Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 2 décembre 2025

South Florida Haitians express outrage, fear as Trump administration moves to end TPS protections

November 29, 2025

Members of South Florida's Haitian community are sounding the alarm after the Trump administration announced it will terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 350,000 Haitian immigrants living in the United States — a decision that could leave thousands of local families vulnerable to deportation in less than 60 days.

Administration officials have urged TPS holders to "self-deport" if they want to avoid forced removal. For many Haitians who have lived in the U.S. for decades, the announcement felt like a devastating and disorienting blow.

"For me and for many, it's just a death sentence," said Farah Larrieux, who has lived in South Florida for 20 years and is among the hundreds of thousands whose protections are now set to expire on Feb. 3, 2026.

Larrieux rejected the administration's assertion that Haiti is safe for returning nationals. "This idea that Haitians can safely return home is a big lie," she said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged Haiti's ongoing political upheaval and humanitarian crisis, but the Department of Homeland Security's termination notice framed the decision as one driven by national interest. 

"While the current situation in Haiti is concerning," the notice states, "the United States must prioritize its national interests, and permitting Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the U.S. is contrary to the U.S. national interest."

Larrieux said the timing, arriving just before the Thanksgiving holiday, felt particularly painful. 

"It's ungrateful," she said, describing the announcement as dismissive of the Haitian community's contributions to the country.

Local activists echoed her frustration, pointing to rampant violence and instability in Haiti, where armed criminal groups control large swaths of the country. 

"We have daily situations of rape, kidnapping, or murder," said community advocate Paul Mamphy. He noted that even as TPS is being terminated, the administration recently designated two Haitian gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, an acknowledgment, he said, that the situation remains life-threatening.

Mamphy said Haitian advocacy groups plan to pursue legal action and will unveil their strategy next week. He emphasized that Haitians living in the U.S. are deeply woven into the national workforce. 

"We work very hard here in South Florida and throughout the country, putting food on the table, building the buildings you see, working in hospitality, elder care, and restaurants," he said.

Many TPS holders have built decades-long lives in the U.S., raising families and establishing careers without any permanent path to legal status. When asked why so many longtime residents remain on temporary protections, Larrieux pointed to years of gridlock in Washington. 

"We didn't choose to be undocumented," she said. "For many years, both parties failed us. They failed to pass immigration reform, and that's why so many people got stuck in the middle."

Community leaders say the fight is far from over. A coalition of Haitian organizations plans to hold a news conference Monday to outline next steps and mobilize public pressure to preserve TPS, a program many in South Florida say is critical for thousands of families who have nowhere safe to return.

More from CBS News

National Center of Haitian Apostolate

Reflection for the First Sunday of Advent Year A – November 30, 2025

Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122:1-2...; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44

https://youtu.be/5uwQBT8wRsc?si=tDSGrga3jtlCtsoq

Msgr. Pierre André Pierre

 My brothers and sisters in Christ, today we enter into the season of Advent. It is a new beginning. We conclude the Jubilee Year of Hope by lighting the first candle of the Advent wreath, the CANDLE OF HOPE. Today’s readings, taken from the Gospel of Matthew, the Letter of Paul to the Romans, and the prophet Isaiah, remind us of three essential pieces of advice: 1) Remain vigilant and attentive; 2) Reject the works of darkness and live in the light of Christ; 3) Walk together for peace and unity.

I want to connect this Word of God to the current event of Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon. This journey carries a message of peace and unity. One could also consider Haiti’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

First: Peace and unity are possible, Unity in the Nicene Creed.

Pope Leo XIV is traveling to Turkey to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, held in 325. This was a pivotal moment in the history of the Church, which affirmed the divinity of Christ and gave birth to our Nicene Creed. It was a decisive victory for truth and unity in the Church. In the great debate about Jesus that was dividing the Church, the bishops met the challenge of unity in a Theological Declaration: “Jesus is God, Son of God, not created, consubstantial to the Father.” “Like those Fathers of the Council of Nicaea, we have a mission to remain steadfast in the fundamental truths of our faith, especially in the face of division. To build peace and unity, we must remain rooted in the truth. Our hope does not rest on shifting sands, but on the unchanging truth of Christ, ‘born of the Father before all ages.’

Secondly: Peace amidst turmoil.

Pope Leo XIV’s journey continues to the Middle East, to Lebanon, a nation in crisis and on the brink of collapse. He will offer them a message of peace and solidarity. This echoes the prophetic vision of Isaiah: ‘All nations will come to the mountain of the Lord; they will beat their swords and spears into plowshares…’ In a world plagued by conflict and war, chasing after money and power, authority and the domination of the strong over the weak, we find here a message of solidarity and peace.” Like Pope Leon, let us embrace the mission to be messengers of solidarity and peace. Our Advent hope should inspire us to pray and work for reconciliation and peace, not only in distant lands, but also in our own countries, in our families, and in our communities.

Thirdly: A call to vigilance.

Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus strongly urges us to remain vigilant and to prepare for his return. St. Paul expresses the same idea in the Epistle to the Romans. He encourages us to “put on the armor of light” and to live honorable lives. This is much more than a simple spiritual exercise. It is a concrete choice to be made every day. The apostolic mission of Pope Leo XIV can inspire us to a revival and an awareness of our own mission: to bring hope, unity, and peace to our world.

In these difficult times for Haiti and its people, faced with the suffering and hardships that surround them, let us break free from our indifference. Let us open our hearts and stand in solidarity with Haiti and its people, who seek peace and stability. Our hope as Christians is not to wait passively, but to act in solidarity with those who suffer. In this Advent season, let us reject the works of darkness and prepare our hearts to welcome the Incarnate Word.

Like Isaiah, who saw the nations flocking to the mountain of the Lord, let us walk in faith, vigilant and committed to justice and peace in our communities. Thus, at the return of Jesus, he will find us ready, filled with hope, and at work for his Kingdom. Amen.

Trump says Haiti no longer meets requirements for TPS. Haitians have to leave

Jacqueline CharlesUpdated November 26, 2025 5:59 PM

The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday announced the end of temporary immigration protections for Haitians, adding them to a growing list of immigrant groups seeing their protected status revoked by the Trump administration.

The decision, which becomes effective on Feb. 3, 2026, could affect more than a half million Haitians living in the U.S. under what is known as Temporary Protected Status. The designation was granted to Haiti after a string of natural and political disasters, starting with a catastrophic earthquake in 2010 that left the country and economy in ruins.

Barring potential legal delays from lawsuits, Haitians now will face returning to an unstable country facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises as criminal gangs control all major roads in and out of the capital of Port-au-Prince, and aggressively spread their terror to other regions.

DHS in its Federal Register notice acknowledged that “certain conditions in Haiti remain concerning.” But despite that, and the escalating violence “that has ‘engulfed’ Port-au-Prince‘, Secretary Kristi Noem “has determined that there are no extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti that prevent Haitian nationals (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Haiti) from returning in safety,” the agency wrote.

