Politics

The recent and untimely death of Judge Jean Serge Joseph has some officials within the Martelly government disputing the official cause of Joseph's death, a cerebral hemorrhage. Judge Joseph was investigating First Lady Sophia Martelly and son, Oliver, on allegations they had been diverting government funds for their personal use.

In a conflict of interest involving Minister Jean Renel Sanon of the Justice Department, his department has been requested to explore the circumstances prior to Joseph's sudden death. However, Sanon is being regarded as a person of interest among some government officials.

According to sources, Sanon met with Judge Joseph at an attorney's office two days prior to Joseph's hospital death. They intimate Sanon directly or indirectly threatened Joseph. Sanon allegedly said if Joseph didn't close the corruption case against the First Lady and her son, there would be consequences.

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Based on the latest action of Magistrate Lamarre Belizaire, he is in possession of information that implicate both Enold Florestal and Andre Michel in the assassination of the 4 year law student Frantzi Duverseau.

Recentlly, a "Mendat D'Amener" was issued to Magistrate Lamarre Belizaire, inviting both Enold Florestal and Andre Michel to appear in front of his court to answer questions regarding the case. By measure of precaution, the Human Right lawyer, Andre Michel elected not to appear stating that the magistrate is not neutral in the case and would likely use this as an opportunity to get back at him for his ongoing opposition to the Martelly's government.

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Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti's 54th president, served as one of a handful of full-term rulers since the island's independence was won in 1804. Controversial, misunderstood, maligned, and a pawn for foreign interests' agendas, he was driven from office at the end of his second term in 2004. Exiled to Africa where he remained until 2011, he continued to exert influence through his party Fanmi Lavalas.

Through his contacts with foundations outside Haiti, he received an endowment to start the Aristide Foundation for Democracy (AFD). With this endowment and other funding from the government of Haiti, Aristide built the Aristide Foundation University (AFUNI). The mission of AFUNI is the advancement of social-justice principles as part of the ethos of AFUNI's purpose.

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Senior Presidential Advisor Joseph Lambert is being investigated for death threats against two members of Parliament, Deputies Sorel Jacinthe and Levaillant Louis-Jeune. The death threats occurred while Lambert served as President of the National Assembly. Jacinthe and Louis-Jeune alerted the human rights body, National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (NNDHR), and the agency began an investigation into the allegations.

NNDHR found evidence Lambert did indeed plot to end the lives of Sorel and Louis-Jeune, members of political parties, Espwa and INITE. NNDHR's findings prompted the deputies to file complaints with the Court of First Instance in Port-au-Prince on April 23rd.

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Repons Peyizan (RP), a citizens' progressive political-policy group, is preparing for legislative and local elections to happen sometime in 2013. They have appointed new members of the National Coordination (NC) and Executive Committees (EC). NC Coordinator, Fednel Monchery, retained his office, while Henry Èliahou Patrick and Philippe Pierre Giordany won Deputy Coordinator and Executive Secretary positions. EC elected a new Secretary, Francis Thézé and new members Robenson Bléhus, Wilson Bernier, Mirlène Duval, and Nativita Désinor.

EC Secretary Thézé acknowledged EC would be at the Permanent Electoral Council headquarters and local precincts to monitor the ballot-counting to ensure free, fair, and transparent results. RP has ten incumbent senators vying for re-election at the national level.

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In Tabarre, Haiti, a Mother's Day Health Fair was held by the Aristide Foundation for Democracy (AFD) Saturday May 11th. Hundreds of residents showed up for free health exams, administered by AFD University freshman nursing students. On hand for the fair was ex-First Lady, Mildred Aristide, and Lunise Morse of political party, Fanmi Lavalas. She is preparing a run as a senatorial candidate in Legislative elections some time this year. Ex-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, whose supporters created Fanmi Lavalas, believes Morse stands a good chance of winning a seat in Parliament. He claims his party has grown steadily stronger over the years.

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Following the statement made by President Michel Martelly in his message during ---- where he said that it was and it is still his objective to have all the former Haitian President to meet. Specifically, President Michel Martelly referred to Jean Claude Duvalier and Jean Bertrand Aristide whom he considers represent the two political forces in the country. Former dictator Jean Claude Duvalier replied to the president by saying that he is all for it.

On Wednesday, May 15, 2013, Jean Claude Duvalier wrote in his Facebook Page:

I carefully followed the intervention of the President of the Republic on the occasion of May 14, 2013. And I have learned with satisfaction his wish to meet with former heads of State.
Besides, I had upon my return to the country publicly expressed this wish. I remain convinced of the urgent need to unite and that only a national consensus can enable us to overcome countless challenges. Haiti First! Haiti forever! Vive Haiti! Long live the people of Haiti!

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The ANDC (Academie Nationale Diplomatique et Consulaire) is a public school which was founded in 1988 when former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's government made the decision to recall a diplomatic post in Canada's city, Montreal. The future head of the school, often referred to as NORAD, Myrtho Bonhomme was, at the time, the Consul General and the ICAO's (International Civil Aviation Organization for the United Nations) Permanent Haitian Representative. When it began, ANDC had 30 enrolled students and its training was centered on teaching diplomacy through economic and political science.

Bonhomme spoke last year of the reduction of the school's population to only 220, 60%, after the January 12, 2010 earthquake. Many students left the country, not to mention the inevitable recession the devastation caused in the country. Many were unable to return to school.

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Francois-Nicolas Duvalier, son of Jean Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier and grandson of François "Papa Doc" Duvalier, published an editorial in Le Nouvelliste, just days before the 50th anniversary of the massacre of innocent citizens of Haiti by Papa Doc. The young Francois-Nicolas Duvalier published this editorial with a hope or re-wrapping the legacy of Papa Doc. Nicolas Duvalier works in President Michel Martelly's National Palace. The editorial was published on April 19 and was titled, 'In memoriam Dr. Francois Duvalier, President for Life'.

The editorial stated that Papa Doc actually valued the interests of the Haitians and used his sharp mind to defend the values of the Republic of Haiti with utmost dedication and integrity. Nicolas Duvalier also stated in the editorial that Papa Doc was a great nationalist, a prominent politician and a dynamic and enterprising head of the nation who had an image similar to those who built the world's first black republic.

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Jean-Bertrand Aristide, two-term president of Haiti, went into exile in 2004. A polarizing figure in politics, his strong push for democracy put his life in danger several times. He survived six assassination attempts. In 2011, Aristide returned from South Africa, keeping out of sight since then.

But his appearance in public after being summoned to testify on the death of a political colleague has observers wondering if he intends to re-enter politics. He spoke to supporters about upcoming elections and Haiti's food crisis. He believes if Haiti's Electoral Council can hold "free, fair, and transparent" casting and counting of ballots, Fanmi Lavalas could win a significant number of seats in the senate.

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