Candidates from as many as 125 political parties in Haiti on Thursday rushed to meet a deadline to register to run in the country’s long-overdue elections later this year.
The Caribbean island has a history of turbulent elections, but that does not appear to dissuade candidates.
The wife of Haitian President Michel Martelly registered on Thursday to run for the Senate in her first attempt at elected office in the impoverished Caribbean country.
First lady Sophia Martelly filed the required documents to compete in a crowded field for one of 20 open seats in the Aug. 9 election, representing the party created by her husband. She would represent a Senate district that includes the capital.
A Haitian marine biologist who successfully fought to create a national park to protect a large swath of Haiti’s north coast has won a prominent U.S. environmental activism prize.
Jean Wiener was awarded a Goldman Environmental Foundation prize for his efforts to establish the Caribbean nation’s first Marine Protected Areas while working with local communities to promote sustainable fishing practices and preserve mangrove forests.
The Obama administration said it was “concerned” about the speed of a court ruling in Haiti that saw charges suddenly dropped in the indictment of an accused kidnapper with close ties to the family of President Michel Martelly.
On Friday, the judge freed Woodly Ethéart and Renel Nelfort, two leaders of the so-called Galil Gang, who had been indicted a month earlier for masterminding a host of violent crimes, including murder, money laundering and more than a dozen kidnappings.
Port-au-Prince (AFP) – After three years of delayed polls and simmering political unrest, Haiti’s rusty electoral machinery is finally grinding into gear.
By the end of the year, the Caribbean republic ought to have a newly-elected president, parliament and local municipal governments — a test for any developing nation.
Haitians have not been able to vote in an election since popular singer Michel Martelly won the presidency in a controversial 2011 poll.
Since then, presidential nominees have replaced elected mayors in many towns and the Senate and House of Representatives have shrunk away.
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – Haitian officials are reporting a spike in cholera cases late last year and carrying over into the first three months of 2015 as an early start to the rainy season has public health workers worried.
As of March 28, the Haitian Ministry of Health confirmed at least 11,721 cases of cholera, more than a 300 percent increase from the same period last year.
The word “Vodoun” or Vodou has always had a negative connotation for me. As a boy I was taught to fear the word. I would never speak about it aloud. I felt it was shameful. Ask a Haitians about Vodou and you get a sense that the person wants to run for the hills. We’ve been taught to fear “Hougan” and “Manbo”. They’re seen as sorcerers who deal in the occult and “black magic” for their own personal gain.
I’ve always wondered why?
We Haitians wish to disassociate ourselves from that word. We feverishly make the “sign of the cross” – we raise our hands to the sky in praise of the Lord – and beg Him to save us.
The Seventh Summit of the Americas, which took place in Panama City, Panama, on April 10-11, was as expected a photo op session that failed to tackle the most pressing issues affecting the least influential countries in the hemisphere — Haiti in particular. Apparently Duly Brutus, the Haitian foreign minister, was not forceful enough in making the case for the inclusion of the plight of Haitian citizens and their offerings living in the Dominican Republic (DR) on the agenda. What would it take for the United Nations (UN) and Organization of the American States (OAS) to finally admit that this systemic violence targeting Haitians in the DR violates the basic norms of decency and international law?
By Garry Pierre-Pierre
Shortly after taking office, Michel Martelly came up with a plan to levy a tax on money transfers and international calls flowing into the cash strapped, politically troubled nation. The tax ostensibly was to create a fund to provide universal elementary education to millions of impoverished children.
While the government has been collecting this money – to the consternation of many Haitian Americans- parliament has never voted on the measure, let alone approved it into law.
Those are the type of details that President Martelly and his administration seem to elude or they never bothered with in most of their actions, however well intended. This is no small matter because despite its dysfunction, Haiti does have a parliament and the administration has been collecting the money illegally.
Haiti Cultural Exchange has announced their annual Haiti Film Festival screening schedule. The Brooklyn-based nonprofit will showcase over 15 features, ranging from documentaries to short films.
By Vania Andre
When Rodney Leon was a boy growing up in Brooklyn, his immigrant parents made sure to instill their Haitian culture and history into his young mind.
This teaching has paid huge dividends for the 45- year-old architect, who has garnered critical acclaim and has designed a series of high-profile projects in New York City and beyond.
By Nadege Fleurimond
In Haiti, fish, salads and boiled root vegetables reign supreme on the dinner table from Good Friday until Easter Sunday.
Below are three of my favorite Easter weekend non-meat recipes.
Dlo Pou Viv, an international relief organization in Haiti, commemorated the end of Women’s History Month with a luncheon celebrating women success stories.
Women Who Inspire Women (WWIW) is a New York-based collective of established female entrepreneurs, executives, politicians, philanthropists and professionals.
Attendees received branding and networking tips, as well as, legal advice specific to the entertainment industry.
By Tadia Toussaint
Unemployment and famine are arguably two of the leading forces behind Haiti’s impoverished state, but who knew One Egg could be a solution?image1
“There are so many kids in Haiti going to school on an empty stomach and sometimes eventually dropping out,” said Marie-Alan Aladin, chapter director of the One Egg project in Haiti.