“Moreover, even if the Department found that there existed conditions that were extraordinary and temporary that prevented Haitian nationals,” the agency added, “from returning in safety, termination of Temporary Protected Status of Haiti is still required because it is contrary to the national interest of the United States to permit Haitian nationals ...to remain temporarily in the United States.”

As of 11:59 p.m. February 3, 2026, all Haitian nationals who have been granted TPS, will lose the status and must leave.

“After consulting with interagency partners, Secretary Noem concluded that Haiti no longer meets the statutory requirements for TPS,” the agency wrote in its announcement.

“This decision was based on a review conducted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, input from relevant U.S. government agencies, and an analysis indicating that allowing Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is inconsistent with U.S. national interests.”

The numbers paint a terrible picture in Haiti. A record 5.7 million people — 51% of the total population — are currently experiencing acute levels of hunger, with children increasingly at risk for malnutrition, the World Food Program recently warned. Meanwhile, as many as 1 in 4 Haitians, 2.7 million people, are forced to live in gang-controlled neighborhoods, more than 1.4 million are internally displaced, according to the United Nations. Rape, kidnapping and gang-related killings, all over 4,000 this year, are daily realities of life.

DHS said that the data indicates parts of the country are suitable to return to. That isn’t entirely true.

Even in communities, where armed groups are not yet visibly a problem, the situation is critical. The northern port city of Cap-Haïtien, which until this month offered the only access for international flights amid an ongoing U.S. Federal Aviation Administration ban on U.S. carriers, is bursting at the seams. The southern regions are also struggling to recover from Hurricane Melissa.

The storm’s recent passage unleashed widespread disruption and compounded existing problems with food and transportation, even though the country dodged a direct hit. At least 43 deaths were reported, mostly in the south, which is today completely cut off from the north and capital by road due to the presence of gangs that on Sunday once more forced the suspension of flights after firing on a domestic airline as it landed at the Port-au-Prince airport.

“Many households rely on unsafe water sources and lack access to basic sanitation, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks,” the U.N. said about the situation in southern Haiti. “Health facilities are under-equipped, financially inaccessible for many, and unable to provide mental health support. As a result, preventable illnesses and malnutrition are on the rise, particularly among children and pregnant women. Vulnerable groups — including women, girls, and youth — face heightened protection risks, including exploitation and violence.”

Though DHS previously announced the end of Haiti’s designation as of Feb. 3, the law requires the secretary to review country conditions at least 60 days before the expiration of TPS to determine whether the country continues to meet the conditions for designation.

“Based on the Department’s review, the Secretary has determined that while the current situation in Haiti is concerning, the United States must prioritize its national interests and permitting Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the U.S. national interest,” the notice said.

The administration’s decision isn’t surprising. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has moved to rollback immigration protections for Haitians and others, and ended TPS protections for millions of migrants from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Honduras, Syria, Nepal, Cameroon, Afghanistan, Burma, Somalia and Myanmar.

The agency’s order, issued a day before the Thanksgiving holiday, was blunt: “If you are an alien who is currently a beneficiary of TPS for Haiti, you should prepare to depart if you have no other lawful basis for remaining in the United States.”

But advocates for Haitians in the U.S. called the move poorly-timed and cruel.

“If Haiti doesn’t warrant TPS, which country does?” said Guerline Jozef, co-founder of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, a San Diego immigrant rights group. “For this news to come on the eve of Thanksgiving is devastating.”

Jozef pointed out that Washington has acknowledged both in recent communiqués and actions the crisis plaguing Haiti, which has been mired by repeated crises since its first designation. Among them: a deadly Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and a 7.2 earthquake in in 2021, five weeks after its president, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated in the middle of the night.

In justifying its decision, DHS quoted U.N. Secretary General António Guterres’s comments in August that “there are emerging signals of hope.” But in that same meeting, he also warned that they were in “a perfect storm” of suffering as state authority crumbled across Haiti and lawlessness and gang brutality paralyze daily life.

In May, the Trump administration designated a powerful coalition of gangs, Viv Ansanm, and another group, Gran Grif, as Foreign Terrorists Organizations. In September, the U.S.’s new ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz, led an aggressive push at the U.N. Security Council for support for a new Gang Suppression Force to help in the fight against terrorist gangs. Despite DHS’ highlight of these decisions, little has improved in Haiti since the steps were taken. In fact, the situation has worsened.

The deployment of the first contingent of the 5,500-GSF is still uncertain even as the U.S. pushes for general elections, which last took place in 2016, and last week gangs escalated their attacks. The latter, led the State Department on Monday to revoke the visa of a member of the ruling presidential council, Fritz Alphonse Jean. Jean has vehemently denied the accusations, and in a scathing press conference on Tuesday accused the U.S. of threatening him and others because they want to fire the prime minister over “incompetence.”

A State Department spokesperson, responding to a Miami Herald inquiry about Jean’s claims, said “We will not comment on or speculate about private diplomatic discussions or unverified reports.”

In another recent example reflecting conditions in Haiti: Over the weekend, a group of members of Congress, mostly Republicans, visited the Dominican Republic after canceling plans to travel to Port-au-Prince amid safety and logistics concerns.

“It makes absolutely no sense for the U.S. to terminate TPS for Haiti at this critical time, where the admiration has acknowledged the ongoing political crisis in Haiti to the point of having a Level 4 ‘Do not travel’ warning to the country,” Jozef said. “They must protect the Haitian who have called the U.S. home for over a decade, those who are already here, who have families, who have businesses in their adoptive communities.”

It’s not the first time the administration has tried to revoke TPS for Haitians. Soon after taking office this year, Trump attempted to rollback an extension given under the Biden administration. The decision was overridden by a New York federal judge, who said Noem had no authority to shorten the designation. The decision was part of a lawsuit spearheaded by a group of lawyers that, included Miami immigration attorney Ira Kurzban.

The suit was amended earlier this year to prevent the administration from ending the designation. Kurzban, who also successfully sued DHS during the first Trump administration after it sought to revoke TPS for Haitians, said the administration’s rationale for ending TPS is based on “outright lies.”

“Haiti is in political and economic turmoil due in large measure to U.S. foreign policy, including by the current administration. The reasons offered to terminate TPS are frivolous and include mischaracterizations and outright lies,” he said.

“They are a product of Trump, [Vice President JD] Vance and Sec. Noem’s actions that demonstrate hatred of Haitians and racism toward Black refugees.”

This story was originally published November 26, 2025 at 12:30 PM.

