John Kerry - Haiti Observer Blog

I don't know if you feel it like I do; but I think there are some kind of uneasiness growing between the American and Haitian authorities. After the recent statements by US point man Kenneth H. Merten that did not go too well with some sectors of the Haitian Population, now it is the turn for United States of America Secretary of State John Kerry. According to Mr. Kerry, "The Haitian players, the so-called leaders, need to understand there's a clear limit to the patience, the willingness of the international community to condone this process of delay."

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On Tuesday, October 6, 2015, the outgoing Haitian President Mr. Michel Joseph Martelly welcomed the U.S Secretary of State John Kerry at the National Palace while Mr. Kerry stopped at the Haitian capital at President Martelly's invitation on his way back from a conference in Chile, to discuss preparations for the country's upcoming election on October 25, 2015 and encourage Haitian people to refrain from violent acts that may disrupt the process of a free and fair election.

In some districts, during the legislative elections held on August 9, the percentage of polling was reported to be less than the expectation; two people were killed amid violence, fourteen candidates who ran in the Haiti's first-round legislative elections were disqualified by the state election officials following violent disturbances at voting stations. However, the Organization of American States (OAS) who is actively watching and monitoring the election had said that the irregularities were not enough to invalidate the overall results.

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As per news report dated October, 2, 2015, the U.S. State Department, via U.S Embassy in Haiti, has said on Thursday (October, 1) that in response to the invitation of Haitian President Michel Martelly, the U.S Secretary of State John Kerry would be traveling to Haiti on October 6, 2015 to meet Haitian President Michel Martelly and other senior Haitian officials.

Their discussions will focus on Haiti's preparations for its upcoming elections. The Secretary's trip will be followed by his trip to Valparaíso, Chile, on October 5 to attend the second 'Our Ocean Conference' hosted by the government of Chile.

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Secretary of State John Kerry came to Haiti on Tuesday to delver a message he hopes will carry all the way to the October 25, 2015. He is hoping for a "smoother process" than what took place in August.

According to Secretary of State John Kerry, "Haiti needs governing institutions that are legitimate and representative, and those cannot come into being without free and fair elections that take part without intimidation or without violence"

Several things became clear with the arrival of the Secretary of State John Kerry in Haiti. For one we now know for a fact the election will take place on October 25. If anyone had some doubts in the past that it may not happen, I would advise you to remove that from your mind. Second, the transfer of power will take place on February 7 of next year. President Michel Martelly once again reiterated that fact for anyone who may have missed it.

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The opposition that has been demanding Martelly resign from office is planning to hold more protests at the same time U.S. Secretary of State Kerry is intending to visit Haiti. Will Kerry suffer the same fate as U.S. Ambassador to Haiti White, who endured threats and insults as she left a FUSION meeting, forcing the government to issue an apology to the U.S. embassy?

Iodized Salt Factory Launch

Haiti's First Lady Sophia accompanied Dr. Guillaume to Delmas to launch an iodized salt factory. The plant will help add the nutrient iodine into Haitians' daily diets, which will help combat the detrimental effect the lack of it causes their health.

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On Tuesday, December 17, 2014, John Kerry, the US Secretary of State while supporting the right of the Haitian people to go to the polls to determine their future, has urged all sides involved in the election process to find a consensus solution to Haiti's political crisis as the impoverished Caribbean nation is on the brink of another political chaos. He has said that all parties should reach a definitive agreement on all outstanding issues without delay to resolve the issues on over delayed election. He appreciated the role of President Martelly for his creation of a presidential advisory commission and welcomed its recommendations as a basis to encourage consensus. The acceptance of the Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe's resignation is a clear indication of Presidential executive branch's commitment to resolve the situation. Such resignation had been widely expected as he was accused of campaigning for own presidency on the public dime, although he had denied his presidential candidacy while resigning amid a bitter political standoff over legislative elections. The opposition parties have earlier said that the success of the ongoing discussions depends on the way how effectively Martelly satisfy and implement the recommendations. On Sunday, December 21, the Haitian Minister of Health, Florence Duperval Guillaume, has been appointed as the interim Prime Minister. She will hold the office for a maximum of 30 days, as per the constitution, till the President name a cabinet member as a permanent choice for her office with the approval of the parliament.

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We learned that the point man for Haiti at the State Department, Thomas A. Shannon, is already in Haiti to organize the visit of State Secretary John Kerry in Haiti. According to information obtained, he came in yesterday, December 9.

The actual visit of Secretary of State Kerry has not been confirmed; however many have speculated that he will be in Haiti this Friday, December 12. By the way he is expected to arrive exactly one Month before everything in Haiti takes a turn for the worst on January, 12, 2014.

President Michel Martelly has plan to address the nation within 72 hours. Do you think the arrival of Thomas A. Shannon, the Counselor to U.S. Secretary of State Kerry and the eventual visit of US Secretary of State on Friday have anything to do with that?

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Mwen tande ke Secretè State John Kerry gin pou li vini an Ayti pou li vini mete lod nan dezod. Yo di ke si pa ginyin yon solisyon ki pran aval li vini, se prale Rel Kay Makorel

Eske se vwe ke John prale ape vini rale kek Fey Zorey?

Opozisyon-an deja di ke yo deja pre pou yo recevwa Secretè John Kerry, min pa ak Kapet rouj. Yo deja prepare manifestasyon pou jounin Vandredi-a ke lape vini.

Anbin, si se pa zorey opozisyon ki deja kampe an "Zo Blod", se zorey ki moun Karry prale rale?

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The U.S President Barack Obama, on 6 February, 2014, has appreciated Haiti's progress toward delayed legislative election and renewed America's promise to assist in the re-structural program on cleaning up of the 2010 earthquake damage. This was the first official sit-down between President Barack Obama and President Michel Martelly. The U.S President at the start of this Oval Office meeting has said, he was happy because many international aids flowed to the country since the tormenting earthquake hit Haiti four years ago at magnitude 7.0 and killed around 300,000 people and left 1.5 million Haitians homeless.

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The U.S. has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Haiti's recovery, and is continuing its commitment ". . . to help all Haitians . . . chart a path toward greater peace, security, and prosperity." These were words spoken by former senator, John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State in Obama's administration, on Haiti's 210th anniversary as the first black-led republic in the world.

Kerry has a particular interest in Haiti, having worked with the Haitian Diaspora in his home state of Massachusetts. He considers the Diaspora an outstanding and dedicated community, who has risen to high positions in government, besides sending remittances to Haitians back home, accounting for millions of dollars supporting Haiti's economy.

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