Fort Liberte - Haiti Observer Blog

Protesters in the Fort Liberté area of Haiti fought bitterly recently for their right to not be left in the dark. On Thursday, November 27, Haitian police were called to put a stop to a violent street protest which took place near the border with Dominican Republic, in which residents of Fort Liberté demanded that they be given an electricity supply from the Caracol power plant at an industrial park.

Opposition politician in the northeast area, Senator Jean-Baptiste Bien-Aime, claimed that, in the skirmish, 13 people were wounded by the police who responded, but so far Frantz Lerebours, the police spokesman, only confirmed injuries without stating a number. He has said that the head of the National Police has dispatched a team to investigate. Coming out of the issue, and in light of the other instances of violence perpetrated throughout the island recently, including the bloody anti-government march through Port-au-Prince weeks ago, the government held a special meeting with Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe at the table, along with the Minister of Justice, the Director of the National Police, and other involved individuals.

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On January 12, 2014, Pope Francis has selected Bishop Chibly Langlois of Les Cayes as the first Haitian cardinal. The new cardinal is a 55 year old tireless worker who never forgot his impoverished childhood.

Chibly Langlois was born in La Valle in southeast Haiti and rose in a poor family. He is one among the 19 new cardinals named by Pope Francis on January 12. He is the youngest and the only non-archbishop in the group. The Haitian Catholic leaders believe this selection by Pope is a recognition of his service to the victims of devastating earthquake in 2010. The seismic activity killed over 220,000 people three years ago and left 1.5 million homeless. Even the archbishop of the capital city Port-au-Prince died in the quake and the city's iconic cathedral was toppled. It is truly a historic news for Haiti and a big appreciation of its church's dedicated work undertaken in difficult time in the post-earthquake period.

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Fort-Liberté is located in Haiti's Nord-Est-Department. In Haiti, it is the oldest country and Haiti got its independence here on November 29,1803. The Dominican Republic is located close to its border. Around 11,465 people inhabit the place. The language spoken in the region is Creole. Hurricanes, storms and sunshine are all experienced bringing changes in temperature.

How It Got Its Name
Indians inhabited the region originally after which the Spanish colonists came. In 1578 they found the city of Bayaja and in 1605 abandoned it. In 1732 the French reoccupied it as Fort-Dauphin. In 1764, Spanish forces captured it and in 1801 shortly, after independence was declared in 1803, it was restored to the French.

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Haitian radio is the chief means of media communication on the island. Few have income to buy a TV, and those who have sets are subject to unreliable electricity service. Going online to access news coverage is impossible for all but the rich. Not only is newspaper distribution minimal, but 80% of the population are illiterate. The only information source available to everyone is the radio and radio stations are plentiful in Haiti. Reception is widely accessible in virtually every village on the island. Radios cost little to own and run on batteries.

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The head of Holy Roman Catholic Church Pope Benedict XVI appointed Monsignor Max Leroy Mesidor, as Bishop of Fort Liberte in the Diocese of Gonaives. Born in January 6, 1962, he has served various posts such as being vicar in charge as well as priest in a cathedral. He was brought up in the Diocese of Gonaives at Saint Marc Cathedral.

Max Leroy was educated in the same place where he completed his elementary schooling and joined the college of Immaculate Conception in Gonaives. The bishop later, after schooling went to the city and joined seminary to study Bachelor of Sacred Theology. He studied his first degree in Port-au-Prince when he enrolled into seminary. He completed seminary in 1987 and in the same year, he graduated with a degree in Sacred Theology.

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The 2010 Haiti election day was marked by mass irregularities, chaos, confusion, riot, and demand for annulment of the election. Most of the candidates were united against the candidate of the UNITE, Jude Celestin, whom they accused for creating al types of irregularities in order to still the election. The blame went directly to the actual president Rene Preval, for wanting to keep his political party in power.

The chaos started well before the polling places were open. Long lines of people waiting for polling places to be open. In some cases they did not open until 9 or 10 am in the morning.

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