-Jacqueline Charles has reported on Haiti and the English-speaking Caribbean for the Miami Herald for over a decade. A Pulitzer Prize finalist for her coverage of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, she was awarded a 2018 Maria Moors Cabot Prize — the most prestigious award for coverage of the Americas.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 11 novembre 2025

IBC Air opens Miami–Les Cayes flights, sells out first weeks

Tickets for IBC Air’s inaugural flights are priced between $300 and $600 — far cheaper than other routes to Haiti.

by Fritznel D. Octave and  Juhakenson Blaise Nov. 05, 2025

THE HAITIAN TIMES

IBC Air will begin operating the first direct passenger flights between Miami, Florida, and Les Cayes, Haiti, on Nov. 10, marking a major step toward improving regional connectivity. The new route meets strong demand from southern Haitians in the diaspora seeking a cheaper, faster option to travel home.

LES CAYES, Haiti — IBC Air is set to inaugurate its first passenger flight on Nov. 10, connecting travelers from Miami International Airport to Antoine Simon Airport in Les Cayes, Haiti. The much-anticipated international route — with three daily flights planned — marks a major step toward improving regional air access to southern Haiti.

The launch responds to a growing demand from the Haitian diaspora, particularly those from the southern region. According to IBC agents at the Les Cayes airport counters on Tuesday, tickets are already sold out through Nov. 26, underscoring strong public interest in a more direct and affordable travel option.

On its website, flyibcair.com, IBC Air first listed round-trip fares between $300 and $600. Prices have since increased to between $630 to $860 with demand. But the Fort Lauderdale-based carrier’s fares are still significantly lower than those of its competitors. One traveler reported that they recently paid $1,400 for a Miami–Cap-Haïtien round-trip ticket, plus an additional $250 to continue to Les Cayes. Sunrise Airways is the company currently managing commercial flight service from Florida to Cap-Haïtien.

Plans for commercial service between Les Cayes and Miami were first announced in June 2025 by Dimitri Fouchard, an IBC Air representative. Despite a successful test flight, the airline was still awaiting final clearance from Haiti’s National Airport Authority (AAN) to operate at Antoine Simon.

At the time, Fouchard said that the international airport, with its 6,100-foot runway, could safely accommodate Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft, and that only minor terminal works remained before service could begin.

With this week’s announcement of IBC’s first flight, it appears that final authorization from the AAN has now been granted.

At Antoine Simon International Airport, key structures appear to be ready. The airline has invested in building its new check-in counters, creating a more organized and modern setup for travelers. Staff are already on site to assist passengers, underscoring the airport’s readiness to welcome its first commercial international flight.

Bookings for the inaugural flight opened shortly after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) renewed its flight restrictions to Haiti through March 7, 2026, due to ongoing security concerns. IBC Air reports having obtained the necessary clearances to operate between Miami and Les Cayes, in full compliance with federal regulations.

The airline has not yet announced plans to expand its services to other Haitian cities, but the launch of this route suggests a gradual growth strategy may be underway. IBC Air has not responded to The Haitian Times email for comments about possible future destinations.

Haitian neighborhoods help fuel Mamdani’s historic win in NYC mayoral race

Flatbush, East Flatbush, Canarsie and other immigrant-heavy districts deliver wide margins for the city’s first Muslim mayor

by The Haitian Times Nov. 05, 2025

Overview:

Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City Tuesday with the backing of key Haitian American neighborhoods, marking a historic victory and signaling growing political power within the diaspora.

By The Associated Press | Additional editing and reporting by The Haitian Times

NEW YORK — Neighborhoods home to some of the largest Haitian American communities in New York City helped power Zohran Mamdani to a historic victory Tuesday night, as the 34-year-old assemblymember was elected the city’s first Muslim, South Asian and African-born mayor.

In Flatbush, East Flatbush, Canarsie, East New York, Jamaica, and Hollis — neighborhoods long anchored by working-class Haitian families — voters delivered double-digit margins in favor of Mamdani, a democratic socialist whose campaign emphasized affordability, immigrant protections and solidarity with marginalized communities.

Mamdani carried Flatbush by 57 points, East Flatbush by 25, Canarsie by 24, East New York by 21, and Jamaica by 27, according to early returns published by The New York Times.

An estimated 183,000 Haitians call the five boroughs home, with significant numbers living in central and south Brooklyn and southeast Queens. Demographers have said that about one-third, an estimated 57,000, are U.S. citizens who make up an engaged electorate that votes regularly.

Tuesday night’s results confirmed what many Haitian organizers predicted last month in a Zoom meeting hosted by Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, where community leaders — many who had first supported challenger Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic Primary— laid out strategies to mobilize voters behind Mamdani.

“While being with him through the churches and the streets of Flatbush and working with community members, he definitely resonated with them,” Bichotte Hermelyn said. “He has listened to them, and it’s been with sincerity.”

Other Haitian American elected officials, including Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest and Council Member Farah Louis, also endorsed Mamdani after the Democratic primary, citing his promises to defend immigrant rights and lower the cost of living.

“We are not asking for a lot,” Forrest said during the October meeting. “What we are asking for is a life of dignity — and now we’re going to make it happen together. Zohran is for us.”

A commanding win

Mamdani defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in a high-turnout race, with more than 2 million ballots cast — the largest in over five decades. With roughly 90% of the vote counted, Mamdani held a 9-point lead over Cuomo.

The mood at Mamdani’s victory party in Brooklyn was jubilant. Supporters cheered, waved the New York City flag and danced to reggaetón and konpa as The Associated Press called the race.

Cuomo, speaking at a subdued event in Manhattan, conceded with a warning: “Almost half of New Yorkers did not vote to support a government agenda that makes promises that we know cannot be met.”

Still, he offered to help Mamdani transition into office. “Tonight was their night.”

The Haitian vote: Organized and energized

From making an appearance at Michael Brun’s Bayo show in Brooklyn this summer to standing with TPS advocates in Little Haiti, Mamdani began outreach to the young and the worried in Haitian communities early on. Continuing his grassroots ground game, organizers canvassed neighborhoods like Canarsie, Flatbush, East Flatbush and Queens Village, distributing translated materials in Kreyòl and French and building WhatsApp groups to share information.

“Access to information is everything in our community,” said one attendee during October’s strategy session. “There can be great programs, but if we don’t know about them, we can’t benefit.”

Mamdani’s campaign team said those concerns were being addressed through multilingual outreach and partnerships with community-based organizations.

Louis noted Mamdani’s outreach across Caribbean communities, where he promised to protect Haitian immigrants from ICE raids and include culturally responsive policies in City Hall.

What’s next for City Hall?

Mamdani takes office Jan. 1 and has promised an ambitious agenda that includes:

• Free citywide bus service
• Free child care
• Rent freezes
• A new Department of Community Safety to respond to mental health crises
• City-run grocery stores in food deserts

He will face pressure from centrist Democrats, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, who opposes his plan to raise taxes on the wealthy to fund his proposals.

In this Q&A, the Queens Assemblymember and mayoral hopeful shares his vision for affordable housing, public safety, and restoring dignity to immigrant New Yorkers.

