Today's Date: March 28, 2024
New Report Shows Massachusetts Customers Could Have Saved Hundreds of Millions in 2024 Through Competitive Energy Supply   •   JAMS Diversity Fellowship Accepting Applications   •   Bill Introduced in Minnesota Would Increase Access To Genetic Testing   •   Argonne-Supported Critical Materials Assessment Tags Potential Supply Chain Bottlenecks   •   Paralyzed Veterans of America to honor former Senator Elizabeth Dole with 2024 Gordon H. Mansfield Congressional Leadership Awar   •   Consolidated Credit Launches Free Webinar Series to Empower Individuals During Challenging Economic Climate   •   UC Berkeley FHL Vive Center Teams Up with BeamNG   •   PMI Foods Gives Easter Donation of 15,000 Pounds of Prime Rib to New Life Church in Arkansas   •   Scotiabank ranks on The Globe and Mail's annual Women Lead Here benchmark of executive gender diversity for the fourth consecuti   •   University of Phoenix Receives Arizona Veteran Supportive Campus Recertification   •   Dawson-Forté Cashmere Shareholders Sell Majority Equity Stake to Tempus Partners   •   Impact Communications Signs Best-Selling Book Author and Financial Advisor Coach Derrick Kinney   •   RICE Announces Strategic Leadership Additions, Cementing Its Role as the Nation's Largest Entrepreneurial Hub   •   Impacts of Extreme Weather on Interior Design Examined in New Research   •   Pushing Policy: Women Uniting for Legislative Change; Four Trailblazing women at the forefront of the Quad Caucus   •   Chevron Announces Opening of Fab Labs at HBCUs   •   Key Piece of “Titanic” Movie Memorabilia Purchased By Titanic Museum Attraction   •   80 M/other Artists Converge for MICAfest 2024 in Northampton, MA this May   •   More $10-a-day child care spaces   •   Gale Primary Sources Release Four New Archives Devoted to Contributions from Underrecognized Communities
Bookmark and Share

Exiled President Aristide Issued Passport

 Washington Afro

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Following years of exile, Haiti’s former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide recently received a diplomatic passport and may return to the country soon from Pretoria, South Africa where he is currently teaching at Pretoria University.

Aristide’s attorney, Ira Kurzban, told the Associated Press that Feb. 8 he was given a diplomat’s passport for the ousted leader. But he didn’t indicate the exact date of the ex-leader’s return. Kurzban added that he wanted to set up security measures in Haiti tailored for Aristide that follow the same guidelines of existing security plans for former presidents.

“It’s a long time coming,” Kurzban told The New York Times. “[Aristide] wants to come home as soon as he can.”

Aristide was first elected in 1990 and was the country’s first democratically elected president. He was ousted in 2004 during a violent rebellion and fled the country on an American plane. He then relocated to South Africa, but still maintained a strong following in Haiti after his leave.

Rumors of Aristide’s return exploded after former dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier returned in January after living in exile for nearly 25 years. 

According to Reuters, Western donors like the United States are wary about Aristide’s return. Some believe his homecoming could upset the country as preparations are being made for a run-off election in March. 

“What Haiti needs right now, coming out of a prolonged first round of elections, is a period of calm, not divisive actions that can only distract from the vital task of forming a legitimate and credible government,” Jon Piechowski, a spokesman for the American Embassy in Haiti told the Times.

Aristides’ return has been strongly demanded by his Fanmi Lavalas Party, which has been barred from participating in elections. The former president was banned from becoming a candidate but claims that wasn’t his goal anyway. Instead, he’s voiced ambitions to help improve the country’s severe conditions and become an educator. 

“The people want him to return to provide assistance in the field of education,” Maryse Narcisse, the head of Lavala’s executive council told the AP. “He himself said he is ready and is willing to return today, tomorrow, whenever. I can only say that we would like him to be here soon.”


STORY TAGS: BLACK NEWS, AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWS, MINORITY NEWS, CIVIL RIGHTS NEWS, DISCRIMINATION, RACISM, RACIAL EQUALITY, BIAS, EQUALITY, AFRO AMERICAN NEWS

Video

White House Live Stream
LIVE VIDEO EVERY SATURDAY
alsharpton Rev. Al Sharpton
9 to 11 am EST
jjackson Rev. Jesse Jackson
10 to noon CST


Video

LIVE BROADCASTS
Sounds Make the News ®
WAOK-Urban
Atlanta - WAOK-Urban
KPFA-Progressive
Berkley / San Francisco - KPFA-Progressive
WVON-Urban
Chicago - WVON-Urban
KJLH - Urban
Los Angeles - KJLH - Urban
WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
New York - WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
WADO-Spanish
New York - WADO-Spanish
WBAI - Progressive
New York - WBAI - Progressive
WOL-Urban
Washington - WOL-Urban

Listen to United Natiosns News