标签： Haiti

In a landmark ceremony organized by the Haitian Embassy in Paris, the inaugural Haiti in France Influence Awards celebrated outstanding individuals whose contributions have significantly elevated Haiti’s profile across French society and beyond. Ambassador Louino Volcy presided over the event, emphasizing the diplomatic mission’s commitment to promoting a positive and credible image of Haiti on the international stage.

The awards recognized achievements across multiple disciplines, with literature honors presented to Robert PHILOMÉ for his patriotic novel “Port-au-Prince, Cotonou, un écho sans retour” and Yanick LAHENS for her distinguished literary works that consistently center Haitian narratives. The History and Memory category distinguished Éric SAURAY for his illuminating work on Haitian historical figures and Jean-Marie THÉODAT for his scholarly research and advocacy regarding independence restitution.

Cultural preservation efforts were celebrated through awards to Josette BRUFFAERTS of Haiti Futur association for promoting Haitian literature, musician Joé “Dwèt Filé” for popularizing Compas music internationally, and Lourdy MORLAND whose Bohio Ayiti Association actively transmits Haitian heritage in France. Culinary arts recognition went to Chef Carline IRANTUS for showcasing Haitian gastronomy.

Sports achievements featured prominently with international football star Melchie “Corventina” Dumornay honored for inspiring Haitian youth and the Grenadiers national team celebrated for their historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Special Honor and Merit Awards were presented to embassy staff members Jocelyne Béranger and Garba Tangou for their exemplary service and contribution to diplomatic operations.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – In a landmark move to address mounting seismic vulnerabilities and climate change impacts, Haitian authorities have officially validated a comprehensive revision of the National Building Code (CNBH). The December 19, 2025 ceremony, spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Works in partnership with the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities, marks Haiti’s most significant building safety overhaul in twelve years.

This critical update emerges as an essential technical safeguard against informal construction practices that have historically heightened population risks across both urban and rural landscapes. Developed through an extensive participatory process, the CNBH 2025 represents the culmination of synergistic efforts between the National Steering Committee and distinguished technical experts.

The revised code introduces substantial advancements, particularly through its rigorous integration of seismic and cyclonic parameters while adapting technical specifications to accommodate locally available construction materials. A pioneering innovation involves the code’s expanded jurisdiction, which now encompasses standard buildings and traditional rural constructions—including timber-framed structures with stone infill—ensuring comprehensive safety coverage across all territorial divisions.

Transcending mere technical specifications, the CNBH 2025 serves as a unifying framework aligned with International Code Council standards. Ministry officials emphasize that the code constitutes not just a regulatory document but an enforceable common reference for all construction stakeholders. The implementation responsibility now falls to engineers, architects, craftspeople, and local authorities, whose adherence will determine the success of sustainable reconstruction efforts aimed at protecting both lives and investments for current and future generations.

This achievement was made possible through robust national and international cooperation. The Ministry of Public Works extended particular gratitude to the Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) for crucial support, alongside decisive technical assistance from Build Change, CRAterre, and the ICC. Academic institutions, technical experts, and civil society organizations were also acknowledged for their contributions in providing Haiti with a modern, sovereign technical governance instrument.

A tragic incident at a New Jersey immigration facility has raised serious questions about detention center conditions and transparency. Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old Haitian-American man, died just one day after being taken into custody at Delaney Hall in Newark, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

ICE officials attributed Brutus’s December 2025 death to what they described as a “medical emergency” resulting from “natural causes.” However, this explanation has been met with skepticism from immigrant advocacy organizations who note the agency’s own admission that Brutus displayed no signs of distress during intake processing and had no documented history of cardiovascular problems.

The circumstances surrounding the week-long delay in publicly acknowledging Brutus’s death have further fueled concerns. Kathy O’Leary, an activist who organizes vigils at the detention facility, emphasized the unanswered questions: “Was he denied essential medication? Did he receive improper treatment? These are precisely the types of concerns we consistently encounter.”

