Non-Profit Organization

Non Profit Highlight: Lesage Foundation “Giving Back, Salt Harvesting, Water Project & More”

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With a powerful missi

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on statement and a determined group of individuals who see helping and progress as a necessity of life, the Lesage Foundation stands tall as it faces the many challenges associated with dealing with some of Haiti’s issues. I had the pleasure to meet the president of this foundation, Hebreu Dessalines, to talk a bit about this curiously successful organization that makes the intrigue of many in the Palm Beach area.

You see, back in February, I was approached by Hebreu’s brother to attend the Lesage Foundation’s annual gala, and I have to say, I hesitated a bit at first…

So many times I had participated in those activities to only be met with disappointment, as the organizers were not delivering on their promises to the people in need. I took a chance. To say I was impressed would not even make a dent. This was a well-organized event where information married entertainment beautifully. But the reason this all came about was even more noble: This family used a tragedy to help thousands. Hebreu’s son, LeSage, was rescued from a near-catastrophic accident. Instead of lamenting on what they could not do for Lesage as a result of the accident, Hebreu and his siblings, along with their families, all decided to do what they actually COULD do to make a difference in a specific area in their country of origin: Coridon, Haiti.

These days, the Lesage Foundation has been diligently working on some very exciting projects and I ca

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n’t wait to share them with you! Read along to find out how this family of 6 brothers and 2 sisters, are doing what it takes to help better the lives of many people in my dear home of Haiti.

Let’s dig in!

MeUnfinished (MU): What are some key elements you feel are important to the foundation’s thriving?

Hebreu Dessalines (HD): One key element to help Haiti is to have discipline. You can have a building or hospital in Haiti and that is easy to obtain; making it work is the hard part. We do not let others manage the projects.

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We are personally invested and take the time to be present. We show up and do the work. I am in touch with Haiti at least once a day to make sure that things are being done.

MU: How are you managing this large operation on a daily basis as you are outside of Haiti?

HD: It is fundamentally the work of God! It is beyond what I thought I could do. It takes time and God is allowing us to do it. When I start to work on something, I will have it done and I am meticulous about my communication. The more I communicate with the people who work in the organization, the more we help each other get things done appropriately. Also, we obtain the best materials to deliver a high-quality product. First set a goal, then the plans, and you let it get guided by the value and beliefs you have.

MU: What would you need to help and support you in your endeavor at this time?

HD: We need visibility—not to show off, but for people to be aware and help. We do not need the press or anything like that, we are here to help not to get fame. If we go on TV or something, it’s because we are looking for help to connect and network to do a better job. Not for popularity. We cannot depend solely on ourselves and there is always something you can learn from someone else. We are looking for grants to help us with our projects, therefore grant writers and donors are welcome. If some agencies or individuals are interested in sponsoring a part of a project, we also welcome them! We would love to have a better operating capital. That’s always a need in our type of organization.

SALT
Salt

MU: Any new projects in the horizon?

HD: We are currently working with salt production. 70% of salt production in Haiti comes from Coridon (

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Gonaives) ~ (North-West of Port-au-Prince). This is a very poor area of the country. The people have many resources to make the town work, however they do not have any support.

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The salt beds are to be cleaned efficiently to be used. Did you know that 97% of Haitians do not have access to iodized salt and that is the source of many health concerns in the country?

MU: No! Really?

HD: Indeed! We are working on helping the ar

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ea restructure the salt beds using top-quality products and a state of the art infrastructure. The idea is not only to produce a quality resource, but to also create lots of jobs in the area. It is thanks to my parents’ SALT business in that area of Haiti that my family made it here to the United States. There is no system of production in that area and the salt cannot make it to the market. For now, we are looking for funding for this project and we are ready to do business! We would like to create opportunities for the community and also a way to have a sustainable revenue to fund the Lesage Foundation’s operating expenses.

Salt harvesting.
Salt harvesting.

MU: The salt business sounds like an amazing project! Are there any other ways you are looking to fund the Foundation?

