People

Louis Jodel Chamblain was born either in 1953 or 1954. He is a military leader who has won many medals in the army though to some he is a fraudulent war leader. In 1987, he allegedly headed government death squads that interrupted a planned election that would have marked the transition to civilian rule. In all, 34 voters were killed, and the election was cancelled.

Civilian elections did take place in 1990, in which Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected, but a military coup in which Louis Jodel Chamblain was involved overthrew Aristide in 1991. He has undergone military training in the United States. Immediately following the coup, his reputation for brutality grew further as he is reported to have been responsible for thousands of murders of Aristide followers. He formed a paramilitary organization, the Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haiti (FRAPH), in 1993 as tensions grew between supporters of Aristide's reinstatement and supporters of the military government.

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Haitian-American human rights attorney and Director of Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), Mario Joseph, provides legal services for those incarcerated for speaking out against the government of Haiti (GOH). He also goes to bat for impoverished Haitians and citizens harmed because of their political beliefs.

Mario Joseph earned his university degree from École Normale Supérieure and studied at Gonaïves Law School. He began his career as human rights counsel for the Peace and Justice Commission of the Catholic Church. In 1996, he became a member of BAI.

Joseph's most significant case was the Raboteau Massacre trial, in which he was lead counsel, representing survivors of the event. The six-week trial ended with 53 convictions and punitive damages of $43 million USD, assessed against the offenders. Joseph did not stop with the Haitian convictions. He assisted the Center of Justice and Accountability to try other instigators involved in the Raboteau Massacre in the U.S. judicial system.

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During WWII when the Axis Powers managed to cut off the Eastern rubber supply, the then Haitian President, Elie Lescot proposed an ambitious to USA. He proposed to rapidly increase the rubber production during the war period in the countryside of Haiti. $5 million was granted by Washington's Export-Import Bank in 1941 so that rubber plantation can be developed in Haiti. This ambitious program was named at Société Haïtiano-Américane de Développement Agricole or SHADA. Thomas Fennell, an American agronomist managed the SHADA program.

Using US military support, Lescot administration cleared 47,177 acres of land by 1943 with the purpose of planting high latex-yielding cryptostegia vine. Over time, 100,000 hectares of land were claimed by the SHADA project. During this period, Elie Lescot campaigned and sold people the idea that SHADA will only improve and modernize agriculture in Haiti. However, Haitian families were forcibly removed from arable lands and nearly a million trees capable of bearing fruit were cut down.

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Bullying happens in every social context to individuals, groups, classes, races, genders, and sexual orientations. Researchers claim certain characteristics are present in people who bully. They are often authoritarian, dominating, controlling, socially underdeveloped, and prejudiced towards others. They are also emotionally volatile, coercive, habitually aggressive, paranoid, insecure, and prone to acting in robotic ways.

Bullying or hazing--as it is called on college campuses--has a shameful tradition that secretly legitimizes itself.

Research in psychology implies bullying begins in childhood. If bullying behavior is not dealt with then, the risk increases it may turn into a chronic disorder. Bullying works through mind-games, name-calling, or character assassination. It finds fertile ground in gangs and groups, often occurring in school environments.

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Hope is a concept with many meanings.

In psychology, researchers define hope as an emotion that arises when expectations are not being met, or seem like they will never be met. But if one can find reason to hope, or a new way to fulfill those expectations, then hope is renewed. As psychiatrist Alfred Adler once stated, "We cannot think, feel, will, or act without . . . a goal."

Goals are object-oriented, whether material (a new car), or abstract (becoming an astronaut). To achieve a goal, we need willpower. We will goals through mental energy (imagining the process and desired end), sustaining the intent to achieve the goal.

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Michel Domingue, 13th President of Haiti, began life in Les Cayes in 1813. Coming from an educated background, he attended military school where he graduated. A natural military leader, he was appointed a commander over army troops in the South Department, after graduation.

The Council of Secretaries of State (CSS), the then-current ruling body, appointed Domingue President of Haiti in June of 1874. Domingue, reluctant to assume many duties of office, appointed Septimus Rameau, a high-level official of the CSS to administer public functions of ruling. Rameau and Domingue were opposites, Rameau tyrannical and oppressive, Domingue retiring and melancholic.

