The fateful day approaches for the expulsion of Dominican citizens of Haitian origin and Haitian immigrants without legal
ocumentation and living in the Dominican Republic
Within the framework of a petition which circulated on avaaz.org, about 800 signatures out of the required 1,000 have already been collected to support respecting the rights of Haitian migrants, learned AlterPresse.
"We are waiting for 1,000 signatures to submit to (Dominican) President Danilo Médina) before the date of June 16th, (which) is the end of PNRE" said the Collective Haiti of France (CHF) to AlterPresse. (The PNRE is a period granted to the affected migrants of Haitian origin by the Dominican government to get their documents in order, in order to be allowed to remain the country).
Several personalities and members of organizations continue to add to this petition by CHF and the Group of Support for Repatriates and Refugees (Garr).
The CHF and Garr have asked Dominican president Danilo Médina to respect the fundamental rights of the Haitians, who are threatened with eviction from the Dominican Republic.
Starting June 16, the Dominican authorities intend to repatriate to Haiti thousands of Haitian migrants and Dominicans of Haitian origin whose immigration status in not in order.
Taken on September 23rd, 2013, Ruling 168-13 of the Dominican Constitutional Court removed the Dominican nationality of several hundred thousand Dominicans and Dominicans of Haitian origin for the most part.
This ruling concerns children born in the Dominican Republic of foreign parents who emigrated illegally to Haiti’s neighbor since 1929, even though, according to the Dominican Constitution, every person born on Dominican ground is a lawful citizen.
National and international organizations continue to express their concerns in the face of a possible wave of evictions of Haitians at the end of the regularization period, set up to avoid other repatriations.
The Haitian government began to build shelters on the Haitian/Dominican border for thousands of Haitians at risk of being repatriated
Indeed, the date of June 17th is nearing, which marks the end of the regularization period for the foreigners set up by Santo-Domingo.
The Ministry of Defense in Haiti published this week two photos showing a sign stating "Welcome to the Center for the Repatriates," on the border post of Malpasse adjacent to Jimani.
The Haitian Ministry of Communication had announced last week the installation of two reception points in Malpasse and Ouanaminthe.
Dominican authorities are enforcing a national plan of regularization of the foreigners in accordance with the decision, considered illegal, of the Dominican Constitutional court which declared that individuals of Haitian origin do not have the right to Dominican nationality, because their parents’ status were considered "foreigners in transit.”
In mid-May, Haitian authorities organized their first multi-level meeting following the initiative of the Ministry of the Haitians living abroad, to set up an emergency plan that must allow "the reception of the deported in humane conditions."
The Haitian chancellor, Lener Renauld, met on Wednesday in Santo-Domingo with his Dominican counterpart Andres Navarro to discuss, among other things, the ongoing implementation of this regularization plan.
However, it is not known if they decided to continue the program, as many have asked in Haitian and Dominican sectors.
In Haiti, many believe that funds spent by the Haitian authorities to build reception center for repatriates should have instead been invested to supply the documents to the Haitians judged to be in irregular situations in the Dominican Republic.
Numerous human rights organizations, including the Movement of Dominico-Haitian women (MUDHA), denounced, during the last couple of weeks, the lack of support by the Haitian authorities for their nationals in the Dominican Republic. Which explains, according to them, why many of them will not be able join the regularization program.
Haiti: Lamothe audio leak reveals manipulation, espionage in TK camp
Written by Staff Writer on 28 May 2015.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (sentinel.ht) - Manipulation and espionage, these are the elements an audio leak to the press Wednesday evening has revealed, giving answers about the unexpected and "spectacular" registration of former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe into the presidential elections and the culture he endured within the Tèt Kale regime.
Audio leaked May 27, 2015 reveals former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe was registered without his knowledge.
Laurent Lamothe said in the audio that he had his registration for the presidency prepared but conditions were not proper and he had not decided to run yet. Not having a décharge for his management as minister and prime minister was mentioned in the audio. He said he was being courted by a number of political parties and the decision on a party had not been made either.