HD: There is also the water project where we use reverse osmosis to purify the water from a pump (pumping 800 gallons per minute) to provide potable water to the local schools. We are working on establishing an irrigation system in order for the people of the area to grow food (especially shallots), and to have potable water. That way, people can go sell their goods in the market and make a living from the land.

With the water purification project, we now have 20 tanks of 500 gallons already being used. We are trying to cover an area that includes approximately 40k people. The goal is to fight cholera that has had a negative impact in the area, and for the water produced to be a business source for the people and the Lesage Foundation as well.

AGRI - PUMP

MU: Those are amazing projects to say the least. What has been your driving force throughout all this?

AMBULANCEHD: LeSage, my son, is the driving force behind the whole project. The idea was there before LeSage was born. In 2008, I went to Coridon (where I am from), and I realized that we needed to do something for the place. My siblings and I thought about forming a committee to see how we could improve the lives of the people of Coridon. The committee was formed in 2009, but we did not act. In October 2010, the accident happened with my son. I assessed my limitations and realized that there were things I could not do to help my son, but thought that I could channel my capabilities in doing what I can to help others without delay.

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This fire ignited right away and soon we had obtained our 501(c)(3). We assessed the immediate needs of the region, and that is how the ambulance system was born. Without the ambulance’s fast response at the time of LeSage’s accident, we would not have him with us now. When we recognized that need, we went right for addressing it especially since the closest hospital is about 20 miles away. I wanted to afford to people in the area the same chance we got with LeSage with the ambulance coming on time to save his life. In February 2012 we had our first fundraising, and it’s been happening every year! It has helped us purchase two ambulances and get the other projects on the map.

Hebreu Dessalines is a humble man who has a big heart. I was impressed not only by the projects, but by the tenacity of using the “right” path as opposed to the “easy” one. Excellence is the motto for this group of people. I am sure that they would appreciate a hand if you are up to accomplishing great things.

