Government

The Club of Madrid planned a two-day workshop on the 21st and 22nd of July in Port-au-Prince. This was an EU-funded project titled, "Promotion of dialogue for democratic reform in Haiti." This workshop, held in the capital, was to discuss how to implement the pending democratic reforms in Haiti.

Countries such as South Africa, Spain, and Poland share their successful experiences with key Haitian players in the political, economic, and social fields.

The former President of Panama, Martin Torrijos, will lead the discussions. Secretary General of the Club of Madrid, Carlos Westendorp and EU Ambassador to Haiti, Javier Nino, will also make their contributions. Other contributions will be from experts such as Roelf Meyer, a former Minister in South Africa, Max Hernandez, former Technical Secretary of the Peruvian National Agreement, and others.

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On Saturday, 19 July 2014, Haitian President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe along with other important ministers from several key departments attended a session at the North Miami Senior High to meet the members of the Haitian Diaspora in the United States. As a part of this social dialogue with representatives of the Diaspora, the President has discussed different ways that the Haitians and Haitian-Americans living in the US can play in a process of development to their homeland. They were informed about the recent social and economic developments in Haiti. The participants expressed their commitments towards own homeland and raised a number of issues and obstacles they usually face while dealing with the Haitian government and different institutions in their effort to do business or philanthropy work in Haiti. The government leaders and representatives heard their concerns and promised to solve most of these barriers. This meet was the 9th of the series but the first to be organized outside of Haiti. The Haitian Prime Minister has appreciated the importance of migrant remittance because that accounts about 20% of the country's GDP.

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Haiti may be moving ahead on reconstruction projects according to what President Martelly told the Wall Street Journal recently, but the government cannot sustain its established institutions. Employees at Notre Dame Hospital in Petit-Goâve have had their pay suspended 18 months, causing two strikes, and the National Association of Haitian Magistrates' pay has been withheld 20. This brought the justice system to a grinding halt.

It was announced by the Ministry of Justice 20 judges' mandates have been renewed in the jurisdictions of Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien, Petit-Goâve, Jacmel, Port-de-Paix, Anse a Veau, Grand-Riviere du Nord, Coteaux, Miragoane, Gonaives, and Hinche. Plans to disburse payments in arrears are scheduled to occur soon.

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On the 23rd of June, the Future Leaders of Haiti Internship Program was launched. It took place in the National palace, where President Michel Martelly, accompanied by his wife, launched it. The ceremony of the Future Leaders of Haiti Internship Program took place in the presence of the Minister for Haitians Living Abroad, Francois Guillaume II. Also, the Ambassador of Haiti in Washington, Paul Altidor, was present. Jean Vernet Henry the Rector of the State University of Haiti also attended the ceremony, and there were other attendants from private universities in the ceremony.

The Leaders Internship Program is currently under leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since it has just started, it has been placed under the purview of this ministry for the purposes of reaching the Diaspora. The first promotion is called "Classe Antenor Firmin" and it aims to reach the talented students of Haiti together with the young professionals who are living in U.S. The aim of this is to reach the Diaspora so that they can also contribute towards developing the mother country.

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Opposition Challenges Government of Haiti that Port-au-Prince Reconstruction not a Public Utility Project

On June 11, 2014 the government of Haiti (GOH), during the Council of Government's 33rd Session, presented construction plans of the Administrative city of Port-au-Prince drafted for Port-au-Prince's reconstruction, where government buildings are located, along with judiciary and cultural institutions. The plan also includes construction of four-lane corridors bounded by sidewalks, and public plazas. The GOH also reported on the compensation program put in place to reimburse property owners, or tenants displaced by the large-scale project.

The Unit for Housing Construction and Public Buildings Executive Director, engineer Harry Adam, refuted allegations of a majority of opposition party leaders that claim the GOH is attempting to appropriate land illegally. Adam responded, claiming "the process is in strict compliance with the law of 1979 on the forced expropriation . . ."

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The government of Haiti has been striving hard to take possession of the sites and spaces in downtown Port-au-Prince which had been declared as public utility in an effort to establish an administrative city to be constructed in the devastated capital in the downtown area. However, this has been met with criticism and opposition from different quarters, especially the owners of these utilities.

According to Michel Présumé, who is the Secretary of State for Planning, the government has taken proper measures to make sure that the interests of all stakeholders, including the owners, have been taken into consideration. He added that the compensation money has been set aside for the process. Those who will comply with the law and provide necessary documentation will be compensated.

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On 10th May 2014, President Michel Martelly visited Saint-Michel de l'Attalaye (Artibonite) to inaugurate a modern building that will house the Peace Court, the Office of National Identification and the Office of Civil State of this commune. The President has expressed his gratitude to the people who were actively involved in the project including United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The President has reminded the importance of the roles and the trust people keep on bailiffs, lawyers, clerks and judges who have always remained behind every active judiciary system. The department of justice always plays a pivotal role to maintain peace and harmony within a society.

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Civil court judge Raymond Jean Michel reported the former Haitian president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, has three major accusations against him. The charges are money laundering, corruption and illicit drug trafficking.

He has been banned by judge Lamarre Belizaire from leaving Haiti as the probe is going on. Beside Jean Bertrand Aristide, several key people in his administrations also can't leave the country

According to the report, this investigation covers a long period of time, starting in 2005. It has been said that during the Government of Jean Bertrand Aristide, millions of dollars had been misappropriated from Public fund in Haiti.

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A composition of 18 Haitians who represent the Diaspora are set to meet at the Premature, the Head of Government, to discuss the applicability and implementation of Article 9 of the El Rancho Agreement. The discussion also includes the feasibility of a census project before enforcement of the article.

Among the groups represented in this delegation are doctors, businessmen, journalists and pastors, etc. They were, however, invited by the Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe, under an umbrella non-profit organization by the name "Ban Mwen Dwam International". This is an organization that has been at the forefront to fight for the rights of the people living abroad.

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For the first time, the Haitian Parlement has decided to flex its muscles and take a decision against Deputy Arnel Belizaire. Following the aggression of Arnel belizaire against Minister Phélito Doran, the House of Deputy has decided to keep him out of his functions for two Months.

After listening to the version of Minister Phélito Doran, last Thursday, the decision was taken. Deputy Arnel Belizaire was also invited to present his side of the story. However, after several attempts, he did not show up.

Should we say that for at least the next two months we will have a quieter Haitian Parlement?

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