Haitian News

Sean Penn's NGO receives grant of $8.75 million

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Sean Penn's NGO, J/P HRO signed a grant with the Haitian government and the World Bank for $8.75 million [US] to move the 14,000 people still living in the camp of tarps in mud.

Read more...

Scott Stringer gets Haitians' support for NYC Comptroller

NEW YORK, USA (defend.ht) - The long time friend of the Haitian community and current President of the Borough of Manhattan, Scott Stringer, is now receiving the support from Haitian-American voters across New York City to become the next Comptroller.

Read more...

Judge Jean Baptiste, NAACP in Haiti to Support Voting for Diaspora

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Chicago Judge Lionel Jean Baptiste and a delegation from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People visited Haiti on Monday in order to meet different actors in Haitian government and push the implementation of structures to allow the Haitian Diaspora to vote.

Read more...

Mia Love is rising star in conservative movement

WASHINGTON, D.C. (defend.ht) - As the Conservatives Political Action Conference sets to kick off Thursday in Washington, D.C., Republicans are highlighting some of the rising stars who will shape the party into the future. Young Sarasota Springs Mayor Mia Love is one of the five chosen "bright future of the conservative movement."

Read more...

Haiti: Human Rights say President is cause of electoral crisis

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Human rights organizations on Wednesday held a joint press conference to deplore the actions of President Michel Martelly who continues to be the source of the electoral crisis in Haiti.

Read more...

Haiti-Observateur says it will fight defamation ruling

NEW YORK, USA (defend.ht) - Haiti Observateur Editor Leo Joseph says he will fight the defamation judgment won against him by Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and Presidential Advisor Patrice Baker last month.

Read more...

Director of Protocols Foreign Affairs intercepted at airport

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Pierre Michel Maurice Prosper, the director of protocol management at the Minister of Foreign Affairs was intercepted at Toussaint Louverture International Airport on Thursday for the diversion of public funds during his time as Mayor of Petionville, 2004-2005.

Read more...

Human Rights calls for public vigilance in case of Clifford Brandt

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - RNDDH Director Pierre Esperance said that it is by the grace of a report published by his human rights organization that the Martelly administration had not freed all the police officers, including the head of the National Palace security, who were arrested for their part in the kidnapping syndicate of the businessman, Clifford Brandt.

Read more...

Contested-electoral councilors will not be removed, says Exantus

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Salnave Exantus, one of the contested-councilors, named by the CSPJ under irregular conditions and installed to the contested-CEP by President Martelly, also under irregular conditions, said he would not be removed from serving on Haiti's electoral council, that still remains to be established.

Read more...

3.5 magnitude quake hits near Haitian capital

THOMAZEAU, Haiti (defend.ht) - At 7:39 PM eastern standard time a 3.5 magnitude earthquake struck in the Ouest Department of Haiti.

Read more...

Solenodon found in the Dominican Republic

EL SEIBO, Dominican Republic (defend.ht) - A male specimen of solenodon, native to the island of Haiti that was thought to be extinct until 2005, was found in the Dominican Republic on Sunday in the captivity of a woman. The animal was turned over to the conservation and science department to be examined by researchers and experts on the species, the Dominican Ministry of the Environment said.

Read more...

MOLEGHAF Calls for Socialist State of Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - he Liberty and Equality Movement of Haitians for Brotherhood (MOLEGHAF) held a protest in front of the Ministry for Social Affairs and Labor. This grassroots organization is pushing for a socialist state in Haiti.

Read more...

Haiti: Cholera victims angry at United Nations

MIREBALAIS, Haiti (defend.ht) - The United Nations has not accepted responsibility for bring cholera into Haiti in October 2010 that has killed more than 7,000 and sickened more than a half-million. This week, the U.N. said it would not compensate victims of their negligence and this has angered many in Haiti.

Read more...

Human rights calls for action against fugitives in Haitian gov't

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - The National Network for the Defense of Human Rights delivered an open letter to President Michel Martelly recounting the crimes that made First Lady Sophia Martelly's adviser, Karl Jean-Jeune, a fugitive of justice in the United States. The RNDDH also requested that Martelly demonstrate the claim of his government that the rule of law exists in Haiti by addressing the case of other individuals in the Head of State's entourage.

Read more...

Informed Citizens Express Disdain for Caricom Signs

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Informed citizens were shocked at billboards and banners bearing the effigy of President Michel Martelly that read "President Martelly welcomes Heads of State and Government of CARICOM," rather than "Haiti welcomes..." The signs also are clear violations of ARTICLE 7 of the Haitian Constitution.

Read more...

Note of Precision by Karl Jean-Jeune

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - In a letter published on the blog of Carel Pedre, the communications director for First Lady Sophia Martelly desired to bring more clarity to the situation surrounding his status as a fugitive of justice in the United States.

Read more...

First Lady Aide a Fugitive Stealing $30,000 from U.S. Bank

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - As U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder arrived in Haiti to discuss crime and deportations with members of Caricom, news broke that First Lady Sophia Martelly's communications officer Karl Jean-Jeune is a wanted man in the United States for stealing nearly $30,000 from a bank.

Read more...

Evans Paul: Haiti not in position to benefit from Caricom membership

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - "Normally it is supposed to be something good but in reality it more resembles a show of vanity," the former Mayor of Port-au-Prince, Evans Paul said of the Caricom summit in Haiti, which he believe the country is not in a position to benefit from membership in the regional organization.

Read more...

Two Journalists Beaten by President Martelly's Security

CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (defend.ht) - Journalists Watson Phanor, 25, and Etzer César say they were beaten repeatedly by National Palace security on Tuesday when President Michel Martelly visited the Adriana ship during the Carnival in Cap-Haitien, where RFM radio had its headquarters.

Read more...

Red cards for the government at the Carnival in Cap-Haitien

CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (AlterPresse/defend.ht) - February 12, 2013. Activists of various organizations in the North, formed a bande sou pied (rara), and expressed their displeasure vis-à-vis the government, during the parade on the second day of the carnival, February 11 in Cap-Haitien (second city, North), found AlterPresse.

Read more...

Book reviews

Haiti Noir

Book Review

The anthology edited by Edwidge Danticat puts a uniquely Haitian spin on the crime genre

"Danticat has succeeded in assembling a group portrait of Haitian culture and resilience that is cause for celebration." - Publishers Weekly