Haiti council names 2 candidates for presidential runoff
David Mcfadden, Associated Press
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Government-backed candidate Jovenel Moise and former state construction chiefJude Celestinappear to be advancing to a runoff election for Haiti's presidency, according to preliminary results announced Thursday.
The much-anticipated results from the 54-candidate first round presidential contest on Oct. 25 were issued by Pierre Louis Opont, the leader of the Provisional Electoral Council. Since no candidate won a majority in that ballot, the two top finishers are set to meet in a Dec. 27 runoff.
Opont did not take any questions from reporters after delivering the preliminary results at the council headquarters, which was under guard by heavily armed police. He said Moise received 511,992 votes or 32.8 percent of the total, and Celestin got 394,390 or 25.2 percent.
Seven of the council's nine members signed off on the preliminary results, indicating that there was not unanimous agreement with the tally. An appeals period will follow the Thursday announcement and officials say certified results are expected in late November or early December.
Moise, handpicked by outgoing PresidentMichel Martellyto be his successor, greeted applauding partisans gathered at a fancy hotel in Petionville, not far from the electoral council headquarters. Looking into TV cameras, the top vote getter told Haitians they were backing the right man.
"I'm standing in front of you because I am the winner," said Moise, an agricultural entrepreneur who set up a banana plantation in Haiti's north and founded a public-private project called Agritrans to successfully export the fruit to Europe.
But several major candidates have alleged fraud by the well-financed Tet Kale campaign behind Moise and voiced concern that the results do not accurately reflect national will.
The candidate who placed third in the official tally with 14.2 percent, former senatorMoise Jean-Charles, has asserted in recent days that he won half of Haiti's 10 departments. Last week, he insisted that partially burned ballots checked with his name were found by his backers in Port-au-Prince and numerous ballots supporting his bid had gone missing elsewhere.
After the preliminary results were announced, Jean-Charles said the results were a sham orchestrated by Martelly, who he insists would be pulling strings in a Moise presidency. He called on his supporters to participate in a "peaceful revolution" to ensure their voice is heard.
But tire barricades were already burning in a few spots of Port-au-Prince and Associated Press journalists saw one dead body on a street in the neighborhood of Delmas 33.
A crowd of Jean-Charles supporters gathered around their dead colleague and insisted he was fatally shot in the neck by officers with a newly created police unit referred to as BOID. Chanting "freedom or death," the crowd scattered Jean-Charles campaign posters around his corpse.
Firefighters who arrived to douse the flaming barricades were pelted with a few rocks, but managed to put out the flames. One furious partisan screamed at them: "You won't have enough water to put out all the fires tomorrow!"
In recent days, eight presidential candidates, including Celestin and Jean-Charles, asserted that there were instances of "massive fraud" during Oct. 25 election — perhaps as a way to prepare their partisans for a loss. They warned that if fraud went uncorrected it "would make the alleged results of these elections unacceptable" and asked the council to form an independent commission to review the electoral processes over the next 15 days.
Celestin's campaign manager did not offer any immediate comment now that his candidate apparently secured a spot in the runoff. At least one presidential candidate in the top 10,Pierre Sauveur Etienne, said he would throw his support behind Celestin, the government-backed candidate in the last election cycle.
The top two finishers announced in preliminary results don't always make it to a runoff in Haiti. During the last election, disputed preliminary results showed Celestin edging out Martelly for one of two spots in a runoff ballot, but under international pressure Haiti's electoral authorities reviewed the count and eliminated Celestin from the race.
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Eurasian Minerals Sells Haiti Joint Venture Interests for US $4 Million and an NSR Royalty
Published: Nov 2, 2015 7:00 a.m. ET
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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Nov 2, 2015 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- Eurasian Minerals Inc. (the "Company" or "EMX") (EMX)(nyse mkt:EMXX) is pleased to announce the sale of its interests in Haiti to joint venture partner Newmont Ventures Limited ("Newmont" or "NVL"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation NEM, -1.02% for a US $4 million (CAD $5.3 million) cash payment and a retained 0.5% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty interest.
