Mayor Pierre and Councilman Marcellus don't get along well

By Dessalines Ferdinand NORTH MIAMI North Miami City Hall has become a more verbally combative place this year. Any member of the audience who has kept close eyes on Mayor Andre Pierre and his collegue Councilman Jean Rodrigue Marcellus (District 3) during Tuesday, November 27, Council meeting could clearly noticed that those two Haitian-american officials don't seem to get along well. It is true that the councilman looked very unconfortable as the first citizen of the fifth largest city of MiamiDade County appeared a little more relax. This last meeting for the month of November had high expectation from concerned citizens and members of the Haitian media, as rumors have been spread throughout the Haitian community for weeks that Mayor Andre Pierre will be looking that night to pass a motion to extend the citys next election date from May 2013 to November 2014. If this motion approved, it would particulary benefited Pierre a 18 months extention on his second and last term (Pierre cant actually run for a third consecutive term). Pierre and Marcellus confronted on radio over Biscayne Landing revenue Councilman Jean Rodrigue Marcellus went on the popular talk-show Radio Kamoken, host by Herold Emmanuel on RADIO MEGA 1700 AM (WJCC), to try to give a good reply to Mayor Andre Pierre who, according to the councilman, has paid Radio Host Nelson Voltaire, better known as Piman Bouk a big amount of money to blast him on his popular morning show Piman Bouk Radyo Pp International. During his interview with Mr. Emmanuel, Councilman Marcellus explained that the mayor went on the morning show aired on WLQY 1320 AM to make people believe that he is working against the constituents, particulary those who live in the west side of the city. Councilman Marcellus who has already declared his mayoral candidacy to succeed Pierre, said the mayor is not happy with him because he has refused to support his motion to spend $5 million (of the $15 millions placed in the citys general fund reserve), to do some works at Moca Museum, repair side-walks, upgrad the citys vehicle fleet, and others. According to the citys public record, the city of North Miami has received $17.5 millions from Oleta Partners, a company led by developer Michael Swerdlow for the lease - for a period of 100 years - fof the mostly undeveloped tract along Biscayne Bay, next to Florida International Universitys North Campus, for construction of retail stores, hotels and housing. Council Marcellus also stated that because the city has received $17.5 million in advance, it will receive only $200 000 yearly the next five years, compared to the revenue of $1.5 million the lease of this land used to generate annually for the city. Therefore he thinks this is the right thing to do to put as much money in the citys general fund reserve, in case something happens, like a natural disaster, for the good of the citizens.

The councilman added that he believes the mayors proposal expenses doesnt ensure the financial safety of the city. He also made the point since the mayor will have to leave office in May 2013, therefore the rest of the council members has to smartely spent the $15 millions in reserve. Over a three-year period, the city will spend $3.5 million on employee raises, reducing furlough days and union negotiations with the police. A council meeting is set for Tuesday, December 11th, where the council members will decide how to expend the other 2 million dollars. "It's really disappointing. Unfortunately the mayor choose to go on the radio to deal with the matter," said Marcellus who called Pierre a dictator. If you dont agree with him, if you dont let him treat you as a kid to follow him in every direction, he automatically cases you as his enemy. I will keep standing for everything that going in the best interest of the citizens of North Miami, said Marcellus who had been invited by the host of the popular talk-show to come back for a more longer interview. The November 27, council meeting Tuesday's meeting began with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States lead by Major Blige, following by the an invocation from a pastor Enock Milien. Mayor Andre Pierre briefly spoke about a honorary proclamations that North Miami Museum winning a national award. North Miami was selected because of the program the city has put in place for the youth in the community, and remind that city officials were invited two weeks ago at the White House to be part of a wonderful ceremony where 10 librairies in the United States were recognized. Mayor Pierre praised the city manager Stephen Johnson for suppoting the museum. There was a special presentation of Proclamation in Honor of Mr. Trophy, a business established in the city for the past 50 years, which has produced magnificient awards for countless sport teams, schoosl, universities in Florida and other states. The mayor declared the date November 27, Mrs. Trophy Date in the city of North Miami. Pierre and Etienne cleared up the 18 months extension election issue Before we move on to the announcement, I just want to clear the air for couple people that are here, said Mayor Andre Pierre. Mayor Andre Pierre: Mr. City clerk, on this TAB F that we have here, which is regarding this charter changing, some of it were suggesting by the Charter Board, do we have any provision before us about an 18 months extention of changing the date of the election? City Clerk Michael Etienne: Absolutely not Mayor. Mayor Andre Pierre: Thats not before us today, right! City Clerk Michael Etienne: It is not before us today.

