diaspora - Haiti Observer Blog

Leopard Capital has inked a deal with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to set up the first private equity fund to re-energize Haitian small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) wiped out by the 2010 earthquake.

With a goal of securing $40 to $75 million to re-capitalize Haitian businesses, the Leopard Haiti Fund (LHF) has attracted $20 million in funding from three development banks: IFC, LHF's senior partner, has invested $8.5 million; the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO) $8.5 million; and Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) $3.0 million.

LHF will pour financing into four potential-growth areas: food manufacturing, sustainable energy, tourism, and low-income housing. The bulk of LHF's financial resources will help already-open businesses grow by re-capitalizing operations and restoring structural damage. A portion of LHF's investment funds will support SMEs and new businesses.

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While Haiti is trying hard to promote the tourism industry, a lot has to be done in order to make this goal successful. According to Dr Jean Orelien, a Haiti-American native, there is a lot of potential for investment in Haiti if only a good business environment will be created. He is one of the investors who are keen on investing in the tourism industry.

Jean Orelien is the chief executive officer at a healthcare firm at Scimetrica. He is hopeful that the economy of Haiti will be growing fast if the recent trend will be maintained. He said that with an economic growth of 8%, the country will be moving towards double in the next three years. The club has already started a security project plus there is more architectural work going on in this region. The aim of the project is to have as many people as possible applying for shares to the club in the US.

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Haitian Lawmakers voted to allow dual nationality to Haitians. This change in Haiti constitution gives opportunity to all Haitians to participate in the election of Haiti's president.

Do Haitians living abroad really know what just landed in their hands?

With this change in the Haitian constitution, the Haitian Diaspora has acquired huge power and likely to use this new power to help Haiti move to the new world.

Yes, Haitians living in the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, France, etc.., you do have much more power now than you can possibly think of.

Do not come out with your Rara band and start celebrating yet.

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It finally happened in Haiti after so many years of fight.

The Haitian lawmakers voted late on Sunday to ament the Haitian constitution and allow dual nationality to Haitians living overseas.

This is a historic day....

Now it is a fact that Haitians all over the world will have more rights and be more involved in building Haiti's future.

These Haitians currently living in the United States, Canada, France, Dominican Republic, Bahamas and other countries in the world can now own land and rune for some public offices in Haiti

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Authorities in West palm Beach County, Florida, reported that Datilus who is from Haiti impregnated a Haitian girl in 2009 who were 9 years old at the time. He received a life sentence last Wednesday which will give him plenty of time to think about his crime.

The "Haitian Joudalist" learned that the impregnated girl already gave birth to the baby. She carried her child full term and delivered the baby after she turned ten. The father of the impregnated child did not know about the pregnancy until he took her for a routine medical check-up.

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The U.S. Vice-President met representatives of the Haitian community at the White House In January 2011 to discuss progress in the earthquake and other issues. Vice President Biden took this opportunity to reassure the Haitian community the Obama Government's commitment to the reconstruction of Haiti after the devastating earthquake.

Joe Biden is not new to the Haitian community. In April of 2010, In a gesture of support to the Haitian community who were affected by the earthquake, he paid a visit to Little Haiti in Miami. Vice-President Joe Biden came to Little Haiti Cultural Center and met with several Haitian-American activists and elected officials. He greeted Rev. Reginald Jean-Mary, Farah Juste and many others.

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The president of Verizon Foundation, Patrick Gaston, will be the latest member of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund team. He is expected to join the team on January 17, 2011 as the Senior Advisor in charge of building a network of relationships for the development of Haiti.

The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund was founded following the January 12 Haiti earthquake. President Barack Obama requested the support of both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to lead a fund raising endeavor in order to help the people of Haiti.

Patrick Gaston is also expected to reach out to the Haitian Diaspora currently living in several countries. He will encourage them to participate in the reconstruction of Haiti through investment and direct participation

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Our own Jean Monestime defeated Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dorrin D. Rolle on Tuesday, November 2 to become the first Haitian-American elected Commissioner.

Jean Monestime was is a former North Miami City Councilman.

What made this victory for Monestime so sweet, because Dorrin Rolle had a lot more money than he did. Dorrin Rolle spent $329,785 for his campaign, compared to $74,845 spent by Monestime.

Jean was able to rally the Haitian community, the African-American, and Hispanic-American voters in the district to gain that victory.

Jean Monestime obtained his MBA from the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business. He also holds a Bachelor degree in Finance from Florida International University

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This is a sign that the Haitian community is moving and if I may say "Up" in the US. The latest is having one of our own elected as mayor in a major town. On behalf of the Haitian diaspora in the United States and all over the world, I would like to congratulate Noramie Festa Jasmin as the new Mayor of Spring Valley.

She has become the first Haitian American and the first woman to be elected as Mayor of Spring valley in 2009.

Before becoming Mayor of Spring Valley in New York, Noramie Jasmin occupied the position of trustee as well as deputy Mayor.

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