Spring Valley - Haiti Observer Blog

On the sidelines of the 70th General Assembly in New York, President Martelly visited the City Hall of St. Joseph Church to meet the local members of the Haitian community. The President was visibly moved by the warm reception given by his compatriots from Spring Valley. The city Mayor, Demeza Delhomme, while handing over the symbolic key of the city, did not fail to mention this as the first visit ever by a Haitian President.

President Martelly, during his speech, explained about his responsibility and commitment as the head of the State, especially during the few months before the end of his presidential term. He expressed his hope that the new elected authority will work to improve and achieve progress. Martelly, while describing himself as a diaspora, has mentioned about the expectations and responsibilities of diaspora community, to and from the country. In the later part of the 20th century, there was a significant brain drain from Haiti as thousands of Haitian teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs and social workers moved from Haiti to New York and Miami. New York has the second largest foreign born Haitian population after Florida. In November 2008, Noramie Jasmin, a Haitian lady was elected Mayor of Spring Valley, making her the first Haitian-American Mayor in the history of New York State.

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A recent tweet by a trustee named Asher Grossman on Spring Valley Mayor Demeza Delhomme that compared him with an infamous Haitian dictator François "Papa Doc" Duvalier has touched off another feud in Spring Valley village. François Duvalier was once a long time President of Haiti but he is more remembered for his murderous acts and repression during his reign. With 31,347 populations as per 2010 census, Spring Valley is the biggest village in Rockland County by population and at the same time, it is the poorest among others.

Like many other Haitians, when Demeza Delhomme was only 21 years old, fled Haiti and took refuge in United States to escape the strict tyrannical regime of François "Papa Doc" Duvalier which was again followed by his successor son Jean-Claude, nicknamed "Baby Doc.".

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A recent tweet by a trustee named Asher Grossman on Spring Valley Mayor Demeza Delhomme that compared him with an infamous Haitian dictator François "Papa Doc" Duvalier has touched off another feud in Spring Valley village. François Duvalier was once a long time President of Haiti but he is more remembered for his murderous acts and repression during his reign. With 31,347 populations as per 2010 census, Spring Valley is the biggest village in Rockland County by population and at the same time, it is the poorest among others.

Like many other Haitians, when Demeza Delhomme was only 21 years old, fled Haiti and took refuge in United States to escape the strict tyrannical regime of François "Papa Doc" Duvalier which was again followed by his successor son Jean-Claude, nicknamed "Baby Doc.".

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This came as a shock and a surprise to the Haitian community in Spring Valley. In April 2013, Spring Valley Mayor Noramie Jasmin and Deputy Mayor Joseph A. Desmaret were arrested Tuesday April 4, 2013 by FBI agents for their alleged involvement in the sale of a land that was supposed to be used for a community center.

This was staged by FBI agents. According to the assistant director of the FBI, George Venizelos, Spring Valley Mayor Noramie Jasmin and Deputy Mayor Joseph A. Desmaret were involved in conning some members of the village's board of trustees to vote for a developer, that Jasmin had a financial stake in the sale.

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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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