Mayor Andre Pierre: Secondly, has it been mentioned around here somewhere, have we talked about that, is that an issue today? City Clerk Michael Etienne: That is not an issue here, but I know in term of extending a 18 months term, it wouldnt affect any council on theIt was recommended at a Charter Board meeting, it has never been mentioned by any council member, by on this particular board. Mayor Andre Pierre: But the date of the election, I know it was mentioned at a workshop, and I think when it was mentioned at a workshop, basically this election that we have scheduled for May 14, we said that election is going to go forward, right? City Clerk Michael Etienne: As far I am concerned, Yes. However, it was mentioned not primary at the workshop. A couple recommandations were made by citys attorney office at the charter board meeting, but never at a Council meeting, a council never considered it, never voted on it, no one ever said they were supported it, and never been before us, just at a charter meeting. These recommandations from the citys attorney office have been never mentioned here. Mayor Andre Pierre: When it was mentioned, it was more like to be taking place in 2015, right! City Clerk Michael Etienne: After the 2013 election. That is correct! Mayor Andre Pierre: So, the election is set to go in ( May 14, 2013), and this is exactly what we are going to do, right! City Clerk Michael Etienne: Thats correct Mayor. Mayor Andre Pierre: So, that information that is out there is clearly incorrect. City Clerk Michael Etienne: It is misunderstood. It was proposed at a charter board meeting, not at a council meeting. That particular recommendation and other recommandations were made by the citys attorney office, and never made by any member of this board. Mayor Andre Pierre: So, in reality anybody that wanted to talk about it, they could have gone and looked the agenda, they would have seen there is no such provision that is before this council meeting, right! City Clerk Michael Etienne: Thats correct! Once the mayor ended his Q&A with the city clerk, Councilman Scott Galvin, District 2, got the mic to ask directly the city clerk: Are you saying there is a discussion going to move our election date after the 2013 election? City Clerk Michael Etienne: Apparently it was brought to my attention that at a charter board meeting, the office of the citys attorney made several recommandations to the board, in term of changing our election date to coincide with the county and the general elections. However, this was just discussed during the charter board meeting. But it never brought before this particular board, and I dont know what was discussed at that meeting, since I was not at the workshop. For what I understand, it was a recommandation on the record, but it would take effect after the May 2013 election. It wouldnt take effect now.

Councilman Galvin proceeded to say: So, lets be very clear Madame City Attorney. Are you recommending to move our city council election date? City Attorney Regine M. Monestime: I am not sure where that information came from. Ciity clerk instantly replied: I have the minutes on the record. City attorney : saying that I made recommandations to change the election date. City clerk: yes, the city attorney made a recommandation. City attorney: No, I didnt make any recommendation. As I usually do, I explain what the law is and what the options are. Councilman Galvin : Going forward, the elections are in May of the off numbered years, 2013, 2015.

