Haiti Observer Blog

US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that work permit for Haitians on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has been extended. There are over 4,650 Haitians who will benefit from this decision as their applications were still pending as of July 20, 2018. This was made public by Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson.

In last year November, 2017, U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ended the work permit for 4,650 Haitians on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) but extended whose applications were still pending as of July 20, 2018, report dated. The announcement came from the Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson.

Temporary protected status (also called "TPS") is given to eligible nationals of designated countries who are present in the United States. The status, accorded to nationals from some countries affected by armed conflict or natural disaster, allows persons to live and work in the United States for limited times. In November 2017, while withdrawing the TPS, the Trump administration informed 59,000 Haitians, living legally in the United States, of self-deportation. But it gave them time until July 22, 2019, to do it. To enter the TPS program, nationals of a designated country must not have any criminal record, pass a background check and pay a processing fee $495.

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This is a little-known fact in history that Haiti played an important role in U.S. independence. In December 1778, with the capture of Savannah in Georgia by the British forces, the about-to-be-formed United States lost one of its important and good sources of finance. The U.S Major General Benjamin badly needed a little hand in regaining this port. The French came forward to the aid of future United States of America and sent one Frenchman, Charles Henri d'Estaing to the rescue. On October 9, 1779, a force comprised of American, French, and free Haitian soldiers under the leadership of d'Estaing laid siege on the city in an attempt to oust the British from their Southern stronghold. D'Estaing, the French General, had an army of about 800 (or 1,500, historians differ out of total 3,500 troops) mulattoes and black Haitians who shed their blood in the effort of the French and Americans to recover Savannah from the British. Those gallant soldiers were known as Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue.

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Outgoing Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant is being called a racist by former Haiti Prime Minister Evans Paul and Deputy Jerry Tardieu regarding his as they see it, derogatory, inadequate, anti-democratic and racist statements. This took place at the Tribune of the Chamber of Deputies as he was announcing his resignation.

According to Mr. Evans Paul, the resigning Prime Minister stigmatized an entire sector of the Haitian population, namely the people from Pétion-ville or Kenskoff, whom he estimates are not entitled to be involved in politic. The Deputy of Petion-Ville, Jerry Tardieu went even further by calling these statements, discriminatory and racist.

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François Nicolas Duvalier, a potential candidate on the next Presidential election in Haiti that will take place in 2021 sent his message following the violent and deadly protests sparked by the proposed plan to raise fuel prices. Here is his statement below:

"My dear fellow citizens, like so many fellow citizens, I have been at the forefront of the events of the past few days, until we can take stock of the losses in human life and the damage caused, I extend my sympathies to those who have lost a loved one, those who have lost their jobs, who do not yet know how they will be able to support themselves and their families, and who do not yet know how they will send their children to the school, the entrepreneurs and job creators who have seen the hard work go up in smoke and all those who have been somehow victimized by this climate of terror.

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On Saturday, July 14, Haiti Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant declared in the lower house of Haiti's legislature: "I submitted my resignation to the president of the republic", who has "accepted my resignation". With this statement, the Prime Minister had managed to avoid a likely vote of no confidence to stepped down.

Mr. Lafontant took office less than one year and half ago, in February 2017. On Saturday, the Haitian parliament had been debating whether or not to give Lafontant a vote of confidence for more than three hours. With the resignation of the prime minister, Haiti now has no functioning government. President Jovenel Moise will need to dominate a new Prime Minister.

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It seems like Prime Minister Jack Guy lafontant is ready for a fight tomorrow at the Haitian Parliament this Saturday (7/14/18). Is it only me or do you also feel this way? PM Lafontant declared in all confidence that he will be at the historic rendez-vous in Parliament this Saturday to respond to the invitation of the deputies in opposition.

Since the violent protest last weekend, rumors have been circulating in the media about the fate of Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant. He remains confident after all. PM Lafontant took office in February 2017. He had faced widespread criticism even before this latest incident.

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An official of International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that fuel that is being subsidized by the Haitian government is benefiting for the most part, the rich and the powerful in Haiti. The international organization has reached an agreement with the government where they would make funding available to the government once their finance is in order. Haiti must strengthen its revenues by increasing tax collection and eliminating fuel subsidies.

Following the recent announce on July 6 by the Haitian government to increase the price to close to 50 percent which triggered protests throughout the country, the official from FMI suggested for the Haitian Government to withdrawn the subsidies gradually and also to assist the population with targeted aids in order to ease the effects.

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The Brazilian team is playing in World Cup. The streets of Port-au-Prince as well as any corner in Haiti are empty once a game begins. Everyone is home or are gathered with friends watching the Brazil-Belgium World Cup game. What would be a better time for the Government in Haiti to introduce a price increase in fuel?

last Friday, as most Haitians were glued to their televisions watching their favorite team, the Haitian government announced a huge jump in fuel costs. It includes an increase of 38 percent on gas, 47 percent on diesel and 51 percent on kerosene.

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Following the recent protest in Haiti, The US embassy in Haiti has contacted the State Department and requested additional security personnel.

We were informed that the request has been granted and as a result, approximately 13 Marines, as well as other security personnel are already heading to Haiti to reinforce the current staff of the US Marines Corps and State Department security personnel already in place there.

The United States Marines are one of the four branches of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting amphibious operations with the U.S Navy. On July 28, 1915, when Woodrow Wilson was the U.S President, the United States occupation of Haiti began with the landing of 330 Marines. This July intervention took place following the murder of Haitian dictator President Jean Vilbrun Guillaume. He was killed by some insurgents angered by his political executions of elite opposition. Historically, the first batch of the USS Montana disembarked on the Haitian soil more than one year earlier, on January 27, 1914. The U.S occupation in Haiti ended on August 1, 1934, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt reaffirmed an August 1933 disengagement agreement.

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Here is an amazing video of Delimart Plaza in Delmas 32, Route de Delmas during the protest over fuel price increase on July 7, 2018. Delimart was founded by Dr. Reginald Boulos in 2000. It is one of the biggest super market chain in Port-au-Prince. The address is Delmas 32, Port-au-Prince, Haiti,

Recently on July 6, 2018, when everybody was enjoying the world cup football quarterfinal matches, the Haitian Commerce and Economic Ministry issued a joint statement announcing an increase of 38%, 47% and 51% price for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene respectively. Major protests erupted on Friday in the country with demonstrators using burning tires and barricades to block major streets across the capital and in the northern city of Cap-Haitien. Dozens of shops were looted and burned. Cars were set ablaze. At least four people were killed.

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