Written by guest blogger Martine Jolicoeur  | Follow Martine’s Blog Meunfinished

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🇭🇹𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆.𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲.𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 👩🏽‍💻𝗘𝘀𝘁 2011 𝗯𝘆:@mrswanda ⌨️𝗙𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸:#TheHaitianAmerican 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁:@forbes @bet @blackenterprise @nbcnews @nytimes @miamiherald +
  • A beautiful reminder of Haiti’s future 🇭🇹 ❤️⁠
🎥: @haitian_pride09.⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #culture
  • After selling out Boston Symphony Hall, Madison Square Garden Theater New York, Hard Rock Universal Orlando, Konpa En Symphony is coming to Miami for a must-see live experience. ⁠
⁠
📅 September 25, 2026, 7pm⁠
📍 Kaseya Center, Miami⁠
🎟️ Nulookmusic.com⁠
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Konpa with a full orchestra.⁠
Be there when it happens—not after everyone’s already talking about it. ⁠
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  • Haiti has opened its first embassy in the United Arab Emirates, giving the country a permanent diplomatic presence in Abu Dhabi as Port-au-Prince and the UAE look to deepen political, humanitarian and economic ties.⁠
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Ambassador François Guillaume II began the mission this summer. On July 2, he presented a copy of his credentials to UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Omar Obaid Alhesan Alshamsi at the ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. On September 3, he formally presented his letters of credence to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, becoming Haiti’s ambassador to the Emirates.⁠
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The UAE Foreign Ministry said the two countries maintain friendly relations and identified energy, tourism, trade, investment, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and coordination in multilateral forums as areas of cooperation. The Dominican Republic’s embassy in Abu Dhabi has described the mission as Haiti’s first embassy in the UAE. Guillaume, an economist and former minister of Haitians living abroad, previously served as Haiti’s ambassador to Qatar and as consul general in Miami.⁠
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The diplomatic opening coincides with a new UAE aid commitment. On September 12, President Mohamed bin Zayed directed $10 million in urgent humanitarian assistance for Haiti through the Emirates Red Crescent. Officials said the package is intended to support food security, shelter, health services, water and sanitation, medicines and medical equipment, with internally displaced people and other vulnerable groups among the priorities. The Red Crescent said the first phase will focus on immediate food, shelter, health and WASH needs and will be coordinated with UAE missions, international organizations and local partners.⁠
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The new embassy does not by itself resolve Haiti’s security or reconstruction crisis. It does, however, give Haiti a resident mission in one of the Gulf’s main political and financial capitals at a moment when Abu Dhabi is pairing diplomacy with emergency aid.⁠
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#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
  • Vice President J.D. Vance is urging Americans to give the Trump administration more time, telling voters there is “still more work to do” as the 2026 midterms approach.⁠
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On the All-In podcast this week, Vance said: “Give us another chance, or give us another couple of years, to continue to work on the amazing things that we’ve been doing for the past two years.” He argued that even voters who disagree with the administration on some issues should not hand power to Democrats, whom he described as “consumed by craziness.”⁠
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The comments come as Republicans try to hold both chambers of Congress. Democrats currently lead on the generic congressional ballot in several averages, and President Donald Trump’s approval ratings remain underwater. The midterms are Nov. 3.⁠
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Vance has been a central midterm messenger. At the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas earlier this month, he told supporters not to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” over policy disagreements and to focus on the contrast with Democrats. He has said he will decide after November whether to run for president in 2028.⁠
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Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’ pitch.⁠
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The vice president’s plea lands alongside a separate Trump pitch aimed at rallying Republican voters: a proposed $5,000 “Trump Dividend” for every U.S. adult if Republicans keep the House and Senate. Trump unveiled the idea at the Dallas convention, comparing it to a company issuing a cash distribution after a strong year. He said the money would have to be spent in the United States.⁠
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The plan would require congressional approval. Estimates put the cost at more than $1 trillion. Some Republican lawmakers have been cautious, citing the national debt and inflation concerns; others have said details would have to be worked out after the election. Democrats have called the offer an attempt to buy votes. Trump has suggested he may not need a full congressional vote, though the Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse.⁠
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Vance has tied the idea to revenue from tariffs. Whether it becomes law depends first on who controls Congress after November.⁠
