Overview: As part of ongoing anti-corruption efforts, Haitian judicial authorities have ordered the arrest of former National Insurance Office (ONA) director Jemley Marc Jean-Baptiste and former National School Canteen Program coordinator Phanèse Laguerre. Police also arrested Élionor Devallon, the current director of the Social Assistance Fund, but have not yet disclosed the charges against the head of the CAS. PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian police have arrested two former high-ranking officials and one current director as part of ongoing corruption investigations led by the country’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC). Authorities say the arrests follow judicial orders issued in late January and early February in response to alleged large-scale embezzlement and abuse of office. The detained officials include Jemley Marc Jean-Baptiste, former director general of the National Insurance Office (ONA), Phanèse Laguerre, former coordinator of the National School Canteen Program (PNCS), and Élionor Devallon, current director general of the Social Assistance Fund (CAS). The...

Overview: The Alexandre family mourns the passing of Rose Marie Claudette Alexandre, née Mondélus, while celebrating her life of service, education, and faith. Born in Sainte-Suzanne, Haiti, she dedicated herself to teaching and later immigrated to the United States, where she worked as a nurse’s aide. The Alexandre family mourns the loss of Rose Marie Claudette Alexandre (née Mondélus) and celebrates a life filled with love, wisdom, and resilience. Affectionately known as “Dette” to her siblings and “Mommy” to her children, she was born on Aug. 6, 1940, in Sainte-Suzanne, Haiti, to Nativida and Leconte Mondélus. The second of 11 siblings, Rose Marie Claudette demonstrated a sharp intellect and a deep passion for education from an early age. A gifted student, she attended Lycée Philippe Guerrier in Cap-Haïtien before continuing her studies at Lycée des Jeunes Filles in Port-au-Prince, where she graduated at the top of her class. She was...

Overview: Ten days after gangs attacked Kenscoff’s Belot and Godet communities, killing 50 and displacing 3,000, survivors remain in dire conditions. PORT-AU-PRINCE — Thousands of residents from Kenscoff’s Belot and Godet communities are in limbo after a violent gang assault on Jan. 28 left 50 dead, 11 injured, and 3,000 displaced, including 721 children. More than Ten days after the attack, many survivors remain in makeshift shelters, including Furcy National School, Lycée Jean Paul II, and the Kenscoff mayor’s office, which now houses 223 families. A night of terror in Belot and Godet The attack saw heavily armed gang members storm homes, opening fire on civilians before setting houses ablaze. An entire family of eight was murdered, while others managed to flee into the mountains or seek refuge in Pétion-Ville’s public squares. Despite prior security measures by local authorities, gangs managed to seize control of key routes, particularly an alternative...

Overview: Real Hope Football Academy lost 2-0 to Cruz Azul in their first-ever Concacaf Champions Cup match. The Haitian side’s flair-heavy approach, with excessive dribbling and risky passes, contrasted sharply with Cruz Azul’s disciplined, one-touch football (soccer). Mexican side Cruz Azul humbled an overly ambitious Haitian team Real Hope Football Academy 2-0 in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup’s Round One at Cibao Stadium in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night. In their first-ever appearance in the competition, Real Hope’s players relied heavily on excessive dribbling and flashy long passes, which often failed. The defenders also tried casual plays out of the back but struggled to connect effectively with the midfield. In contrast, Cruz Azul demonstrated disciplined, one-touch football (soccer), showcasing their experience and tactical superiority. Costly mistakes for Real Hope The Haitian team’s players’ overconfidence cost them the first goal in the 38th minute when center-back Huguens...

Overview: Originally published on Feb. 3, 2019, this article explores the life of Mary Ellen Pleasant, a Haitian-descended entrepreneur and abolitionist who used her wealth and influence to fight for civil rights in 19th-century America. Despite backlash, she remained a powerful force for justice. By Bianca SilvaFew women in the 1800s captivated society with as much ambition and cleverness as Mary Ellen Pleasant. According to various sources, she was born into slavery on a Georgia plantation to a Vodou priestess from the Caribbean and the youngest son of Virginia governor James Pleasant. As a young girl, she was sent to work as an indentured servant in Nantucket. Being a light-skinned Black woman, Pleasant often passed as white to avoid being captured and forced back into slavery. In 1852, she moved to San Francisco and became one of the wealthiest people in California while continuing to pass as a white woman....

