Archbishop - Haiti Observer Blog

Jérémie is located in the Jeremie Arrondissement in Haiti and is the capital city of the Grand'Anse Department. It was founded in 1756. Navasa Island is located around 40 nautical miles to the west of the city.

The City Of Poets

Numerous historians, writers as well as poets were born in Jeremie city and hence it is termed as the city of poets. Prominent writers such as Etzer Vilaire and Emile Roumer were born here. General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, the father of Alexandre Dumas Pere a historic novelist, was born in Jeremie. Very close to the city, flows the Grand-Anse River.

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An ardent supporter of the Duvalier regime, Haitian Bishop Francois-Wolff Ligonde passed away. According to Radio Kiskeya based on information obtained from Bishop Louis Kebreau, he died following an unspecified illness.

Bishop Francois-Wolff Ligonde was born in the city of Les Cayes, on January 17, 1928. On August 20, 1966, Pope Paul VI nominated him as Archbishop of Port-au-Prince. After more than 40 years in this position, Bishop Francois-Wolff Ligonde retired from his post in 2008.

Bishop Francois-Wolff Ligonde became famous when he presided over the wedding of Jean Claude Duvalier and Michele Bennett, whom he is the uncle. The wedding that many people believe marked the beginning of the end of the regime. There were several issues on the table with this particular wedding: One, Michele Bennett, a mulatto who came opposed to the Noirisme movement that Francois Duvalier has been promoting throughout his government. Two, the wedding itself in 1980 cost over $5 millioms.

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Guire Poulard, the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was quite critical about the Lamothe/Martelly led government, during the mass held on Tuesday. The mass was held to mark Haiti's 209th anniversary of gaining independence and the 46th International Peace Day.

Things The Archbishop Was Critical About
At this mass he extended denunciation of corruption to the police, judiciary and the parliament. He was critical about a number of things like per diem expenditure, inequality denouncement, public resource wastage on travel, corruption and a large sector purchase of the press regarding forwarding incorrect information to the public.

As per the prelate in Catholics, it is not very normal that per diems of twenty thousand US dollars get paid to the authorities when they go to rest in a foreign land after or before the activities for the purpose for which they have to leave the country.

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In July, Haitian President Martelly, along with Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas and Food for the Poor Representative Daniel Rouzier, visited a village located in Nippes Department's Anse-à-Veau that was built for the displaced victims of the 2010 earthquake and the various floods in the department. It was a project done by the NGO Food for the Poor where about sixty homes were built. The trio also launched the town's new Sainte Anne Polytechnic School during their visit.

The Martelly administration has been launching several projects for the development of Haiti's economy and for the welfare of all Haitians, especially the victims of the devastating 2010 earthquake. It has also urged for the decentralization of the government's power and resources to local governments and smaller public sectors in order to extend its public service to the smallest of communes and villages.

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Pope Benedict XVI elected new leader for the Catholic church in Port-au-Prince. Archbishop Guire Poulard was elected to become the new archbishop of Port-au-Prince. As you may recall, the 2010 earthquake killed the previous archbishop Joseph Serge Miot along with more than 230,000 other people.

Bishop Guire Poulard was born on January 6, 1942, in the Petit-Goave region of Haiti and completed his primary education there. Guire Poulard moved to Port-de-Paix for secondary education, and then to Port-au-Prince. He received his training at the Minor Seminary College St. Martial.

Bishop Guire Poulard will follow a long list of archbishops for the Cathedral of Port-au-Prince, including Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot who died in the 2010 earthquake, Archbishop Francois Wolf Ligonde, from August 20, 1966 to March1, 2008 and Archbishop Francois-Marie Joseph Poirier, from July 3rd, 1955 to August 18, 1966

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The new Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, is an advocate for Haitian issue and has worked in Little Haiti for many years.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski was assigned to the Pierre Toussaint Haitian Catholic Center in Little Haiti, where he served as associate director and then director.

Under his leadership, Pierre Toussaint Haitian Catholic Center in Little Haiti Thomas Wenski provided social educational and legal services to newly arrived Haitian immigrants in addition to the traditional pastoral ministries.

Wenski will succeed Archbishop John C. Favalora, who had led South Florida's 800,000-plus Catholics for 16 years.

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