His stance on policing will also be closely watched. Mamdani, who once called the NYPD a “rogue agency,” has since apologized and pledged to keep the current police commissioner in place.

National figures have already weighed in. President Donald Trump, who previously threatened to cut federal funds to the city if Mamdani won, posted “…AND SO IT BEGINS!” on Truth Social Tuesday night.

In his victory speech, Mamdani addressed Trump directly.

“New York will remain a city of immigrants, built by immigrants, powered by immigrants — and now, led by an immigrant,” he said. “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it’s the city that gave rise to him.”

A notable moment for Haitian American civic power

For the Haitian diaspora — long active in union organizing, education and immigrant justice — Mamdani’s victory marks continued progress in politics. Although Bichotte Hermelyn, who leads the Brooklyn Democratic Party, Louis and other prominent Haitian elected officials first supported the scandal-plagued incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, then Cuomo in the primary, they began boosting Mamdani over the summer. 

Meanwhile, in addition to his mailing fliers and making high profile appearances, Mandani’s canvassers knocked on doors in multistory buildings to encourage turnout. Haitian voters responded, helping elect a mayor who has promised to reflect their priorities and protect their dignity.

As the Zoom meeting closed last month, organizers created a ‘Haitians for Zohran’ WhatsApp group to coordinate voter outreach through Election Day. With Mamdani’s win now official, many are preparing to hold him accountable — and ensure Haitian voices are represented in City Hall.

“This is not just about a win,” said Louis. “It’s about building a city where our communities are finally seen.”

Cholera fears rise in Haiti after Hurricane Melissa flooding

Health officials warn of links between new infections to contaminated water and poor sanitation after storm

by Juhakenson Blaise Nov. 06, 2025

Overview:

Health authorities in Haiti are warning of a cholera surge following Hurricane Melissa, which flooded key regions and contaminated drinking water supplies. While more than 2,900 suspected cases and 27 deaths have been reported since January, officials say recent spikes in neighborhoods like Pétion-Ville and Gran Gosier raise fears of a wider outbreak. The threat is compounded by insecurity, lack of clean water, and failing health infrastructure.

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian health authorities are warning of a possible cholera surge in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, which brought heavy flooding and worsened already fragile sanitation conditions across the country.

Although Haiti’s public health ministry has reported more than 2,900 suspected cholera cases and 27 related deaths since January, officials say flooding from Hurricane Melissa has contaminated water sources and sharply increased the risk of a wider outbreak — particularly in areas like Pétion-Ville, where more than 130 suspected cases, including 20 confirmed and five deaths, were recorded in a single week last month. Human Rights Watch, citing its own assessment, reported 48 cholera-related deaths and 186 confirmed cases nationwide between Jan. 1 and Oct. 30 — a higher count than the government’s figures — and noted that more than a third of victims were children under 9. The group said the rise in cases in Pétion-Ville and surrounding neighborhoods such as Delmas, Tabarre, and Carrefour reflects a resurgence after 11 weeks without new infections.

“Access to clean water, sanitation, and community engagement are crucial in fighting waterborne diseases,” Public Health Minister Sinal Bertrand said, urging residents to boil water and take precautions as public health teams ramp up response efforts.

Officials at the Minister of Public Health and Population (MSPP) said heavy flooding from Hurricane Melissa has contaminated several water sources and wells used by locals. They warned of increased risks of other diseases, including typhoid, malaria, and acute diarrhea.

“Access to clean drinking water, community sanitation, and citizen engagement are crucial in the fight against waterborne diseases.”

Sinal Bertrand, Public Health Ministernormal

“Cholera is once again threatening thousands of lives in Haiti because the population lacks access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation, and medical care,” said Nathalye Cotrino, a researcher at Human Rights Watch. 

“The epidemic, which coincides with the seasonal increase during the rainy period, is spreading in Port-au-Prince and its metropolitan area, while the capital’s health infrastructure is on the verge of collapse and insecurity is worsening.”

To contain the spread, authorities have launched sanitation, fumigation, and pest control in Port-au-Prince and the southern region. They said health teams are running hygiene and food safety campaigns in vulnerable areas.

The ministry said its response is being coordinated with the National Directorate for Drinking Water and Sanitation (DINEPA), Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES), and the Ministry of Public Works, with a strategy focused on safe drinking water access and community sanitation.

The resurgence recalled Haiti’s tragic 2010 cholera outbreak, when wastewater discharge from a United Nations base contaminated a river, leading to nearly 10,000 deaths and over 820,000 infections. After years of effort, Haiti went three years without any confirmed cases until the disease resurfaced in 2022.

Health authorities warn of a cholera surge after Hurricane Melissa

• 2,900 suspected cholera cases nationwide since January
• 27 deaths, including 20 in communities and 7 in hospitals
• 139 cases and 5 deaths reported in Pétion-Ville in one week
• 43 deaths from Hurricane Melissa as of Nov. 4

30+ hospitals closed due to attacks and vandalism

According to Human Rights Watch, persistent problems, poor sanitation, limited access to clean water, and a weak emergency preparedness system continue to leave millions at serious risk. The authorities urge the population to boil or treat water, wash hands regularly with soap, avoid raw or undercooked food, and seek immediate medical attention for acute diarrhea.

The country’s healthcare capacity remains dangerously thin. More than 30 healthcare facilities have stopped operating due to vandalism, fires, or gang attacks. Among them is the State University Hospital, the largest hospital located in the capital, and the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) emergency center in Turgeau, which closed last month after multiple armed assaults endangering staff and patients. Many of these closed hospitals previously provided critical medical support for monitoring and treating epidemics.

As part of the national response, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) opened a new cholera treatment center in Bristou, Pétion-Ville, on Oct. 18. In a note, the MSPP said its investigation of water sources in the locality of Diègue, in Pèlerin 5, identified them as the likely origin of the current outbreak.

“On site, the observations made by the minister and experts were clear,” the MSPP said. “There was evident contamination of the water sources due to the proximity of homes and the presence of organic waste.”

The hurricane’s aftermath has also left a heavy human toll — 43 deaths, 13 people missing and thousands displaced in temporary shelters. Conditions in camps for those uprooted by gang violence are particularly dire, with heightened risk of disease.

International partners have pledged emergency aid. The European Union announced €5 million, while the United States committed $8.5 million through UNICEF, Catholic Relief Services, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The funds will go directly to humanitarian agencies rather than the Haitian government.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 16 septembre 2025

US plans to push for Haiti’s ‘Gang Suppression Force’ at UN meeting

After pressuring leaders of the Organization of American States, Washington continues to push for a new 5,500-member ‘Gang Suppression Force’ to replace the Kenya-led MSS, while pledging to crack down on arms trafficking fueling violence in Haiti

by Juhakenson Blaise Sep. 08, 2025

THE HAITIAN TIMES

The United States has been seeking support from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations for a new anti-gang force in Haiti, as violence has resulted in 3,100 deaths and the displacement of 1.3 million people in just six months this year. After meeting with officials from both international organizations, U.S. diplomats plan to ramp up efforts at the UN General Assembly, which opens on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

PORT-AU-PRINCE — As the UN General Assembly prepares to convene its 80th session in New York this month, the United States is ramping up efforts to secure backing for a proposed international force— the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) — to confront Haiti’s spiraling gang violence. 