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#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
  • Jeriah Mast, a 45-year-old former American missionary from Millersburg, Ohio, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, September 8, to two federal counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Haiti.
Mast entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent in Cleveland. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors and the defense agreed that a sentence between 25 and 33 years would be appropriate; the judge will have the final say. Sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2026.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Mast traveled from the United States to Haiti on numerous occasions between 2002 and 2019, including work with Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries (CAM). Investigators documented more than 30 flights he took between the two countries from November 2002 to August 2018.
A federal indictment originally charged Mast with four counts involving four boys in Haiti, with alleged offenses in 2004, 2007, and 2011. As part of the plea, he admitted guilt in two of those cases, each involving a minor between the ages of 12 and 16. Prosecutors are expected to seek dismissal of the remaining two charges.
The admitted conduct is part of a broader pattern Mast himself described to police in 2019. According to court records and contemporaneous reporting, he told investigators he had sexually abused more than 30 boys in Haiti & four children in Ohio. He previously pleaded guilty in Ohio state court to two counts of gross sexual imposition, received a 9-year sentence, and was granted early release in October 2025 before the federal charges proceeded.
“Jeriah Mast preyed on vulnerable children while working in Haiti as a missionary,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Criminal Division. U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio said Mast “violated the innocence of children & violated the trust of those who supported his supposed missionary work.” 
CAM, supported by Amish, conservative Mennonite, & related groups, has said it fired Mast in 2019 after the allegations became public. The organization drew separate international attention in 2021 when 17 of its missionaries were kidnapped in Haiti.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican
  • Three of the Haitian music industry’s most recognizable names did not roll on Eastern Parkway for this year’s West Indian American Day Parade. The West Indian American Day Carnival Association says T-Vice, Tony Mix and SakPase Nation were barred because they failed to meet carnival rules. The bands tell a different story. T-Vice says it was not refused and chose to stay off the route. Tony Mix publicly announced he would not take part.⁠
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The annual parade stepped off Monday, Sept. 7, along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. Days earlier, The Haitian Times reported that WIADCA had kept the three groups off the official lineup. As of that Thursday, five other Haitian groups had been approved to participate. Haitian flags, mas and music were still on the Parkway. The missing piece was the big konpa trucks that usually stop traffic.⁠
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Cecile Ford is WIADCA’s board secretary and chair of the Mas Committee. She said organizers had warned the groups that the rules would be enforced.⁠
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“We’ve tried to work with them and each year there was a promise… they just take it as a joke,” Ford said. Ford later pointed to overcrowding on trucks as a safety problem.“We have pictures & photos [they] were not compliant with the number of people they have on their trucks, which is a security issue & safety issue,” she said.⁠
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WIADCA’s written rules state only bands with a WIADCA permit can enter the parade. Participants must be costumed. Artist trucks, advertising trucks and “T-shirt bands” are excluded. Band leaders are required to put marshals on the route, keep vehicles insured and stay within height and safety limits set with police and the city. Failure to comply can mean removal from the parade.⁠
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T-Vice answered Ford by name. The band said it was not refused. T-Vice said the Parkway absence was its own choice, while the carnival association said the group was barred.  Tony Mix also spoke with an official announcement circulated that he would not take part in the 2026 Labor Day carnival. SakPase Nation did not respond.⁠
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Haitian mas and music was still on the route, including Lespri Ayiti and RAM among groups carrying the Haitian presence.⁠
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#lunionsuite #haitianamerican
  • KidSuper founder Colm Dillane and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso hosted the second annual People’s Runway on the building’s steps, spotlighting five rising Brooklyn designers chosen from hundreds of applicants. The night was built as a platform for talent that usually gets shut out of official Fashion Week calendars. Then @WyclefJean walked out and changed the temperature.⁠
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The Haitian-born Fugees architect opened with “No Woman, No Cry,” slid into a Brooklyn rap, and brought Carnival dancers in exploding color onto the steps. He stepped off briefly, then returned with “a friend.” Lauryn Hill appeared in a painted KidSuper coat. The front row surged the runway with phones up. They delivered Fugees heat, including “Ready or Not” 30 years after The Score dropped and rewrote what hip-hop could sound like.⁠
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Both artists wore KidSuper. The moment was brief, loud, and exactly the kind of collision the brand lives for: fashion, music, community, and no velvet rope.⁠