ICE’s subsequent disclosure of Brutus’s criminal record— detailing four arrests between July 2024 and November 2025— has been criticized by advocacy groups as a deliberate strategy to shift blame and criminalize the victim rather than address institutional accountability.

Delaney Hall, which opened earlier in 2025 as one of the nation’s largest migrant detention centers, has faced previous controversies regarding substandard conditions including inadequate hygiene, poor nutrition, severe overcrowding, and security failures—most notably a June 2025 riot that resulted in four escapes. The facility has also become a focal point for political tensions, culminating in the arrest of Newark’s mayor during a protest at the site last May. Brutus’s death marks the first fatality recorded at the controversial facility.

In response to the incident, several Democratic legislators including Senator Cory Booker have demanded both a transparent investigation into Brutus’s death and the immediate closure of the detention center, characterizing the operation as “a stain on our community’s conscience.”

The Investment Facilitation Center (CFI), Haiti’s official governmental investment promotion agency, has issued an urgent public warning regarding an elaborate financial scam operation that is fraudulently utilizing its institutional identity. This sophisticated scheme, primarily circulating through Facebook via the “Trading forex” page, promotes a bogus investment program under the deceptive title “Haiti Investment-CFI.

The fraudulent operation lures potential victims with unrealistic promises of substantial financial returns through foreign exchange trading investments. In an official statement released on December 20, 2025, CFI authorities categorically denied any association with this criminal activity, emphasizing that the center neither offers such investment schemes nor solicits financial contributions from the public under any circumstances.

CFI officials have characterized the unauthorized use of the agency’s name and official logo as both illegal and intentionally deceptive. The center has advised all citizens to exercise extreme caution and refrain from transferring any funds to the fraudulent organization.

As Haiti’s legitimate government entity responsible for promoting and facilitating private investment, the CFI clarified its actual mandate focuses exclusively on assisting entrepreneurs and investors with administrative procedures and regulatory guidance. The agency emphasized it does not manage investment funds or guarantee financial returns, distinguishing its legitimate services from the false promises of the scam operation.

The institution has directed the public to verify all communications through its authenticated channels, including its official Facebook presence at www.facebook.com/CFIHAITI and its primary website at www.cfi.ht, to confirm the legitimacy of any investment opportunity claiming CFI affiliation.

Federal prosecutors in Massachusetts have unsealed charges against two Haitian immigrants for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated fraud operation that siphoned nearly $7 million from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The defendants, identified as 74-year-old naturalized citizen Antonio Bonheur and 21-year-old lawful permanent resident Saul Alisme, face serious federal charges for exploiting the nutrition assistance program over a 20-month period.

The scheme centered around two modest retail establishments—Jesula Variety Store and Saul Maché Mixé Store—operating from a shared commercial space in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood. Federal investigators documented that both stores maintained exceptionally small footprints of 150 and 500 square feet respectively, carrying minimal grocery selections that contradicted their enormous SNAP transaction volumes.

According to court documents, the operations demonstrated financially implausible patterns, with one location allegedly processing over $100,000 monthly in benefits—sometimes spiking to $500,000—far exceeding reasonable sales expectations for such limited operations. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley condemned the operation, stating the defendants had ‘transformed a program designed to nourish families into a multimillion-dollar criminal enterprise.’

Undercover surveillance operations revealed systematic fraud, with agents observing customers exchanging SNAP benefits for cash rather than food items, while store operators retained substantial portions of the benefits. The indictment further alleges the establishments illegally sold alcohol and resold donated food items not intended for retail commerce—both clear violations of SNAP regulations.

Prosecutors detailed sophisticated money laundering techniques involving multiple bank accounts used to conceal the illicit proceeds. Both defendants now confront charges of food stamp fraud, carrying potential penalties of up to five years imprisonment and $250,000 fines if convicted. The accused have not yet entered pleas, and all allegations remain unproven pending judicial review.

Law enforcement officials emphasized that this case reveals vulnerabilities in merchant oversight within the SNAP program while explicitly noting that the allegations reflect individual actions rather than broader patterns within immigrant or Haitian communities.