May 2013, I wont be an elected official anymore The man who has held the citys top elected post for the last four years (Mayor Andre Pierre) concluded to say: I intend to keep the date of the election, and I have said that over and over again. I dont understand why it is an issue at the moment. Observers said that the mayor seemingly has a personality conflict with Councilman Marcellus and isnt sure how to fix the issue. Their arguments largely have been about procedure and governance style and not specific issues. They have taken place in front of the citys public access cameras during North Miami Council meetings. Councilman Marcellus said, he vehemently disagreed with the mayor for proposing to spend more than $5 millions from the $15 millions placed in the citys general fund reserve, two months ago during a Council meeting of what the council members were debating how two expend the $17.5 millions received from Oleta Partners. The mayor said he is proud to serve the great city of North Miami as mayor. He sets the record straight for the audience. May 2013 I wont be an elected official anymore. I will be somewhere in South America drinking Cuba Libre (lol), said Pierre. After all, Councilman Marcellus took the mic to address the audience on the 18 months extension issue. I am not here to defend myself for anythings whatsoever. I just want to make a clarification. I just think I am a responsible member of the council. I went on the radio, I said there is nothing on the agenda that talks about 18 months extension. If someone accused the mayor that he wants 18 months there is nothing on the agenda that said that. But, I said there is a possibility in Section 164, after I sat down with my city manager and city attorney together, when I questioned them on Section 164, the city attorney answered me: if you guys decided to put a motion to change the date (election), we dont have nothing to do with it.

What I said on the radio was clear. I said, anyone (member of the Council) can make a motion to move it (election date). Therefore that the only thing you guys need to be concerned about. .. And I said it loud and clear the record is at the radio, anyone can go and ask for the tape and can listen to it. Again, I am not here to defend myself. As a responsible member of the council, I think it was right to go there and make clarifications. That what I said and I stand behind that. Journalist activist Ernst Jean Louis "Spread The Rumors" on radio Over the past few weeks, rumors have circulated in the Haitian Community that Mayor Andre Pierre is considering making a motion for an 18 months extension on his second term to move forward the citys election date to coincide with the county and the general elections ( for November 2014). But the person who, in fact, solidified the rumor a tad more, is Mr. Ernst Jean Louis, publisher of Kiskeya Herald, a Haitian community newspaper. The editor who last month appeared as a guest, again on on the popular talk-show Radio Kamoken, asked the community to stand up to block the mayors project. Mr. Jean Louis also said that those on power in Haiti always act as dictators. If Pierre were in Haiti, he would not be different from those dictators who have ruled the country, but he needs to remember this is United Stated of America. We cant let that happen. Mayor Pierre must go by the end of his second term. Hes a young lawyer, a professor at University level, he has plenty other things he can do with his life, added Mr. Jean Louis Why he wants to get an 18 months extention? Why he didnt ask to made a motion to put the election for last November to coincide with the last county and the general elections held last November. So, he would have cut his second term from six months? Questioned the journalist activist. Visible frustration for some haitians The heated personal conflits between the mayor and the councilman, both Haitian-americans, have been a source of visible frustration for some members of the Haitian community. This is not the first time these two citys officials are not getting alone. Pierre and Marcellus had some arguments at the Council level last year as well. The recent conflict between them is creating an image problem for the city, particulary for the Haitian community. Arguments arent necessarily a band thing, though. Marcellus seems like a kind of person, who wont accept not having a discussion on things that matter to him, said a well-known resident of the city on condition of anonymity, because he is friend of both Pierre and Marcellus. What would be worse is if the Council was too compliant and there was no discussion, said the man, Its good to hear all sides of things. Discussion, disagreement and arguments are good. Thats healthy in a democracy. There is no good outcome from this whole thing, said another unidentified member of the audience. Its not good for the community, its not good for the city.

The Haitian woman characterized some of the problems between the two Haitian-American officials as personal. Pierre and Marcellus dont get along, and they forget that when you cross the door of the city and youre sitting on the council, your personality is no longer allowed to control it, she said. You have to take in the best interest of what youre there for. These conflicts generate bad press and create an image problem for the city, another member said after assisting to the meeting. Its not good for the community, said off the record another well-known member. You can put the community in a good light 10 times a week, but if you have one negative comment, those 10 times just went out the window. It just destroyed everything anyone tried to make ourselves look good. Clearly the community will move forward when we act as a community, the young woman said. And you know clearly there are differences of opinion from time to time among members of the council; we have different constituencies and we advocate different positions sometimes, but I think you can do that and look out for the community as a whole at the same time.

