Miami - Haiti Observer Blog

Jean Rene Duperval a former Haitian telecom director was recently sentenced to a 9 year jail term for bribery charges. Duperval was the director of international relations for Haiti Telecom, the sole provider of land line telephone service in Haiti a company which was allowed to transact with foreign telephone companies to provide various telephone services across the countries. He was arrested with charges of having engaged in various questionable activities between the years 2003 and 2006 where evidence shows that he was actually engaging in money laundering schemes and hiding the fact with various ways developed to evade the long arm of law.

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They are number of mini buses which are referred to as Miami-Dade's jitneys. The term ''jitney'' means a five-cent piece in Haiti; this was the cost of a ride on the vehicle. Many people prefer Miami Mini Bus because of their availability and convenience.

In addition, the fares are reasonable as compared to other means of transport. The jitneys have no fixed schedules; instead they are flexible and zoom by after around every five minutes. They have routes throughout the county; they make stops anytime they are asked to. Their sizes make it possible for them to maneuver in traffic unlike the big buses.

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On Sunday, 24 March, Miami's Cultural Section of the Consulate General of Haiti honored 12 women for their professionalism and creativity in community and humanitarian activities. This ceremony was held in Miami's Moca Café & Lounge. This ceremony was hosted by Émeline Michel, a famous singer from Haiti. The 12 women were awarded by "Beacon of Hope and Achievement Award". The ceremony was an outlet for thanking these women for their achievements and also to boost their morale for further contribution towards the development of the Haitian community.

The award was given out in turn by François Guillaume II (Miami's Consul General of the Republic of Haiti), Guy François Jr. (Vice-Consul), Mr. Isson Joseph (Consulate's Head for the Section of Community Services) and Cultural Section's Head. The 12 women who received the "Beacon of Hope and Achievement Award" were:
• Émeline Michel - A Haitian Artist
• Jenna Green - Project Medishare
• Dr. Marie Etienne - Haitian American Nurses Association
• Kimberly Green - Green Family Foundation
• Judith Joseph - Breakfast with Santa
• Marleine Bastien - Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami
• Rasha Cameau - Haitian Ista
• Nadie Mondestin - Haitian Youth Community Center
• Major Franzia Brea-Burden - North Miami Police Department
• Paola Pierre - HACCOF (Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida)
• Nadine Patrice - Operation Green Leaves, Inc.
• Gepsie Metellus - Sant-La

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The November 2012 presidential election in the United States is one of the most important events in world politics that could change and affect other countries greatly. For the upcoming election in the U.S., Jean Monestime was appointed to Electoral College.

The Electoral College requires the services of thousands of government officials and workers to ensure that the election will be done fair and right in choosing the next most powerful man in the world, which only happens every four years.

For Haitian-American Jean Monestime, working for the upcoming elections is a big obligation, and at the same time a huge privilege. Monestime, who is currently the Commissioner in Miami-Dade County's 2nd district, has been made a member of the Electoral College of the Florida Democratic Party. He is joined by 28 others in representing the state of Florida. The U.S. Electoral College is a set of selected individuals that represent a particular institution or organization in electing a candidate for a certain government office. The members are usually appointed just a few months before the actual elections.

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You think you have heard them all, not quite. A Haitian man in Miami was spotted eating the face of a homeless man in Miami, on May 29, 2012. Police had to shot and kill him.

Is this the case of A Haitian Zombie?

Miami police found Rudy Eugene who is 31 years old, attacking a homeless man at the MacArthur Causeway and Biscayne Boulevard last Saturday. According to Police, when the Police officer approached Rudy Eugene, he was told to stop eating the man's face. He did not obey the officer. Instead, Rudy Eugene turned around and growled like a wild animal. Then he continued to eat the homeless man. The man was shot and killed by police near Downtown Miami on Saturday.

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February 18, 2012 will be a day like no other on the streets of Little Haiti. On this historic day more than a thousand Haitians are expected to show up on the streets to make merry, to dine and wine, to dance to soul soothing music, but most importantly to make the world believe that the fading tourism industry in the Caribbean country can be revamped. For the first time Haitians living in Miami will hold their own celebration in Little Haiti, also known as the Lemon City.

The event organized by the office of Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones with the support of a number of sponsors will announce the reopening of the Caribbean Market Place in Little Haiti, which has not seen the light of day since 1997. It will be preceded by an event dubbed Big Night in Little Haiti to be held on 17th February at the Little Haiti cultural centre.

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The ceremony took place on Monday, November 28, 2011 at North City Hall. Marc Elias became the First Haitian-American Chief of Police for North Miami also the first for a major city in the United States.

This proves that we can do a lot as individuals. If we unite our forces, we can do even greater things. There were several high dignitaries who were present at the ceremony for Oath of Office for Marc Elias. Jean Monestime first Haitian-American Miami-Dade County Commissioner, Daphne D. Campbell, State Representative, Former Mayor of North Miami, First Haitian-American Mayor of North Miami, Joe Celestin, Andre Pierre, Mayor of the city of North Miami, Florida, Jean R. Marcellus and Councilman of North Miami, District 3. Also present were Lucie Tondreau and Deputy Arnel Belizaire.

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The City of Miami named the $37 million dollars soccer park after Emmanuel Sanon

The idea for a Soccer Park in Little Haiti was an ambition from the late Miami Commissioner Arthur E. Teele who understands that soccer is the national sport of Haiti and very popular among the Haitian Diaspora living in South Florida.

The park offers a a green field, wide open spaces for the youth in the community to exercise and play their favorite sport. Emmanuel Sanon Soccer Park in Little Haiti also offers a playground for children in the neighborhood to run freely in nearly nine acres of grass covered field. This park represents one of the few real place for relaxation in Little haiti in Miami.

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When speaking of Haitian cuisine, the Moca Café and Lounge is the first and best place that comes to mind. It is located in the downtown area of North Miami and is named after the nearby North Miami Museum of Contemporary Art. They offer authentic Haitian dishes and is a good place for a taste of the famous Haitian Creole.

MOCA Cafe was recently renovated where they went for a more stylish and contemporary look with its new sky-high ceilings, glossy tables and black leather benches and of course, upbeat Haitian music in the background. Moca is run by owners' Hamler R. Noel and Jean M. Cerenord who have been business partners for about seventeen years.

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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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