After meeting with the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, and the UN Security Council last week, Washington now shifts its focus to the UN Assembly opening on Tuesday, Sept. 9, to gain support for the plan. A draft resolution circulating among member states suggests establishing a 5,500-member force to replace the struggling Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) led by Kenya.

“A secure Haiti means a safer Hemisphere—our collective stability and prosperity depend on it,” the U.S. mission said in a statement on X, following a Sept. 5 meeting with Ramdin. “The OAS is a vital collaborator and coordinator, and we are answering the call from countries in our Hemisphere with these efforts.”

During the meeting, Acting U.S. Permanent Representative to the OAS Lee Lipton discussed the initiative, including a proposed UN support office in Port-au-Prince to manage logistics, drone surveillance, fuel and rations.

The MSS, deployed since June 2024, was authorized by the UN Security Council in October 2023 to bolster the Haitian National Police (PNH). But it has faced chronic underfunding, personnel shortages and mounting criticism from Haitians who say it has failed to curb gang dominance.

According to the draft resolution submitted by the U.S. and Panama on Aug. 28, the proposed GSF would be managed by a UN support office to avoid the same funding pitfalls. Meanwhile, as the MSS’ future remains uncertain, it is unclear whether Kenya and other troop-contributing nations would remain part of the new force.

U.S. Acting Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea urged member states to join the effort. “To sit at the negotiating table and join the United States, Panama, and other countries that have demonstrated their commitment to Haiti’s security … is a meaningful sharing of responsibilities to help stabilize the country,” she said.

Arms trafficking crackdown as Haiti’s crisis deepens

Even as it lobbies for the GSF, Washington is turning its attention to the weapons pipeline feeding Haiti’s gangs. On Sept. 4, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking alongside Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente, announced measures to stop arms trafficking to Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean nations. The plan will mobilize the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) to disrupt smuggling networks.

The crackdown follows UN reports that gangs in Haiti are increasingly equipped with high-caliber rifles, sniper systems, and machine guns, many smuggled from the United States. UN human rights expert William O’Neill warned in April that these weapons, often capable of piercing armored vehicles, give gangs a decisive advantage over Haitian police.

U.S. courts have recently sentenced several traffickers, including Jean Wiltene Eugene, who shipped firearms hidden in vehicles, and Michael Adrian Nieto, a former police officer convicted of reselling dozens of weapons to Haitian and Dominican buyers. Haitian American Bazile Richardson from North Carolina was also charged for allegedly financing Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier’s gang, 

The violence continues to exact a staggering toll. Between January and June 2025, more than 3,100 people were killed and 1.3 million displaced, according to the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). Gangs now control swathes of Port-au-Prince at about 90% and at least 28 municipalities nationwide, where they have committed massacres, mass sexual violence and widespread extortion.

“The gangs use firearms not only to fight the police but to dominate entire communities and commit human rights violations,” O’Neill said.

Meanwhile, as the U.S. works to gather support for the GSF, no date has been set for the UN Security Council to discuss the resolution. Officials are stepping up diplomatic efforts as the UN General Assembly session begins. However, it remains uncertain whether China and Russia will vote in favor of that resolution. Past attempts by the U.S. and its Latin American allies to turn the MSS into a full UN mission have failed because of opposition from these two key countries at the Security Council. 

Haiti’s future with the MSS or a successor force remains unresolved, even as the country’s security, humanitarian and political crises continue to deepen.

Fritz Alphonse Jean, former president of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), accused segments of the private sector of continuing to fuel the insecurity crisis in an Aug. 5 interview.

 “They have used young people as cannon fodder to protect their interests,” Jean said. “These youths have become gangs serving personal agendas.”

More by Juhakenson Blaise

I am Juhakenson Blaise, a journalist based in the city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I cover the news that develops in this city and deals with other subjects related to the experience of Haitians for the Haitian Times newspaper. I am also a lover of poetry.

Haitian and Belgian journalists win Franceinfo’s 2025 Golden Visa for Haiti reporting

From Port-au-Prince to Perpignan, journalists were honored for their Haiti photo documentary, “In Haiti, at the Heart of Hell”

by Aljany Narcius Sep. 11, 2025

THE HAITIAN TIMES

Overview:

Haitian journalists Milo Milfort and Johnson Sabin, alongside Belgian colleague Gaël Turine, won the 2025 Franceinfo Golden Visa Award at the image festival in Perpignan, France, for their immersive digital reporting project “In Haiti, at the Heart of Hell.” The work highlights daily life and resilience in gang-controlled Port-au-Prince, highlighting the essential role of Haitian journalism despite deadly risks.

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian journalists Milo Milfort and Johnson Sabin, alongside Belgian colleague Gaël Turine, have received the 2025 FranceinfoGolden Visa for Digital Journalism. Their interactive report, “In Haiti, at the Heart of Hell,” was published last year by La Libre Belgique newspaper.

The award was announced Sept. 4 during the “Visa pour l’Image” festival in Perpignan, France, a prestigious stage that has long showcased conflict and humanitarian reporting from across the globe.

The reporting project combines photographs, testimony and multimedia storytelling to capture life inside gang-controlled neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, where residents endure daily violence but also display resilience and dignity.

“This award represents recognition for useful, high-quality work carried out under difficult conditions,” Milfort said in an interview with The Haitian Times after winning the award. “Gangs entirely control some of the areas we visited and cannot be entered without their authorization.”

Cover page of the digital documentary “In Haiti, at the Heart of Hell” on La Libre Belgique’s site. Photo courtesy of Gaël Turine 

Journalism under fire in Haiti

In Haiti, documenting these stories is often a matter of survival. At least 21 journalists were killed between 2000 and 2022, according to an Associated Press (AP) report, including nine in 2022 alone—the deadliest year in modern Haitian media history. In a country where silence often becomes a form of survival, journalists who persist in reporting risk threats, extortion or worse.

“This award has special meaning because it was earned collectively, with Haitian journalists,” said Turine, who has worked in Haiti since 2005. “It proves that despite the conditions, meaningful, high-level work can emerge.”

Sabin also noted how personally affected he was by stories of displaced families. “Their strength and dignity, despite fear and loss, left a profound mark on me,” he said.

“This award represents recognition for useful, high-quality work carried out under difficult conditions.”

