Haiti Observer Blog

The results of the Verification Commission published yesterday (may 30, 2016) has domino effect. The CEP as announced that due to the publication, the electoral calendar has been postponed until June 6, 2016. According to the CEP spokesman, they made the decision in light of the Verification Commission results and also the recent Decree by the government modifying their tasks.

What do you think?

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The ceremony for laying the first stone of the Haitian Parliament Building destroyed in the 2010 earthquake was attended by then Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe in the presence of other Haitian government officials and diplomats. It is a more than 3-year old news story (dated January 3, 2013). A Dominican firm 'Constructora Hadom' was awarded a contract valuing $33.7 million to reconstruct it and as per Prime Minister Lamothe's statement, "it would provide the country with modern public buildings to strengthen republican institutions and to improve the image of the state." Later, it was learned that, then President Martelly received a kick-back of $2.6 million from a Dominican Senator named Félix Ramon Bautista for awarding three separate government contracts valuing $343.32 million to three different companies belonging to Bautista. Bautista owns a 98% stake in Constructora Hadom. A recent spot investigation made by UCLPB concludes that it was a total waste of money as nothing has been done for the amount disbursed so far. Another project, a temporary reconstruction of the Haitian Parliament Building (started in November 2011), a high-profile $1.9 million USAID project, also moved at a snail pace.

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Just as Mr. Francois Benoit was delivering the report of the Commission of Verification to the government, the current CEP and the public, Government Commissioner Jean Danton Leger was also buzy issuing travel bans. Last night, Mr. Leger issued travel ban to all 9 members of the former CEP of Pierre-Louis Opont CEP and Mosler Georges

The reason is for failure in their mission of verification of the conformity of the process. The infractions included in his travel ban include: fraud and fraud in public writing causing grave prejudices to some of the candidates

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The Commission of Evaluation gave his report today to President Privewrt and the CEP. It is incredible the kid of findings his team found during the evaluation. Here is some key points of his finding, with his own quotes:

"Distribution of mandates done in a way I would say frantic, opening the way to a kind of trade of access mandate, sold and traded"

"There are certain liberties that were taken with the law with the electoral process which create a range of non-retractable zombie votes to the point that the number of non-retractable votes almost exceeded the legitimate votes"

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While many people do not think much of the Haitian neighborhood Little Haiti in Miami, others are looking at it as a location filled with dreams and opportunities for today and many years to come. Did you know that Conway Commercial Real Estate and Urban Atlantic Group are planning to open a 10,000-square Food Hall in Little Haiti. It will be located at Little Haiti's northern boundary on NE Second Avenue.

The Citadel food Hall is expected to open sometimes next year and will host over 20 vendors offering a wide variety of food such as pizza, steak, sushi, Spanish tapas, tacos, bakery, coffee, a wine bar and much more. The Citadel food Hall in Little Haiti is part of a handful of food halls that will be located within a short distance from Biscayne Boulevard in Miami where a high-speed rail line between Miami and Orlando expects to generate more business activities for the area

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The President of the Court of Cassation and the Supreme Council of the judiciary (CSPJ), Mr. Jules Cantave, woke up in shock this morning to leearn the nominnation of Government Commissioner Jean Danton Leger at the CSPJ without his knowledge. According to Mr. Leger, he learned the news just like you and me by way of the media.

As a result, Mr. Jules Cantave sent a press release to publicly reject the nomination of Government Commissioner Jean Danton Leger to the CSPJ. He reminds the public the term of a CSPJ memeber is for 3 years and that the members can not be nominated to an other post.

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The president of BMPAD Eustache St Lot should know by now that Minister Wilson Laleau is not a real. Because he did not show up, the president of BMPAD was obligated to spend his entire weekend in Preventive detention. In addition, Minister Laleau doesn't show any sign that he will come to the rescue of his friend. According to an interview with Marie Lucie Bonhomme at Radio Vision 2000, on Monday (May 30, 2016), Government Commissioner Jean Danton Leger is still waiting for Minister Wilson Laleau to confront Eustache St Lot. The two have been contradict each other in recent deposition in the case related to ED'H.

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President Jocelerme Privert has decided to extend the mandate of the Provisional Electoral Council, the CEP. The CEP is now responsible to organize elections for the renewal of one third of the Senate that will have its term ended in January, 20167. In addition, the CEP is now authorized to organize elections for all other vacancies until a Permanent Electoral Council is established

What do you think?

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According to a Presidential Decree dated May 27, 2016, the current Government Commissioner of Port-au-Prince, Jean Danton Leger, has been appointed to the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ)

The CSPJ is a nine member Supreme Council of the Judiciary established in May, 2012 by former President Michel Martelly. The creation of the CSPJ was considered a historic moment in Haiti as many believed at the time it would mark a turning point in providing some independence of the Haitian justice from the executive government.

What do you think?

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The result of the Commission of Verification will be made public on Monday (May 30, 2016) at 4:00PM, Haiti time which will be 5:00PM in Miami, Florida. We also learned that the president of the commission wants to meet with President Privert before the these results are made public. Mr. Daly Valet, as we learned is the one with the responsibilities to assure the liaison between the Commission of verification and the Eeecutive branch.

What do you expect on Monday at 4:00PM?

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