MTI Website!

In the fall of 2015, The McKenna Bio-science Institute welcomed its first class of students enrolled in a two-year program. Students receive a hands on laboratory training and develop the skills necessary to work in the bio-science industry. An industry for which there is great need and great growth potential in Haiti. MTI graduates will be well prepared to work in the areas of pharmaceuticals, bio manufacturing, agro-industry, environmental and research laboratories. ​ MTI collaborates with Haitian educators to provide the science and technology based educational and developmental resources necessary to help students achieve their dreams of becoming well educated, resourceful, and skilled professionals. MTI students develop the ability to not only secure meaningful employment but to also create new industries that Haiti needs to build a successful future. MckennaTechnicalInstitute.com

Interim President

Jocelerme Privert, Provisional President of Haiti
Haiti Libre
14/02/2016

Saturday, after several hours late, at 4pm the National Assembly has been held at the very beginning the Senator Riché questioned the safety of the provisional President to be elected, so he asked the disarmament of deputies, senators and the public. After much discussion on the agenda, from the lack of protocol for the installation of the provisional President; the presence of Senator Privert in the room, whether he was there as a senator, candidate or President of the Assembly; on the possibility of a vote separed by room, followed by a discussion on the term assembly, quorum and branch... Then the meeting was finally suspended to resolve various different internal... related to item 1 of the agenda (of 12) which was the adoption of the agenda. Despite the behind closed doors, discussions continued on the type of vote... Finally at 7pm the agenda was adopted by consensus !

Then the President of the National assembly gave his speech in which he "invited parliamentarians to vote for one of the candidates, each of you will make that historic gesture in good conscience."

Then Deputy Caleb Desrameaux, Secretary rapporteur of the special bicameral commission responsible for preparing the election of the provisional President of the Republic of Haiti, had read the report of the said commission, where we learn that "the Commissioners decided that the files (of candidates) do not totaling a maximum of 10 pieces will be rejected [...]

The Committee emphasized to the attention of the Assembly that only 3 records meet the criteria these are the records of : Edgard Leblanc Fils, Jocelerme Privert, Dejean Belizaire [...] ccordingly the special bicameral commission to prepare the election of the provisional President of the Republic of Haiti recommended to the Assembly to proceed to the election for the 3 candidates mentioned above to the position of provisional President of the Republic of Haiti for a period of 120 days [...]"

The commission recommended an indirect election, by a simple majority of the votes cast and at the uninominal one round.

The report was then put under discussion, with discussions on a vote in separate room or not, the type of vote... etc...Then Senator Riché asked to check whether the 15 documents have well been provided by the 3 candidates, and if the 15 are valid. Receiving support from members of the Assembly, was questionedthe total of 10 documents... throwing doubts and suspicions about the work of the commission. The commission agreed to provide the parts but to a small group and behind closed doors.

By consensus, a commission of 5 members (3 deputies, 2 senators) was created, to check the work of the Special Bicameral Committee, whose report was put to the vote.

At 9pm , the President of the National Assembly announced a suspension of the session.

Then each candidate was given a period for a brief presentation of his person and of his vision in the context of the agreement of February 7, 2016 http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16533-haiti-politic-the-details-of-the-agreement-from-a-to-z.html

The vote

1st round

Finally took place the vote by secret ballot on which members of the congregation had to write their choice for the provisional President of Haiti between Edgard Leblanc Fils et Jocelerme Privert, and Dejean Belizaire, after counting at 0:43, senators and deputies voted as follows :

23 senators and 92 deputies voted

Edgard Leblanc Fils : 10 to the Senate / 46 to the Chamber of Deputies
Jocelerme Privert : 13 to the Senate / 45 to the Chamber of Deputies
Dejean Belizaire : 0 to the Senate / 0 to the Chamber of Deputies
White vote : 0 to the Senate / 1 to the Chamber of Deputies

Jocelerme Privert winner in the Senate of the Republic, Edgard Leblanc Fils winner at the Chamber of Deputies, the election is repeated because it is a separate room election.

2nd round

Edgard Leblanc Fils : 9 to the Senate / 24 to the Chamber of Deputies
Jocelerme Privert : 13 to the Senate / 64 to the Chamber of Deputies
Dejean Belizaire : 0 to the Senate / 2 to the Chamber of Deputies
White vote : 1
Vote null : 1

For history was marked on a ballot "merde" and another "el presidente Jocelerme Privert"

Sunday at 3:33 am Jocelerme Privert, 62, was elected as provisional President of Haiti, and immediately sworn in at 3:44 am

"I swear before God and the Nation, to faithfully observe the Constitution and laws of the Republic, to respect and enforce the rights of the Haitian people, to work to the greatness of the Fatherland, to maintain the National Independence and territorial integrity."

Zika!

Watch NY Times video about Zika!