The now terminated EMX-Newmont joint ventures (the "Joint Ventures") covered six designated exploration areas along a 130 kilometer trend of northern Haiti's Massif du Nord mineral belt. Since 2013, activities in the designated exploration areas have been limited to care and maintenance only.
Pursuant to the transaction, Newmont acquired all of EMX's interest in the Research Permit applications on the following terms:
-- Newmont paid US $4 million (CAD $5.3 million) in cash to EMX at closing; -- The Joint Ventures were terminated; -- EMX retains a 0.5% NSR royalty on the 49 Research Permit applications covering the designated exploration areas; -- EMX retains the right to acquire any properties proposed to be abandoned or surrendered by Newmont.
Please see www.eurasianminerals.com for more information.
About EMX. Eurasian Minerals leverages asset ownership and exploration insight into partnerships that advance our mineral properties, with EMX retaining royalty interests. EMX complements its generative business with strategic investment and third party royalty acquisition.
Mr. Dean D. Turner, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and consultant to the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause Eurasian's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015 (the"MD&A") and most recently filed Annual Information Form for the year ended period ended December 31, 2014 (the "AIF"), actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Eurasian Minerals Inc. David M. Cole President and Chief Executive Officer (303) 979-6666
Eurasian Minerals Inc. Scott Close Director of Investor Relations (303) 973-8585
SOURCE: Eurasian Minerals Inc.
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The new taxes and the privileges of the state employees of the State have been cancelled
The Prime Minister is going back on his decision to grant immense advantages to higher level government officials immediately after they retired.
Also being cancelled is the order that would have increased taxes on certain items including passports, fiscal rolls and driving licenses.
During an important meeting which took place last Saturday in his office, the Prime Minister made the decision to cancel the order granting certain advantages to senior civil servants, once they retired. According to this order, the President of the Republic could benefit from a severance pay of two millions five hundred thousand gourdes and the ministers and secretaries of states two million gourdes.
This was to ease their entrance back to civilian life after having lost the numerous advantages and the opportunities they were granted in their respective functions. The same order also removed the customs duties for these senior state officials in case they purchased a car. The car in question could also be housed in a garage for up two years at the expense of the state … etc. … etc. …
Also following the meeting last Saturday, a press release from the prime minister’s office canceled the increase of certain taxes. The increase had caused anger among the population and threatened two days of strikes on November 9th and 10th. The Leader of the government said that the country cannot face two more days of strikes and Evans Paul used this opportunity to express his loyalty to the Haitian population.
However, in spite of this important decision, which should have calmed the protests and returned order to the country, groups lit barricades of burning tires almost everywhere through the streets of the capital, and the police proceeded to make numerous arrests last Saturday.
Among the people who was were arrested was the singer IZOLAN who was later freed.
Evans Paul considers that the two days of strike planned for Monday, November 9 and Tuesday, November 10 will no longer serve their original purpose.
The International community issues a call for restraint
The International Community, represented within "Core Group", took note of the publication of the preliminary results of the elections of October 25th and issued an appeal to all to continue to participate in a responsible way
Sandra Honoré, the special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General and the members of the international community in Haiti, represented within "Core Group" (the Ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, United States of America, the European Union, and the special Representative of the Organization of American states), took note of the preliminary results of the first round of the presidential elections of October 25th and anticipated the organization of a second tour to be held on December 27th, 2015, with the local elections and the second round of the general elections in certain districts.
"The Core Group calls all the actors to deal with each and every one of the challenges, in accordance with the electoral decree. Regretting the isolated acts of violence and vandalism, observed after the announcement of the preliminary results, the Core Group asks insistently that Haitian authorities arrest and judge the people responsible for unrest to the full extent of the law.”