Domingue's greatest strength lay in foreign policy. Upon assuming office, he negotiated a peace treaty with the Dominican Republic (DR), ending a brutal border conflict of several years duration. Author of the treaty, he sent both Rameau and Chief of Staff, General N. Léger, to Santo Domingo to draw up the accord. It was successfully signed into law on January 20, 1875.

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On Sunday, 24 March, Miami's Cultural Section of the Consulate General of Haiti honored 12 women for their professionalism and creativity in community and humanitarian activities. This ceremony was held in Miami's Moca Café & Lounge. This ceremony was hosted by Émeline Michel, a famous singer from Haiti. The 12 women were awarded by "Beacon of Hope and Achievement Award". The ceremony was an outlet for thanking these women for their achievements and also to boost their morale for further contribution towards the development of the Haitian community.

The award was given out in turn by François Guillaume II (Miami's Consul General of the Republic of Haiti), Guy François Jr. (Vice-Consul), Mr. Isson Joseph (Consulate's Head for the Section of Community Services) and Cultural Section's Head. The 12 women who received the "Beacon of Hope and Achievement Award" were:
• Émeline Michel - A Haitian Artist
• Jenna Green - Project Medishare
• Dr. Marie Etienne - Haitian American Nurses Association
• Kimberly Green - Green Family Foundation
• Judith Joseph - Breakfast with Santa
• Marleine Bastien - Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami
• Rasha Cameau - Haitian Ista
• Nadie Mondestin - Haitian Youth Community Center
• Major Franzia Brea-Burden - North Miami Police Department
• Paola Pierre - HACCOF (Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida)
• Nadine Patrice - Operation Green Leaves, Inc.
• Gepsie Metellus - Sant-La

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Louis Borno, a lawyer by profession, assumed the Haiti presidency in 1922. Elected by the State Council, he ruled alongside U.S. Major General John H. Russell, U.S. President Harding's appointee.

Borno had served as Foreign Minister under President Theodore, refusing to cede control of Haiti's finances to the U.S. The U.S. responded by seizing the National Bank of Haiti's assets. Serving again under President Dartiguenave, Borno's skill as a negotiator persuaded the U.S. to commit to Haiti's economic growth, without receiving any land in the bargain. When Borno became president, Haiti was still debt-ridden. He brokered a loan of $23 million dollars to balance the budget and also lowered import taxes to equalize the trade deficit.

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The world looks at Haiti as country of corruption, abysmal poverty and illiteracy. This is true but it cannot be ignored that the world has also seen some Haitians rising out from their poor condition and shining bright enough to lead others and be inspiration for other Haitians. Reginald Fils Aime is one such name.

Reginald Fils Aime, also known as Reggie Fils-Aime or simply Reggie is a US national with Haitian origin. He works as Nintendo America's President and Chief Operating Officer for North American Division. Prior to this, he worked with the same company as Vice President of marketing and sales. Reggie Fils-Amie was born to Haitian Immigrants who settled in US permanently to avoid the conflicting views on politics of the grandparents of Reggie. Reginald was born in 1961 in New York and throughout his professional career he marked his presence with extraordinary marketing skills.

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Haiti's Martelly administration has just announced its new vice-delegates in the country's South East. Last July 13, Jean Helson Royal, Joseph Ponyon, and Emmanor Déroneth were formally proclaimed in front of Haitian political figures by the Dean of the Court of First Instance of Jacmel's Adeline Dougé François. These three were chosen by Haitian President Joseph Michel Martelly himself. For the development of the small district of Belle-Anse, Déroneth is up for the job.

Déroneth will be serving about 110,000 Haitians and four municipalities in the government's mission for economic growth and social stability, as well as more responsible and effective governance. Despite criticisms made by other officials on his appointment due to him not being born in Belle-Anse, the new vice-delegate is ready to face the challenges he and his two colleagues are going to face together for the sake of the welfare of their districts and the entire South East region.

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