Milo Milfort, Co-winner of Franceinfo’s 2025 Golden Visanormal

Profiles of the awardees

Milfort, based in Port-au-Prince, has spent more than a decade reporting on Haiti’s most pressing issues — from gang violence and kidnappings to governance failures and economic struggles. A former reporter for AyiboPost and founder of the investigative outlet Enquet’Action, Milfort is recognized for combining investigative rigor with compelling photography.

He has been a contributor for international outlets such as the Spanish news agency EFE and Dominican Noticias SIN. He is known among peers for his persistence in covering stories in some of Haiti’s most dangerous neighborhoods. His work has earned several regional awards, underscoring his role as one of the country’s leading investigative journalists.

“This award has special meaning because it was earned collectively, with Haitian journalists. It proves that despite the conditions, meaningful, high-level work can emerge.”

Gaël Turine, Co-winner of Franceinfo’s 2025 Golden Visanormal

Sabin, for his part, brings a unique visual eye to Haiti’s contemporary challenges. A photographic journalist who has worked between Haiti and France, Sabin documents political realities and social transformations with sensitivity and depth. 

The Haitian journalist’s work has been exhibited both locally and internationally, and he is currently preparing his second book while developing new projects on migration and resilience. His photography — often focused on portraits and community life — offers not only documentation of Haiti’s crises but also insight into its cultural vibrancy and people’s determination to sustain hope.

As for Belgian documentary photographer-journalist Gaël Turine, his experience in Haiti has spanned nearly two decades. This time, he collaborated with the two Haitian professionals, adding a global dimension to the team’s work. 

“Their [Haitians] strength and dignity, despite fear and loss, left a profound mark on me.”

Johnson Sabin, Co-winner of Franceinfo’s 2025 Golden Visanormal

Haiti registers a whopping 6M voters amid mass displacements, officials say

Haiti’s ID office says 6.3 million voters are registered, but elections and a contested referendum remain stalled by gang violence

by Juhakenson Blaise Sep. 12, 2025

THE HAITIAN TIMES

Overview:

The National Identification Office (ONI) reported Wednesday that 6.3 million Haitians of voting age now have ID cards, meaning about 85% of potentially eligible voters have been registered and are ready to vote in the upcoming elections. However, those elections remain delayed, even though the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) appears to be moving forward with preparations. No date has been set for either the elections or the controversial constitutional referendum. Security remains the main challenge, with over 1.3 million people displaced and gangs controlling key areas.

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haiti’s National Identification Office (ONI) announced Wednesday that nearly 6.3 million Haitians of voting age now hold national identification cards — a prerequisite to cast ballots. But the announcement underscores the deep contradiction of Haitian politics today: a growing list of registered voters with no secure path to elections.

The figure, representing roughly 85% of the estimated 7.4 million Haitians of voting age out of about 11.9 million total population, was shared with Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) member Louis Gérald Gilles during his visit to the ONI headquarters. Gilles called the progress “a major step” for elections that have yet to be scheduled.

“On behalf of the Transitional Presidential Council, I reaffirmed my support for the electoral process, which is essential to restoring democratic order and stability in the country,” Gilles said on  X following the meeting.

“I advised the institution to keep clear goals, both short-term and long-term, to enhance the credibility of the national identification system.”

While ONI reports record numbers locally, it has yet to release any data on voter registration in the diaspora. Government officials have only stated that offices have also been established abroad.

Authorities praised ONI’s efforts, but the voter roll exists against a backdrop of turmoil. More than 1.3 million Haitians have been displaced by gang violence, according to the United Nations, leaving many voters without homes, secure polling stations or clear access to the ballot box.

In the capital, gangs control about 90% of the territory, including neighborhoods that host electoral offices and voting centers. Several provincial towns face similar challenges. With major roads blocked, displaced people living in shelters or makeshift camps say voting is not even a consideration when they struggle daily for food, water and safety.

Voters registered, elections without security?

While ONI pushes forward with mobile caravans and more than 150 local offices to issue IDs, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has been advancing technical preparations — including staff recruitment and agreements for a dedicated electoral television channel. Still, no election or supposed constitutional referendum date has been announced.

According to authorities, one of the strategies is the deployment of ONI mobile caravans across the country’s departments. Since February 2025, the ONI mobile caravan has been operating in the North. In August, the caravan reached the Grand’Anse department.

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé told the United Nations Security Council this week that restoring security remains the first condition. He backed a United States-proposed resolution to transform the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) into a larger Gang Suppression Force (GSF), saying only such a shift could help Haiti organize “credible, free, and transparent elections.”

But with thousands killed in gang violence this year alone, no neighborhoods reclaimed from armed groups, and displaced families filling schools and churches, many Haitians doubt that elections are feasible in the short term.

Pushing for a controversial referendum 

The CPT has also been pushing forward with a referendum process on constitutional changes — but lawyers, bar associations and civil society leaders warn the move is illegitimate and illegal. The Port-au-Prince Bar Association called it “legally irregular and illegitimate” in a recent statement. Members of the association argued that under Haiti’s 1987 Constitution [amended in 2011-2012], revisions require a Constituent Assembly, not a referendum organized by transitional leaders.

“Attempting to impose a new Constitution in this context would constitute a violation by the current political authorities of both their oath of office and the 1987 Constitution,” members of the Bar Association said in a recent statement. 

“Such an act qualifies as high treason under Article 21 and is punishable by life at hard labor without the possibility of commutation (Article 21-1).”

Critics also warn that forcing such a vote under current conditions would further erode legitimacy, while ordinary Haitians remain in limbo about when — or if — they will be called to elect new leaders.

As officials tout ONI’s progress, the UN says humanitarian needs are outpacing resources. Deputy Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, visiting Haiti this week, announced $9 million in new aid but warned funding is at “historic lows.” The UN’s $908 million appeal has received less than 12% of the needed funds.

“In Port-au-Prince, I saw the last functioning hospital pushed to the brink, forced to cut even maternal care,” Fletcher said Sept. 9 in a post on X. “Families who lost everything are crammed into shelters– women and girls bearing the heaviest toll. The suffering is immense. Haiti needs urgent support.”

Still, the uncertain future for Haiti’s voters remains the same

For now, Haiti has millions of registered voters but no clear date for when their ballots will count. With the CPT’s mandate set to expire on Feb. 7, 2026, and insecurity worsening, the question remains whether the country’s electoral institutions can deliver democracy — or whether Haitians’ hard-won ID cards will remain symbols of an elusive right. Haiti has not held an election since 2016.

“ONI continues its mission to bring identification services closer to [Haitian] citizens,” ONI officials said in a recent statement posted on social media. 

“The goal is to make access to the national identification card easier, especially in rural areas that are often neglected.”