The Core Group repeated its call to all the actors to continue to participate in the electoral process with responsibility, respect and restraint, looking forward to the definitive results of the first round of the presidential elections as well as the preliminary results of the general and municipal election.
Little Farm Trailer Resident Fights Eviction
By NADEGE GREEN • WLRN
Clemencia Charles had just left a prayer meeting at her church. She waited for everyone to leave for the night, including the pastor. Then she returned to sleep outside on the floor.
“I didn’t tell anyone what I was going through,” she said. “I prayed and went to sleep."
Charles had been evicted from her trailer home in El Portal earlier that day in October.
Coral Gables-based Wealthy Delight purchased the Little Farm trailer park in El Portal where Charles had lived and gave the mobile home residents a deadline of February to move out.
Until February, Wealthy Delight has said it will pursue evictions against mobile home tenants who do not pay the monthly fee to lease the land their homes sit on.
In court documents, the company alleges Charles owes $1,420.
Charles denies owing any money and said she had proof she paid Wealthy Delight, but the 59-year old, who attends weekly prayer meetings, never got a chance to present her defense to a judge. In order to get what is called an evidentiary hearing, the court required her to deposit the money Wealthy Delight said she owes into the court registry.
Charles didn’t have the $1,420 and her lawyer said she shouldn’t have to deposit money she doesn’t owe.
“This is a bar to justice,” said Evian White, an attorney with Legal Service of Greater Miami who represents Charles. “That’s not the way the justice system should work.”
Charles now is back in her home -- at least temporarily -- after a series of twists and turns in the legal system led her to file for bankruptcy to fight off the eviction.
Charles’ case gives a glimpse into the court system and some of the challenges for low-income residents who can’t afford to deposit hundreds and sometime thousands of dollars to fight an eviction case in court.
Haiti - Economy: Garius Lornick takes away the title of "The most remarkable Young person of the World 2015"
On Saturday, November 7th, 2015 in Kanazawa, Japan, the young Haitian entrepreneur Garius Lornick who was the winner of the competition, "The Ten Most Remarkable Young Haitian of 2014" TOYP organized by the Junior chamber international Haiti (JCI Haiti), was selected among thousands of candidates worldwide coming from 17 countries. He participated with 10 other finalists in the competition TOYP 2015, to take away the much sought after title of "The Most Remarkable Young Person of the World.”
After careful consideration of the jury, made up of JCI partner personalities worldwide and the consideration of the votes from Internet users, the Jury awarded the title of "the Most Remarkable Young Person of the World in 2015" to our fellow countryman Garius Lornick.
More about Garius Lonick:
"From the age of 12 years, Lonick Garius took his future and his education in his own hands. When his parents’ finances were reduced, Garius was forced to leave school and become an entrepreneur as way to insure the financial stability of his own education.
Although confronted with numerous obstacles during his first years, Garius financed his studies thanks to his entrepreneurship efforts, weaving dry banana tree leaves, to make hats, baskets and crafts for the resale. He pursued this company until he obtained his high school diploma in medical technology. Garius then launched the Center of Biological Diagnostic (Bioced), a medical initiative offering laboratory tests, and internal medicine services, psychiatry, gynecology and dental care at reduced costs, to allow low-income people to have access to reliable health care.
Because of the immense success of Bioced and his entrepreneurial experience, Garius along with six partners, launched the Superior School of Applied Nursing and Medical Technology (ESNATECH). Despite having to grapple with a number of infrastructures challenges and low registration in the first years, the percentage of children registered increased and ESNATECH offers now 1,000 classes and takes care of all the operational costs. Because of the success of the schools, a scholarship program was implemented to help young students who cannot afford to pay for such an education.
Garius developed his entrepreneurial spirit at a young age as way to finance his own education. Since then, he turned to actions to contribute to the well-being of humanity. Today, he is holds a university degree, owns four different companies, employs about 100 people and is a main agent of a laboratory, working in the screening of the HIV and supplying technical support.