruling of the Dominican Constitutional court, which made stateless thousands of Dominicans of Haitian origin.
In an interview granted to CNN in Spanish, Clinton declared that if the current tensions continue, they will affect the development of both countries. The former American president recalled that the Dominican Republic offered its assistance when Haiti was struck by the earthquake of 2010, which caused more than 300.000 deaths. Clinton stated that after the earthquake, both countries worked as a family to overcome problems. The judgment of the Dominican Constitutional Court has created many problems between the two countries, underlined the former president. "I think that both governments now have to solve these problems, and I encourage them to do so," said Clinton. According to Clinton, Haitians admire the development the Dominican Republic has attained during the last few years, and they are even trying to follow in their footsteps, in particular in the tourism sector.”
12 American Congressmen writes to the Dominican President
12 congressmen Americans warned in a letter to the Dominican president, Danilo Medina, against the application of the decision of the Dominican Constitutional court.
The decision susceptible to make stateless Dominicans of Haitian ancestries is "arbitrary" and "discriminatory", wrote the American members of the House of Representatives.
The right for nationality is the foundation of the other human rights. Without nationality, we have no access to healthcare, education, employment nor the possibility to exercise of certain political rights, stated these congressmen who recognize the right of a sovereign country to have its laws on naturalization. These domestic laws have to be shape to meet international conventions against discrimination, they call reminded.
Congressmen Joseph p. Kennedy, Frederica Wilson, Karen Bass, Friend Bera, Michael Capuano, Steve Cohen, John Conyers Jr, Danny K. Davis, Theodore E. Deutch, Marcia L.Fudge, Joe Garcia, Alcee L.Hastings all signed the letter.
The Survivors of the wreck will be repatriated on Tuesday, December 3rd
The Haitian survivors of the sailboat wreck that occurred two weeks ago were scheduled to return to Haiti, on Tuesday. During this short journey, around thirty Haitians died and 110 others were helped in time by the U.S. Coastguards.
These migrants were scheduled to return to the country aboard a plane which also transported other Haitian migrants who had followed the same path to reach the Bahamas. The sailboat which transported these Haitians had a wreck off Staniel Cay on Monday, November 25th in the evening.
Art Basel Miami
The contemporary art fair Art Basel was going full swing last weekend at the heart of Miami. 304 galleries coming from more than thirty countries including Haiti, exhibited high quality modern and contemporary works including paintings, sculptures, installations, photos, printed matters, videos and multimedia.
A significant number of Haitian artists attend this year’s show including, Philippe Dodard, Jean-Claude Legagneur, Albert Desmangles, Alexandra Barbot, Dominique Ambroise, Elizabeth Guérin, Alpi, Ernst Sylla, Fred Thomas, Fritz Millevoix, Jacques Garcon, Kristo, Raphaelle Castera, Robert Sylvain, Sophia Lacroix, Asser Saint Val, Harold Claudio and Jason Fleurant. Art galleries said sales were exceptionally strong this year at every level. The visitors to the exhibitions indicated to HPN that the quality of the Haitian works was exceptional.
François Guillaume II, the consul general of Haiti in Miami deeply encouraged the members of the Haitian Diaspora, in particular in Florida to take part in this big cultural event to celebrate the diversity through the art, music and culture. Art Basel, draws about 70,000 visitors, 4,000 artists, 70 museums representatives from all over the world, 2 billion potential transactions and 304 hand-picked galleries from all over the world, that show on two floors thousands works of modern and contemporary art, from the beginning of the 20th century till today.