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Dillane has spent years turning KidSuper into more than clothes, painting, music, unexpected stages. This edition doubled down on that. After the emerging designers showed, he sent out a handful of his own looks, including one worn by his mother, then handed the night to Wyclef. Reynoso kept the energy Brooklyn-loud: if you like it, cheer. Everybody’s VIP here.⁠
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For Haitian and Caribbean audiences, the night landed differently. Wyclef Jean remains one of the most visible Haitian artists of his generation, guitar, politics, carnival energy, and a catalog that never stayed in one lane. Seeing him pull Lauryn Hill onto the steps of a public building in Brooklyn, wearing a local designer’s coat, felt like the culture showing up for itself without asking permission.⁠
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The People’s Runway is still young. Dillane has already said he wants it to become annual and that the real measure is what the designers do after the lights go down. Saturday night gave them a stage, a crowd that included athletes and artists, and a closing act that most official Fashion Week shows never get.⁠
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#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
  • The Broward County School Board on Tuesday considered giving Superintendent Howard Hepburn authority to begin the district's process for renaming Sawgrass Springs Middle School, at 12500 West Sample Road, in honor of the late Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer. No new name has been proposed.⁠
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District staff wrote that Metayer was deeply involved with the Sawgrass Springs school community, building relationships with students, families, educators, and staff. Naming the school for her, the item states, would recognize her legacy of education, service, environmental stewardship, and care for others.⁠
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Metayer, 38, was elected to the Coral Springs City Commission in 2020, becoming the city's first Black and Haitian-American woman commissioner. She was re-elected in 2024 and appointed vice mayor in December 2024, then appointed to a second term in the role in November 2025.⁠
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A first-generation Haitian-American born in Broward County and raised in Coral Springs, Metayer graduated from Coral Springs Charter School, earned a bachelor's degree in environmental science from Florida A&M University, and a Master of Health Science from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She worked as an environmental scientist on disaster relief and climate resilience efforts, including after Hurricanes Irma, Michael, and Dorian. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried had described her as the party's vice chair of Haitian outreach.⁠
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Metayer was found dead in her Coral Springs home on April 1. Her husband, Stephen Bowen, was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence; he has pleaded not guilty.⁠
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In April, U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz introduced legislation to rename the U.S. Postal Service facility at 3255 NW 94th Avenue the "Nancy Metayer Post Office Building." The bill cleared the House Oversight Committee in July and awaits a vote by the full House.⁠
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Tuesday's school board item only starts the renaming process; a final name change would still require community input and subsequent board votes.⁠
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#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
  • See You In Jamaica!! 
Haiti’s national team will play its first competitive matches since the 2026 World Cup this month, opening Concacaf Nations League play with two games at Sabina Park.
Match Calendar:
🇯🇲 Sept. 24 — Haiti vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Sabina Park Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica
🇯🇲 Sept. 27 — Haiti vs. Costa Rica
Sabina Park Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica
🇩🇴 Oct. 1 — Dominican Republic vs. Haiti
Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo
🇨🇷 Oct. 4 — Costa Rica vs. Haiti
Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica
The Grenadiers face Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 9 p.m., then Costa Rica on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 9 p.m. Both matches will be played in Kingston because Haiti remains unable to host internationals at home.
The window continues on the road. Haiti visits the Dominican Republic on Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, then closes the stretch Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. against Costa Rica at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San José.
The four fixtures are part of the 2026–27 Concacaf Nations League League A group stage. Haiti is drawn with Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. The top two teams in the group advance toward the quarterfinals, with a path that also feeds into qualification for the 2027 Gold Cup.
The timing matters. @FHFHaiti returned to the World Cup this summer for the first time since 1974 and exited the group stage after losses to Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco. The last match, a 4-2 defeat to Morocco in Atlanta, produced Haiti’s only two goals of the tournament. These Nations League dates are the first official matches since that campaign ended.
For the diaspora, Kingston is the reachable stop. South Florida, Jamaica, and the wider Caribbean can get to Sabina Park in a way they cannot get to a home game in Port-au-Prince.