Journalist Patrick Eliancy celebrated his 50th Birthday

By Dessalines Ferdinand MIRAMAR It makes some people squirm to be asked for their age, but well-known haitian journalist Patrick Eliancy looked so proud to enter in his 50's Saturday night (November 17), at the new Miramar Civic Center, where a musical and poetry concert was staged, featuring a total of four performers, to celebrate his birthday in style. The plan made by his wife Marie Djouna Eliancy, his four children (Anne-Marie Christelle, Samanta, John Patrick, Joseph sebastien ) and some close friends, including Dr. Marie-Flore Lindor Latortue, to do a surprise party for the host of On The Air and Analyse on Island TV, ended up to an open Birthday Concert featured a lineup of 4 artists: Emmanuel Manno Charlemagne, Yonie Marcel, Serge Jeudi, and Poet Andre Fouad. As announced by the event planner, Dr. Flore Lindor Latortue, the show started promptly at 7:30 with a word of prayer led by Father Reginald Jean Marie, Pastor of Notre Dame d'Haiti Catholic Church in Little Haiti. The Master of Ceremonies Ms. Gina Isidor better known as Lady G, asked then the audience (about 50 people) to welcome the first performer of the night, Serge Jeudi, who has sung three songs for his first set. The small audience was amazed how energetic the singer was thru his whole performance on stage. Mrs. Farah Juste, activist and singer, who was not part of the line-up of the night, took Mr. Eliancy by surprise when she got on stage to perform a special Happy Birthday Song dedicated to the journalist, with the participation of the entire audience.

We have a very small audience here tonight, but it doesnt mean the event is not a success. We could have many hundreds people here and not having a good time as we do. Tonight we have a good quality audience here. Lets sing happy Birthday to Patrick, said the singer better known as La Reine Soleil The MC offered for a little time the mic to members of the audience who had wished for the man of the hour (Patrick Eliancy). At least four people, included Carmelot Monestime (former host of Radio Show Expresse Publicit ), Dessalines Ferdinand (Publisher of Le Floridien) and singer Jean Michel Daudier, took the opportunity to congratulate the journalist on his 50th birthday, wishing him many blessed and more successful years to come. Guylene Berry, host of radio show KOZE FANM, Elizabeth Guerin and Nixon Nicky Mix Saint Hubert, co-hosts of a show on Tropik TV, delivered wishes to Mr. Eliancy through a pre-recorded video showing on a big projector screen. Actors from both videos were very funny in their statement and received at the end an enthusiastic applause from the audience The next performer to hit the stage was Marie Yonie Marcel. She sounded great and her set pieces was fantastic. During her performance, the singer chatted with the small audience quite a bit, and even joked with the Man of the Hour about his good physical traits for a 50 years old person. Haitian-American lawyer Andre Pierre, Mayor of the city of North Miami followed Ms Marcel on stage to deliver a proclamation to Mr. Eliancy to recognize the importance of the journalist community work for about two decades, since he moved from Haiti to Florida. In his statement, Mr. Andre accompagnied by the first lady of his city, Bernadette Pierre, declared the November 17 date, Patrick Eliancy day in the city of North Miami. Even the protocol was a little breached, the mayor also delivered a Proclamation to Mrs. Mona Brutus, head of ALINHA, a Haitian not-for-profit organization based in Miami whose mission is to enrich the lives of Haitians living in the United States and Haiti by implementing programs that serve to enhance their spiritual, cultural. Following was a second set of Serge Jeudi on stage. With a strong high singing voice, again the singer performance was very well received by the audience. Mrs. Lindor took over a little bit the MC job from Ms. Gina Lady G Isidor to call on stage the staff members of Island TV who showed up together at the event. Before introducing them, a short video biography of Eliancy, produced by Jean Robert Bobby Philippeaux (vice-president of Island TV), was played on the big screen. The public has learned that the Man of the nightwas born and raised in port-au-Prince, Haiti. He is an experienced journalist who started his career as a reporter for Tele Haiti (from 1992 to 1999) before he moved to Florida in 2000 and joined the Island Magazine team, today known as Island TV. Today he is the host of three shows (Alalyse, La Presse Parle, On The Air). He is the faces of Island TV. Mr. Eliancy calls himself a community servant, a blessed husband and proud father. Then, it was time for each member of the entire staff (except Lou who could not be there) of Island TV, to introduce themselves and showing their appreciation to the Birthday Man, who they said, they have a lot of appreciation for his professionalism and his sense of collaboration. Jn-Robert