The voice of Lamothe is heard speaking to a few people and saying that he learned of his registration for candidacy in the news. He said he was registered by Tèt Kale men, former minister Ralph Theano, and presidential adviser Stanley Lucas.
In the audio, Lamothe says he was registered to Platfom Peyizan without his knowledge by Theano and Lucas. It was at 11:55 p.m., 5 minutes before the end of online registration that he was placed into one of President Michel Martelly's many parties in these elections, his original 2010 party, Repons Peyizan.
Laurent Salvador Lamothe did follow up in-person to file his registration documents at the West Departmental Electoral Bureau (BED) the following day, before the end of all registrations that day. Now into the electoral process, the leak raises more questions about the state of the regime and its former prime minister who is now denouncing manipulation and espionage.
May 28, 2015
No. 2015/17
STATEMENT BY THE OFFICE OF THE HAITI SPECIAL COORDINATOR
U.S. Support for Haitian Elections
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Haiti Special Coordinator
____________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release
May 28, 2015
U.S. Support for Haitian Elections
The United States continues to support Haitian elections this calendar year. We are pleased to see that a calendar has been set for holding legislative, presidential and local elections in 2015. The United States supports the right of Haitians to go to the polls in a timely manner to have a renewed voice in their governance through a free and fair process. The United States has no vote in these elections and does not support any candidate or group of candidates.
We commend Haitian President Michel Martelly and the members of Haiti’s independent Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) for their efforts to prioritize the holding of elections this year. The United States is committed to working with the Government of Haiti and its international partners to coordinate appropriate assistance – including the deployment of credible international election observers – to ensure that the elections are peaceful, free and fair. As electoral planning continues, the United States welcomes the efforts of the CEP, the United Nations, and the Government of Haiti (including its national police) to coordinate and execute successful 2015 elections. The United States encourages all stakeholders to participate fully in the electoral process, abide by the rule of law, and maintain high standards of transparency.
(End of text)
Haitian honored: Dr. Verret
“Upon arriving in this country as a refugee from Haiti in 1963, I was supported by many who nurtured my love of learning and science and gave me the encouragement and confidence to persevere..." (Dr. Verret)
The Board of Trustees of Xavier University of Louisiana announced that it has unanimously elected Dr. C. Reynold Verret as the university’s next president. Dr. Verret earned his undergraduate degree cum laude in biochemistry from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was also a postdoctoral fellow at the Howard Hughes Institute for Immunology at Yale University and at the Center for Cancer Research at MIT. Dr. Verret is joining Xavier from Savannah State University where he has served as provost and chief academic officer since 2012.
“I would like to congratulate and welcome Dr. Verret to the Xavier family,” said Michael Rue, chairman of the Board of Trustees. “While there were a number of highly-qualified candidates, Dr. Verret stood out for his proven leadership and experience expanding enrollment and increasing graduation rates. His record of achievement, personal history, and values set him apart as the clear choice to carry on the ideals that our founder, St. Katharine Drexel, and our longstanding president, Dr. Norman C. Francis, wove into the fabric of this institution.”
“I am deeply honored to be elected as the next president of Xavier and am excited to engage the entire Xavier community in envisioning a future that sustains the university’s distinct mission in a changing higher education environment and that responds to societal need,” said Dr. Verret. “Upon arriving in this country as a refugee from Haiti in 1963, I was supported by many who nurtured my love of learning and science and gave me the encouragement and confidence to persevere. During my tenure at Xavier, I will continue paying it forward, helping generations of young people realize their dreams, regardless of their backgrounds.” Dr. Verret is uniquely qualified by his experience, education, and values to guide Xavier’s mission of promoting a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society. His journey from immigrating to the United States as a young boy to guiding institutions of higher education to success has equipped him with distinctive skills and understanding to lead an HBCU in general, and Xavier in particular.
“From its beginning, Xavier has been dedicated to empowerment of the underserved.”