Haiti will need points early. Costa Rica is the group’s most established side. Trinidad and Tobago is a familiar Caribbean rival. Two results in Kingston would give the Grenadiers a platform before the October trips to Santo Domingo and San José.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
  • President Donald Trump has nominated Austin Holmes of Florida to serve as U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Haiti, according to a slate of nominations transmitted to the Senate on September 14. Holmes must still be confirmed by the Senate before he can assume the post.⁠
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Holmes is CEO of RallyX and previously served as CEO of Caribbean Security Group and chairman of Mission of Hope. He has worked in Haiti since 2009, previously lived in the country, and speaks Haitian Creole. His biography and public testimony describe nearly two decades of work spanning humanitarian response, disaster logistics, education programs, private-sector operations, and high-risk security coordination.⁠
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The nomination arrives months after Holmes testified in February before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. He appeared alongside then-U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Henry Wooster at a hearing focused on Haiti’s security crisis and U.S. assistance. During that session, Holmes argued that security and freedom of movement must come first if humanitarian aid and longer-term recovery are to succeed. He also pressed for Haitian-led security capacity rather than an open-ended foreign presence.⁠
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The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince has been led by a chargé d’affaires since mid-2025 after Ambassador Dennis Hankins left the post. Wooster, who took charge of the mission in June 2025, was later nominated as ambassador to Kenya. The Haiti ambassadorship has therefore remained vacant while gangs continue to control large parts of Port-au-Prince and the country prepares for long-delayed elections.⁠
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If confirmed, Holmes would take one of Washington’s most difficult Caribbean assignments: a political transition, armed-group violence, humanitarian collapse, and the question of how U.S. security and assistance policy should be sequenced. His supporters point to on-the-ground experience, Creole fluency, and a security-first record. Senate confirmation will determine whether that background becomes official U.S. policy in Port-au-Prince.⁠
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#lunionsuite #haitianamerican
  • Ballon d’Or Names Melchie Dumornay Among 30 Nominees for 2026 Women’s Award⁠
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France Football has officially named Melchie Dumornay to the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or. The Haiti international and OL Lyonnes midfielder appears on the list released September 8, her second consecutive nomination for the sport’s highest individual honor. The winner will be announced October 26 in London.⁠
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Dumornay, 23, built her case on a complete season in France and Europe. She helped Lyon win a domestic treble Première Ligue, Coupe de France, and Coupe de la Ligue and reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. She was named Première Ligue Player of the Season and selected to UEFA’s Champions League Team of the Season, with a hat-trick in the French league final among her defining performances.⁠
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She is the first Haitian player ever nominated for the Ballon d’Or, a barrier she broke in 2025. This year she returns with a stronger résumé and is being ranked by several outlets among the leading contenders, alongside names such as Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Pernille Harder, and Khadija Shaw.⁠
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The official Ballon d’Or graphic places her in the same frame as the game’s established stars. For Haiti, that is the story: a player from Mirebalais standing on the shortlist on merit. October 26 will decide the trophy. The nomination is already history confirmed.⁠
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#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
  • A Haitian student in Florida woke up to find every class on his schedule gone. In a video recorded from his car, he said the school told him the drop was tied to his immigration status. He is frustrated, pointing to the effort families make to get here and stay in school, and asking why a student already enrolled would be pulled out overnight.⁠
⁠
A second video, recorded inside a campus office, shows what happened next. He told staff he called after seeing his courses disappear and was told it was an immigration issue that “needed to be disregarded.” An employee asked for his address, then his status. “Asylum,” he said.⁠
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He confirmed he has an Employment Authorization Document. The category on the card is C08, the code used for people with pending asylum applications. He did not have the current card on him, but staff identified the category and said his information may not have transferred during a system switch. Then came the policy line that is landing across Florida campuses this year.⁠
⁠
The staff member said the school is no longer accepting TPS. His status, they added, was different. “Your status is fine,” the employee said. “I have to update it.”⁠
⁠
They told him he was good through spring 2030 and began checking his account so he could be put back in class. When he asked to be added to a specific course, staff said they could not automatically re-enroll him in that section and would have to see if the class was still open. or whether he needed to contact the professor.⁠