Philippeaux who admitted that he is a shine person, stated that Mr. Eliancy is more than a colleague to him, he is like a brother. One by one, Tamara Philippeaux, Kathia Philippeaux, Sandra Morisseau, Lucie Tondreau, Ernst Robillard, Donald Don P Gachette, Anderson Gil, and Wes Benjamin, briefly stood at the microphone to congratulate Mr. Eliancy on his 50th Birthday. Everyone had a little good to say about Patrick Eliancy, putting more smile on his face for the night. Dr. Flore Lindor Latortue continued to call on stage Florida State Representative Daphne Campbell, who also presented a Proclamation to Mr. Eliancy for his 50th birthday. Mrs. Campbell also presented an Appreciation Plaque to Mrs Mona Brutus in recognition of her outstanding community work, both in South Florida and her native land Haiti. The MC Lady G finally had the microphone back to call for a second time on stage singer Yonie Marcel. Her last set pieces were fantastic. She sounded great! She chatted with the small audience quite a bit. She was followed on stage by poet Andre Fouad. He has told hree poems where he varies the colors of his voice and his accent. In one of them the poet took on stage with him the wife of the anchor of Island TV ( Marie Djouna Eliancy) in a romantic manner, a kind of love poetry, that conveys a message. At the end of his set, Andre Foaud was applauded by the audience for his high poetrys performance. The last performer of the night Emmanuel Manno Charlemagne delivered a great set of music. He stayed connected with the audience thru his entire performance with personal statements about the political situation in his native land Haiti. Songwriter and acoustic guitarist, lifelong political activist and former politician, Charlemagne made some people in their fourties and fifties go back to their youth time memories with political chansons in both French and in Creole. He even invited Jean Michel Daudier, another revolutionary singer present in the audience to join him on stage, to perform with him the protest song Lem pa we soley la (When I don't see the Sunshine) who makes him famous in Haiti. The small audience cheered the duo at the end. Charlemagne stayed on the mic to finish his set with two more songs for a well-deserved standing ovation. Mr. Eliancy grabbed the mic to thank one by one: God, his wife, children, the organizers, the performers, members of Island TV, and all the guests for their presence and support. "This a is big moment for me," said Eliancy. "It let me know that all my hard work in the community had paid off. "I built a great relationship with my co-workers at Island TV where I spent more time than my house. Those people are for me my extended family. Once again, Thank you very much to each of you in the room tonight, and also to those who could not make it, because they got lost on their way to come here," said the journalist with a big smile on his face.