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 3 septembre 2025

Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Haiti
United States Mission to the United Nations
Ambassador Dorothy Shea
Acting U.S. Representative
New York, New York

Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you Secretary-General António Guterres, Executive Director Catherine Russell, and Mr. Jean Jean Roosevelt for your briefings.
The United States remains concerned about escalating levels of violence in Haiti. The territorial expansion of the gangs threatens to undermine gains made by both the Haitian National Police and the Multinational Security Support mission.
We continue to condemn the recruitment of children in armed gangs and the disproportionate impact of gang violence on children. In 2024, Haiti was reported as one of the countries with the most violations and abuses against children, with the large majority committed by the Viv Ansanm coalition, which for the first time was listed in the Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflict.
Due to the violence, over 1.3 million people – half of them children – have been displaced. Children face constant risks of being killed or injured during gang attacks, police operations, or acts of mob justice. Forced recruitment by gangs and recurring incidents of sexual violence rob children of the peaceful lives they deserve.
Corruption and indiscriminate violence remain major issues. We have taken concrete steps to counter impunity for those supporting violence in Haiti with the United States’ designation of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. We applaud this Council for the recent designation of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as well. This sends an important message from the international community that we hold bad actors and entities to account.
The United States recently announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue. In addition, we remain committed to the removal and prosecution of criminals and enablers hiding in the United States who contribute to the violence and destruction in Haiti.
These significant steps taken by the United States demonstrate the Trump Administration’s commitment to countering these criminal gangs and foreign terrorist organizations.
Mr. President, food insecurity also remains a pressing concern. Active humanitarian and lifesaving assistance awards continuing in Haiti include U.S.-grown emergency food aid, nutrition support, logistics, shelter, clean water, and medical services for crisis-affected Haitians. This sort of programming addresses critical needs like food, shelter, medical care for violence-affected children and survivors of sexual violence, cholera treatment and prevention, hygiene, and malnutrition treatment for families and children.
In June, the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly and the United States co-sponsored a resolution which passed unanimously to galvanize action for Haiti and to complement efforts here at the UN. Moreover, the United States continues to work with the OAS as it proceeds with its roadmap for Haiti. This is an important step towards the regional leadership we expect on such shared regional challenges.
Mr. President, with respect to the MSS mission, the United States thanks Kenya for its dedication, leadership and support for over the past year. Kenya answered Haiti’s call at a critical moment, demonstrating an enormous compassion and courage, putting its people in harm’s way thousands of miles from home, and preventing a complete collapse of the Haitian state. Without the presence of the MSS mission, the gangs would have been even more emboldened in their ambitions and brazen atrocities against civilians in Haiti.
We would also like to thank The Bahamas, El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala, and Jamaica, for contributing personnel towards this effort, and to Canada for its sizable contribution to the UN Trust Fund and to the planning efforts. As we look to combat the threat of terrorist gangs looking to topple the State, we must ensure an even greater share of the international community is invested in the fight.
To address this, today, the United States and Panama are sharing a draft UN Security Council resolution with this Council to help address the growing violence by establishing a Gang Suppression Force and creating a UN Support Office to provide logistical support to efforts on the ground. We urge Council members: join us – join us in responding to the call from the Haitian government, as we forge a new path towards peace and security, and establish the UN Support Office to properly, and sustainably, resource this effort. This will ensure the mission has the tools at its disposal to take the fight to the gangs and ensure that the Haitian state can meet the foundational needs of its people.
President, we note the next international force must be resourced to hold territory, secure infrastructure, and complement the Haitian National Police. In parallel, a comprehensive approach is required to disrupt gang financing, arms trafficking, and other illicit flows fueling instability.
To make meaningful progress on this collective challenge, we need international stakeholders and donors to come to the table and join the United States, Panama, and others who have demonstrated their commitment to Haiti’s security, in meaningful burden sharing to help promote stability in Haiti. We stand with the Haitian people as they seek a secure, stable future for their country. We remain committed to working with the international community to drive progress forward in Haiti, and call on all Council members to take concrete action in support of this effort.
I thank you.

National Center of Haitian Apostolate
The commune of La Croix-des-Bouquets.

This week, I would like to write a text about the commune of La Croix-des-Bouquets. Despite the difficulties facing our country, Haiti, the inhabitants of this corner of the earth continue to hope against all odds and to work with great courage and pride for its recovery.
La Croix-des-Bouquets is the second largest commune in terms of area after Aquin (South Department). It covers an area of 530 km2, with a population of over 150,000. The diaspora community of La Croix-des-Bouquets is beginning to awaken. They understand the need to contribute to this land that has given birth to great women and men, by developing a close relationship with their sisters and brothers from Lakou Lakay. Lakou Lakay ap toujou rete Lakou Lakay.
Through this text, I would like to encourage all the Crucians in the diaspora who are beginning to come together, either on WhatsApp to pray as a family or to strengthen solidarity between family members, or in associations to see how they can contribute to their homeland, Croix-des-Bouquets. If the forces of evil are uniting against Haiti, why is it so difficult for us to come to an understanding and work together to block the path of the forces of darkness that want to destroy our beloved Haiti, for whom our heroes agreed to shed their blood in order to bequeath to us a country where there is room for everyone?
In the situation we find ourselves in today, we must make a tremendous effort to overcome our egos and our differences, to unite all our forces to work together to give a new face to Haiti and to our homeland, Croix-des-Bouquets. It is high time for us to emulate our beautiful motto: "Unity is strength." We must often remind ourselves that our differences are sometimes a great source of wealth.
In this text, I would like to congratulate all our predecessors, all those who worked diligently to give La Croix-des-Bouquets a community high school in 1964, called Lycée Jacques 1er, which became a national high school after 1986. These people were great visionaries who understood the importance for their children and the other young people of La Croix-des-Bouquets of having a solid education to better build their future. It is worth adding that, without the support of the Haitian government or foreign organizations, they founded this high school, which has become one of the heritage sites of the commune of La Croix-des-Bouquets. The Lycée Jacques 1er in La Croix-des-Bouquets has trained great men, women, and professionals of the highest caliber: engineers, doctors, lawyers, agronomists, pastors, priests, nurses, nuns, accountants, and teachers, to name a few. They are a great source of pride for the Crucian community. We will never cease to congratulate and thank those who founded the high school for this calculated risk. They made great sacrifices, overcame many obstacles, and took on many challenges to enable many of the Crucian youth of the time to begin their secondary education. We will never forget our poor farmers who agreed to donate 50 centimes from each cane harvest to help provide a small salary for the teaching staff of the community high school in La Croix-des-Bouquets. Sometimes these teachers could go between three and four months without receiving this pittance. How much did these teachers earn at the time? The names of these Crucian deserve to be written in gold letters in the annals of the Lycée Jacques 1er in La Croix-des-Bouquets. Their example deserves to be emulated for their great love for their native land.
I still remember the meeting the Pitit Manman Wozè Group held in early January 2025 with several members of the Crucian community (priests, nuns, and a few professionals from Haiti and the diaspora) to discuss how we could establish a nursing faculty in La Croix-des-Bouquets. In March 2025, this group successfully elected a board of directors chaired by Professor Jean Frantz Théodat, former dean of the National Institute of Management Administration and Advanced International Studies (INAGHEI) and former Director of the General Directorate of Taxation.
The good and great news is that this board of directors, together with the Gwoup Pitit Manman Wozè, is working hard to open this faculty on October 6, 2025.

