United States

The Obama administration has authorized U.S. Department of Homeland Security to start the Haitian Family Reunification Parole (HFRP) Program to fast-track reunification of qualified Haitian relatives of U.S. citizens. About 100,000 Haitians have applied for U.S. visas, but the HFRP Program restricts issuance to those with only a two-year wait. Upon arriving in the U.S. immigrants will qualify for a work permit, while waiting for a green card.

Advocates for immigrants have received news of HFRP Program's future implementation with pleasure, but as Executive Director of Americans for Immigrant Justice, Cheryl Little, commented she had hoped ". . . it wouldn't be as restrictive . . . in terms of which Haitians . . . are eligible to join their loved ones here, but . . . it's going to benefit a number of Haitian families, who have been waiting for this since the earthquake."

Read more →  

NY District Court hears Oral Arguments in Haiti Cholera Case. Ten victims of Haiti's cholera epidemic won the right to have their lawsuit heard in court during a hearing in a NY District Court in October. They have filed suit against the UN, alleging soldiers from Nepal, part of the UN peacekeeping mission, contaminated a tributary of the Artibonite River with cholera. The epidemic began ten months after 2010's earthquake. As a consequence of the contamination over 8,500 people have perished from cholera, with hundreds of thousands infected.

The UN has refused to take responsibility for the calamity and claims immunity from prosecution. Although the UN draws the line at providing a remedy to victims the lawsuit asserts it has harmed, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon believes "The whole international community, including the United Nations, has a moral duty" to stem the tide of cholera.

Read more →  

Can a White Man Win in Haitian-Dominated North Miami? Two-time former North Miami mayor (2005 and 2007) Kevin

Burns is doggedly trying to beat out Dr. Smith Joseph in a second runoff race for a third term as the city's mayor. Unfortunately for Burns, he happens to be white, and the black electorate makes up 59% of North Miami (35% Haitian-American) citizens. Last year, 2013, Burns faced black candidate Dr. Smith Joseph and Haitian-American Lucille Tondreau in a mayoral special election. He pushed Joseph out of the race and entered a runoff against Tondreau, who defeated him with 56% of the vote.

Read more →  

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.

Read more →  

A more preeminent Haitian legacy has been created following the historical win of the first Haitian American candidate to win the Democratic Party Primary election. The politician, Rodneyse Bichotte, was born to Haitian parents, but grew up in Brooklyn. On Tuesday, September 10, 2014, she won the seat in the New York State Legislature, beating out a fellow Caribbean runner, Jamaican-born accountant and economist, Rickie Tullock. With a margin of 20%, Bichotte edged out her competition, including fellow Haitian Michele Adolphe and Victor Jordan from Guyana, further propelling her towards a win at the general elections in November, as Primary election winners are often ushered into the position.

Read more →  

Haitian-American politicians stand on the precipice of amassing more power as a voting bloc in Brooklyn. This fall Haitian-American candidates for the 42nd Assembly, Michele Adolph and Rodney Bichotte, will vie for the seat of retiring incumbent Rhoda Jacobs, and Rubain Dorancy is running for the 20th Senate District seat left open by Eric Adams. Victory for them means Haitian-Americans will wield palpable influence in both houses in Albany and New York City, considered hubs of power in New York.

Nationally Haitian-Americans have made enormous strides in the corridors of power. Ex-Director Patrick Gaspard of White House Office of Political Affairs, 2009â€'2012, was appointed U.S. Ambassador to South Africa. And Obama appointee Haitian-American Raymond Lohier ascended to the judgeship of the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York. Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Haitian-American Jacques Jiha as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Finance.

Read more →  

Over the weekend of September 13-14, 2014, Residents of South Florida were treated to a spectacular showcase of Haitian and Caribbean art, history and literature at the staging of two events. With the aim of coming to learn more about the pervasive Haitian culture, guests were invited to attend these free events and witness the displays of not just what Haiti has to offer culturally, but the Caribbean as well.

The back-to-back events were sponsored by Mapou Cultural Center, run by owner of the Haitian book store Libreri Mapou, Jan Mapou. They were, on Saturday, from 6:00 to 9:00 in the evening, a cocktail party held at the Little Haiti Cultural Center, and, on Sunday, from 10:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening, a book fair which was also sponsored by the Knight Foundation. The first event featured musical items from various singers as well as a Haitian folk choir, while the second event featured appearances by famous Haitian author Gary Victor and Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat.

Read more →  

According to Former US President Bill Clinton, Laurent Lamothe has done a really good job as Prime Minister in Haiti

The former US President think that Haiti was growing economically like crazy during the past four years and he admitted that Haiti is a complicated country,"

Kreyol Pale Kreyol kompran

Ansyen Prezidan Ameriken-a pale oui. Sa ki vle koute, koute!