Haitian officer of Miami-Dade P.D. on a mission with MINUSTAH

By Nephtalie Hyacinthe-Dauphin

Michel Auguste, Field Training Officer OF Miami Dade Police Department, left his family behind on a mission to Haiti with MINUSTAH. Officer Michel Auguste expressed himself on a one-on-one personal interview. The 45 years old native of Haiti volunteers to go on a mission to Haiti with United Nations under the name: Minustah (Mission Des Nations Unies pour la stabilization en Haiti). Once volunteered, there was a process and guidelines that were required to be approved from background check to a minimum of 8 years of experience with the police department. The main purpose was to train and monitor the Haitian national police base. Due to what happened on January 12th, His mission got a little twist. What his squad ended up doing was providing security in the camps. The camps are divided into sectors: Port-Au-Prince, Delmas, Croix-Des-Bouquets, Carrefour. The visits were split into shifts: a 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. then 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Each camp has a committee. The committee is selected and operated by the residents of the tents. The number one problem is that after the earthquake occurred, many prisoners escaped and hide in the camps. Minustah was the main influence into figuring the best way to locate these people because the Haitian National force cant dispatch enough officers. Once they gathered enough information from the tents residents they then share it with the Haitian Police force. The committees are also the one in charge of security at these tents and sometimes all they have is a flashlight. Minustah is not steady at the camps; they are movers that goes from one camp to another based on assignments. Officer Auguste was more than proud to serve his native land. He was more than appreciative being giving that opportunity to serve his homeland, his people. He left Haiti since the 9th grade. Serving Haiti was placed him in the position to even help a lady that was giving birth because there were no doctors on the scene. He will definitely go back if another opportunity surface. Officer Auguste went in April 2011, In May of that same year, Off. Auguste became Team Leader. In just 2 more months he was Coordinator of IDP camp (Internally Displaced Person). His duties, among many, as Coordinator was to dispatch other members of minustah to visit certain areas once a call was receive. His major concern was on minors, for example a mother with two under age daughters of 16 and 17 of age each has a tent because of that it created a lot of problems such as pregnancy due to lack of supervision. They will invite their boyfriends or friends under their tents. It seems impossible to believe that with all these securities in Haiti that many are being raped in the camps. It was quickly clarified by Officer Auguste once he mentioned that the committees are all volunteered. They complain to the fact that they are not getting pay and they get really discouraged. They even get rejected most of the time for requesting something as simple as a flashlight. It appears easy for Office Auguste to draw a parallel: There is a big difference between the Miami Dade Police Department and the Haiti Police force; he later on expressed his own opinion. Haiti lacks equipment, limited training, although they get some training from outside force they sometimes do what they want to do. They want to do it their way. It gives the idea as if they dont care but it is more lack of support from their supervisors. The question was asked in terms of negative aspects

that we all have heard about Minutah, how they break the law, raping young girls, mistreating people to name just a few; Officer Auguste couldnt really comment on it due to the fact that some of these things have been addressed by the national media and is being answered by Minutah itself. What he will stand on as an individual is that if Minustah was not in Haiti matters could have been worst when it comes to security. Personally when he is on the streets at night what he observed was that most of the vehicles patrolling at night or in the morning were minustahs. The Haitian police force was almost absent. Whenever a resident addressed Minustah they always refer them to the Haitian police force. The residents hardly ever want to go because to them the Haitian police force does not really care or is not able to help. There is no ambulance to respond to the needs of the residents; many times Minustah is the one that transports these people to a Hospital. The Haitians from the camps feel more at ease to talk to Minustah then the Haiti police force because Minustah takes action and help solve the problem. His greatest asset while he was there was the language; he was able to communicate freely with the people because they understand each other. That was one of his light bulb moment in which he truly understood his purpose on that mission. Although he would like to go back to Haiti to help some more, he couldnt really comment on whether Minustah should stay in Haiti or not. The one thing that Officer Auguste can say, which probably could give some assurance to the readers, is that Minustah employed a lot of locals in Haiti from janitorial to higher management. The international Minustah employee dig deep in their own pockets to help the Haitian people that are in needs of different things like school tuition and supplies, food, and healthcare needs. According to Off. Auguste, the presence of Minustah in Haiti makes security better.

Short Biography
Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Patrick Pierre, is an experienced print journalist, with more than two decades experience as a writer. He began his career in 1989 when he joined the weekly newspaper Haiti en Marche as a sport reporter. Moving to Florida in 1991, he maintained his relation to the weekly paper until he started publishing his own Entertainment Magazine PYRAMIDE in 1997, the first and only who reported news and featured Haitian artists in the diaspora. Parallel to this, he hosted a popular evening talk-show Radio Pyramide on WONC 1450 AM for a period of three years. He has also worked as a freelance reporter for Le Point Magazine, and contributed to numerous local Haitian newspapers and magazines aboard.

After stoping publishing Pyramide Magazine in 1999, he took a little break to come back in the media area with a more valuable project, LE FLORIDIEN a semi monthly newspaper, which he began publishing in January 2001. For the last 12 years, Le Floridien has been an important part of the day for the haitian populations most sophisticated readers. Readers trust Le Floridien for its integrity and sound judgment. Dessalines Ferdinand calls himself a community servant, a man of character and integrity, who is proud of his accomplishments as a journalist.