Filmmakers premiere “Stay With Me” at Urban Film Festival as a love letter to Haitian courage
Childhood friends reunite for film inspired by true events
by The Haitian Times Aug. 27, 2025

Overview:
The Urban Film Festival in Miami will feature Stay with Me, a new short film by Haitian creatives Samuel Ladouceur and Yanatha Desouvre
When “Stay with Me” premieres Aug. 31 at the Urban Film Festival in Downtown Miami, it will arrive as more than just another short film. The story, inspired by true events, is what its creators call “a love letter to the courage of the Haitian community amidst violence.”
Directed by Samuel Ladouceur and written by executive producer Yanatha Desouvre, the 9-minute short centers on a tense afternoon between investigative journalist Margaret Goodman, played by Geegee Rock and her teenage son Grayson, played by Akili McDowell, known for his role in Billions, the drama series on Showtime.
Set against the backdrop of political unrest in Haiti, Goodman’s reporting on corruption has put her family at risk. Over a simple meal, mother and son grapple with fear, duty and the weight of violence that shadows their lives.
The film weaves their intimate conversation with real footage of turmoil in Haiti, underscoring both the danger Goodman faces in pursuing the truth and the toll it takes on her son. At its heart, “Stay With Me” is a portrait of resilience — a mother refusing to back down, and a child longing for safety — that speaks to the courage of families caught in cycles of grief and conflict.
The project marks a reunion for Ladouceur and Desouvre, childhood friends who reconnected this summer to collaborate on the film.
“What motivated me to write and produce this story is [that] there are people behind that violence. There are families behind that violence. Stay with Me is an ode to fearless journalism and the courage it takes to hold the powerful accountable,” said Desouvre. “Journalism for me is one of the last barriers of a world going into anarchy.”
Their next film, Fortunate Son, which would be their first feature film tells the story of Margaret’s son, Grayson, now an aspiring journalist after his best friend is gunned down amid political turmoil in Port-au-Prince. He risks everything to uncover the truth behind the murder, exposing a web of corruption and power that threatens his family, his community, and his own life.
The film pays homage to Desouvre’s late Sunday school teacher, who was shot and killed when the director was 7 ½ years old.
“Yanatha and I grew up in church together, Yanatha’s dad was the director for all of the Christmas plays, since the mid-90s,” said Ladouceur. “His father encouraged me to be behind the camera since I was very little. “It wasn’t until the filming of ‘The Sweetest Girl’ in August 2020, that I had an opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude to Yanatha’s dad.”
Akili McDowell as Grayson Goodman and Yanatha Desouvre as Christian Sainvil (inspired by Yanatha Desouvre’s real-life Sunday School teacher, who was shot and killed when he was only 7 1/2 years old in Brooklyn, New York, in the mid-80s).
Desouvre, a best-selling author and professor of entrepreneurship at Miami Dade College, has received accolades for his screenwriting.
Ladouceur’s body of work spans shorts, television and major films, including “Person of Interest,” “Unstoppable,” “Power and Boardwalk Empire.” In 2020, he directed “The Sweetest Girl,” which earned wide acclaim in festival circles, including Best Short film at the Urban Film Festival in 202.
The screening for “Stay with Me” is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 at Silver Spot Cinema in downtown Miami. Admission is free.
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Urban Film Festival has grown into one of the largest free film festivals in the country. Held across Historic Overtown and downtown Miami over Labor Day weekend, the festival blends red carpet premieres, exclusive industry panels and community-centered programming.
Alongside “Stay with Me,” the festival will feature official selection screenings, film workshops and industry discussions — all live and free to the public.

INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE & DEMOCRACY IN HAITI

Dear Friend of IJDH,

We have amazing news: the IJDH community has generated so many calls and so many signatures during Capitol Hill’s slowest week of the year that the lawyers got an extension for the Congressional amicus brief on Haitian TPS, and the Congressional leaders extended the signature deadline to Wednesday, September 3, at noon.
Call today to keep making a difference for 350,000 Haitians facing forced return to horrific conditions!!
So far we have four Senators and 43 Representatives stepping up for truth and our Haitian neighbors. That’s exciting, but we need more to have an impact. A list of signers is below. If any of your Senators or Representative are not on the list, please call them TODAY.
Calling is really easy! Just dial Congress’ switchboard, (202) 225-3121 and provide either the name of your Congress Member or your address, and you will be patched through. Tell the person or voicemail this simple message:
“This is [your name], calling from [your town] to urge [Representative/Senator X] to consider signing the amicus brief led by Senator Markey and Representative Cherfilus-McCormick opposing the termination of TPS for Haiti. This is time-sensitive, as signatures close on Wednesday September 3 at noon to meet a court deadline. Please contact Adam Safran in Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick’s office for details.”
We know there is significant low-hanging fruit out there (as befits late August)! For example, only one Representative from Massachusetts has signed on, even though they all consistently support Haiti and immigration fairness. So I will be forwarding this action alert to friends and family across the state, and calling my Rep (for the third time). There are dozens more Members of Congress who will readily sign, if only we make sure that they know about it.
Red State calls are still important!!! A national immigration advocacy leader called yesterday and said he 100% agrees with our call to engage with Republican members. He thinks that doing so will soften opposition to continuing TPS for Haiti, while supporting promising efforts by business and faith leaders to quietly build a constituency for fair immigration policy in the Republican Caucus.
Gratefully,
Brian Concannon
PS: Click here for more information on Haitian TPS and our lawsuit
PPS: Signers so far are Senators Markey, Padilla, Van Hollen and Warren, and Representatives Sewell, Figures (both AL); L. Simon, Waters (both CA); J. Hayes (CT); Degette (CO); McBride (DE); Holmes Norton (DC); Cherfilus-McCormick, S. Wilson, Wasserman Schultz, Frost, Castor and Soto (all Florida); H. Johnson, N. Williams (both GA); J. Jackson, D. Davis, Schakowsky (all IL); Carson (IN); T Carter (LA); Mfume (MD); Pressley (MA); Tlaib (MI); W. Bell (MO); Titus, Horsford (both NV); Clarke, Velazquez, Torres, Tonko, Meng (all NY); Evans (PA); Amo, Magaziner (both RI); S. Cohen (TN); S. Garcia, Doggett (both TX); Plaskett (VI); McClellan (VA); Jayapal (WA); and G. Moore (WI).
PPS: Best to call today, to give offices time to review the amicus. But calls can still have an impact through Tuesday.

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