Overview: All 21 Haitians deported from the U.S. on Feb. 4 remain in custody at the Haitian National Police headquarters in Cap-Haïtien, awaiting extensive screening. Authorities suspect some used fake names to enter the U.S. and may have gang affiliations. CAP-HAÏTIEN — Twenty-one Haitian nationals deported from the United States on Feb. 4 remain in custody at the Haitian National Police (PNH) headquarters in Cap-Haïtien. Authorities suspect that some of those who were deported for illegally entering the U.S. might have used fake names to cross into the country, a police source told The Haitian Times on Feb. 5. A delegation from the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ) was scheduled to visit the police station on Feb. 6 to screen the deportees for further investigation but did not show up for unknown reasons. Officials are also probing potential gang affiliations among some of the men, who allegedly crossed into...

Overview: Lewis Cine, a Haitian-born safety, is headed to the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles after overcoming a career-threatening injury. The former first-round draft pick fought his way back after being released by the Vikings, proving his resilience in the NFL. On Oct. 2, 2022, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, more than 60,000 fans watched as the Minnesota Vikings faced off against the New Orleans Saints in their fourth game of the season. Late in the first quarter, with the Vikings leading 7-0, the Saints punted the ball, transitioning to defense. Then—BOOM. A violent collision. Lewis Cine, a promising rookie safety, lay on the field, clutching his left ankle. Teammates and trainers rushed over as the stadium fell silent. Moments later, he was carted off with a leg brace, an oxygen mask pressed to his face. The game resumed, and the Vikings edged out a 28-25 win, but...

Overview: Edner Franck, a beloved leader in Chicago’s Haitian community and a pioneer of Haitian soccer in the city, died Jan. 27 at 87 after a brief battle with dementia. He was the founder of L’Ouverture Soccer Club and DuSable Soccer Club and played a key role in developing the Haitian soccer scene in Chicago. Edner Franck, a beloved patriarch and dedicated leader in Chicago’s Haitian community, died Jan. 27 after a brief battle with dementia. He was 87. Born in Anse-à-Veau, Haiti, Franck built a remarkable legacy of service, integrity, and devotion to his family, culture, and community. A skilled mechanic with an entrepreneurial spirit, Franck immigrated to Chicago in the 1960s, where he worked tirelessly to support his loved ones. His deep passion for Haitian culture and soccer led him to found and manage two teams—L’Ouverture Soccer Club and DuSable Soccer Club—which became cornerstones of the Haitian community...

Overview: USAID’s dismantling under the Trump administration could pause aid programs in Haiti, impacting health and humanitarian efforts. While some see risks, others believe this shift could push Haiti to reassess its reliance on foreign aid. “We’re shutting it down.” Those were the stark words of Elon Musk, director of the Department of Government Efficiency and CEO of Tesla, referring to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in an audio recording of himself he posted on his social platform X Monday evening. “What we have is just a ball of worms. You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair,” Musk said.  The Tesla CEO’s comments, referencing plans with President Donald Trump, initially suggested a complete shutdown of USAID. However, emerging details indicate a shift toward dismantling the independently operated agency and attempting to place it under direct federal control. Just hours before thousands of...

Le Conseil Présidentiel de Transition, par une « Résolution » signé par 8 Conseillers sur 9, a mis fin aux fonctions du Premier ministre Garry Conille le 8 novembre 2024 Garry Conille, totalement aveuglé par les lustres du pouvoir et pris dans l’euphorie du succès de son « Forum citoyen » du week-end du 2 novembre, et suite à l’écho dans la presse de son discours programme pour la Transition, va enfoncer le clou le mardi 5 novembre 2024 par une nouvelle correspondance qu’il a adressée directement à Leslie Voltaire. Dans cette énième et dernière missive en tant que Premier ministre, il devait faire un cours de droit constitutionnel et administratif au Président du CPT sur la Transition en lui indiquant la marche à suivre tout en s’appuyant sur l’Accord du 3 avril 2024 comme base juridique et légale. Ce pourquoi, selon lui, il s’opposait à un remaniement qui n’apporterait rien si...