Haiti's president departs to make way for interim government

David Mcfadden, Associated Press Updated 9:33 pm, Sunday, February 7, 2016     PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - President Michel Martelly made his farewell speech to Haiti as he departed office Sunday with no successor yet chosen because a runoff election was delayed for a second time last month amid violent protests and deep suspicions about vote rigging. In a nearly 20-minute speech before a joint session of Parliament, Martelly said his "biggest regret is that the presidential election was postponed." Addressing the Haitian people, he said he worked as hard as he could to improve the country and was "ready to answer before the court of history." Martelly, who took office in May 2011, is departing on what was scheduled as the first day of Port-au-Prince's annual three-day Carnival celebration. However, authorities called off Sunday's festivities because of a tense atmosphere amid the political uncertainty. Lawmakers are beginning a process to patch together a short-term interim government to smooth political divisions and fill the void left by Martelly's departure. Prime Minister Evans Paul remains in office for now, awaiting a provisional president to be chosen by Parliament in the coming days. Haiti last created a transitional government in 2004. That interim administration, which lasted for two years, took power in the chaotic days after President Jean Bertrand-Aristide was ousted by a rebellion and a U.N. peacekeeping force came to stabilize the country. This time, with quarrelling political factions throwing Haiti into an electoral and constitutional crisis, a last-minute deal was forged by Martelly and lawmakers less than 24 hours before his scheduled departure from office. A special mission from the 35-nation Organization of American States was in Haiti to observe last week's negotiations and help foster dialogue. The deal announced Saturday says an interim government will rule until an elected leader can take office May 14. The twice postponed presidential and legislative runoff is rescheduled for April 24. Martelly expressed satisfaction with the agreement, saying lawmakers "gave me a guarantee that the country is going to be stable." He handed over his presidential sash after his address and embraced many of the 23 senators and 86 deputies in the National Assembly. The senators wore black suits and hats while the deputies wore white. Seven legislators were absent. Senate President Jocelerme Privert said Parliament will accept nominations for a provisional president over the next five days. Legislators are expected to vote for a leader of the caretaker government a couple of days after the nomination period ends. Some opposition lawmakers disagree with the accord reached by Martelly and legislators, but Privert said they will have to accept the majority's decision. "This is the democratic way," he said. In a Sunday statement, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Haitian authorities to implement the accord "in order to ensure the democratic transfer of power to elected officials." About 100 government supporters gathered outside Parliament wearing pink T-shirts emblazoned with the words: "I am Martelly." Pink is the color of his Tet Kale political faction. Martelly greeted his supporters and waved from a car before his convoy sped off. It was not immediately clear what his immediate plans were. The pop star-turned-president repeatedly said he wanted to depart office singing on a Carnival float under his pop singer stage name, "Sweet Micky." But another anti-government protest by rock-throwing young men disrupted life in downtown Port-au-Prince on Sunday and some Carnival stands were destroyed.

Haiti's leader vows to leave power on Sunday as protests intensify

Thursday, Feb 4, 2016 9:38pm EST PORT-AU-PRINCE | By Joseph Guyler Delva   Haiti's president promised on Thursday to leave power in three days' time despite having no replacement after a botched election, as opposition protests intensified and politicians squabbled over who should lead an interim government. President Michel Martelly had earlier warned he would not step aside without an established succession plan, enraging protesters who have marched almost daily in the capital Port-au-Prince over the past two weeks. Haiti's constitution requires Martelly to leave office on Feb. 7, but runoff elections to choose the next president were canceled last month when opposition candidate Jude Celestin threatened to boycott the vote and protests turned violent. "I am grateful to all those who allowed me to serve. On Feb. 7, I'll leave without any regret, any envy and without any desire to remain in power," Martelly told reporters at an event to inaugurate a new Department of Interior headquarters built after a January 2010 earthquake flattened much of the capital. Martelly's departure should placate opposition parties who accuse him of trying to unfairly favor his preferred candidate, Jovenel Moise, in the elections but could leave a power vacuum in the poor, volatile Caribbean nation. Martelly denies any wrongdoing. An official, independent evaluation of the election found the first round of voting was flawed, and questioned the registration of more than 900,000 party agents who were able to vote at any polling station. A short distance across town from Martelly, more than two thousand anti-government protesters marched outside parliament, with some demanding that former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, ousted in a 2004 coup, be called to head an interim government. "Aristide is the right man to deal with the current situation because he is a man of consensus, he is the most popular personality in Haiti, said Gerald Gilles, a former senator and spokesman for Aristide's party. That solution is unlikely to appeal to Celestin and other opposition candidates, who want a Supreme Court judge to lead an interim government that would more deeply investigate the first round and organize a new election. Protesters clashed with police. Some threw rocks at parliament, where lawmakers met in a joint session of the 50th legislature. "The National Assembly will take all necessary measures to fill the vacancy of the presidency," said Jocelerme Privert, president of the Senate, in a short speech. A mission from the Organization of American States is trying to broker a solution.