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The distinction matters. TPS and pending asylum are not the same thing. Florida’s public colleges have spent 2026 tightening enrollment rules around lawful presence after state boards moved to bar undocumented students from the Florida College System and, more recently, from selective public universities beginning in 2027–28.⁠
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For Haitian students across South Florida, the clip is landing as more than one campus glitch. It is the sound of how fast a semester can disappear when immigration categories, school software, and new state rules collide even when the student sitting in the chair already has a valid path to stay enrolled.⁠
⁠
🎥 @vadson_galioth 
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican
A beautiful reminder of Haiti’s future 🇭🇹 ❤️⁠
🎥: @haitian_pride09.⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #culture
A beautiful reminder of Haiti’s future 🇭🇹 ❤️⁠ 🎥: @haitian_pride09.⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #culture
3 hours ago
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1/12
After selling out Boston Symphony Hall, Madison Square Garden Theater New York, Hard Rock Universal Orlando, Konpa En Symphony is coming to Miami for a must-see live experience. ⁠
⁠
📅 September 25, 2026, 7pm⁠
📍 Kaseya Center, Miami⁠
🎟️ Nulookmusic.com⁠
⁠
Konpa with a full orchestra.⁠
Be there when it happens—not after everyone’s already talking about it. ⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #ad
After selling out Boston Symphony Hall, Madison Square Garden Theater New York, Hard Rock Universal Orlando, Konpa En Symphony is coming to Miami for a must-see live experience. ⁠ ⁠ 📅 September 25, 2026, 7pm⁠ 📍 Kaseya Center, Miami⁠ 🎟️ Nulookmusic.com⁠ ⁠ Konpa with a full orchestra.⁠ Be there when it happens—not after everyone’s already talking about it. ⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #ad
21 hours ago
View on Instagram |
2/12
Haiti has opened its first embassy in the United Arab Emirates, giving the country a permanent diplomatic presence in Abu Dhabi as Port-au-Prince and the UAE look to deepen political, humanitarian and economic ties.⁠
⁠
Ambassador François Guillaume II began the mission this summer. On July 2, he presented a copy of his credentials to UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Omar Obaid Alhesan Alshamsi at the ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. On September 3, he formally presented his letters of credence to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, becoming Haiti’s ambassador to the Emirates.⁠
⁠
The UAE Foreign Ministry said the two countries maintain friendly relations and identified energy, tourism, trade, investment, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and coordination in multilateral forums as areas of cooperation. The Dominican Republic’s embassy in Abu Dhabi has described the mission as Haiti’s first embassy in the UAE. Guillaume, an economist and former minister of Haitians living abroad, previously served as Haiti’s ambassador to Qatar and as consul general in Miami.⁠
⁠
The diplomatic opening coincides with a new UAE aid commitment. On September 12, President Mohamed bin Zayed directed $10 million in urgent humanitarian assistance for Haiti through the Emirates Red Crescent. Officials said the package is intended to support food security, shelter, health services, water and sanitation, medicines and medical equipment, with internally displaced people and other vulnerable groups among the priorities. The Red Crescent said the first phase will focus on immediate food, shelter, health and WASH needs and will be coordinated with UAE missions, international organizations and local partners.⁠
⁠
The new embassy does not by itself resolve Haiti’s security or reconstruction crisis. It does, however, give Haiti a resident mission in one of the Gulf’s main political and financial capitals at a moment when Abu Dhabi is pairing diplomacy with emergency aid.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
Haiti has opened its first embassy in the United Arab Emirates, giving the country a permanent diplomatic presence in Abu Dhabi as Port-au-Prince and the UAE look to deepen political, humanitarian and economic ties.⁠
⁠
Ambassador François Guillaume II began the mission this summer. On July 2, he presented a copy of his credentials to UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Omar Obaid Alhesan Alshamsi at the ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. On September 3, he formally presented his letters of credence to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, becoming Haiti’s ambassador to the Emirates.⁠
⁠
The UAE Foreign Ministry said the two countries maintain friendly relations and identified energy, tourism, trade, investment, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and coordination in multilateral forums as areas of cooperation. The Dominican Republic’s embassy in Abu Dhabi has described the mission as Haiti’s first embassy in the UAE. Guillaume, an economist and former minister of Haitians living abroad, previously served as Haiti’s ambassador to Qatar and as consul general in Miami.⁠
⁠
The diplomatic opening coincides with a new UAE aid commitment. On September 12, President Mohamed bin Zayed directed $10 million in urgent humanitarian assistance for Haiti through the Emirates Red Crescent. Officials said the package is intended to support food security, shelter, health services, water and sanitation, medicines and medical equipment, with internally displaced people and other vulnerable groups among the priorities. The Red Crescent said the first phase will focus on immediate food, shelter, health and WASH needs and will be coordinated with UAE missions, international organizations and local partners.⁠
⁠
The new embassy does not by itself resolve Haiti’s security or reconstruction crisis. It does, however, give Haiti a resident mission in one of the Gulf’s main political and financial capitals at a moment when Abu Dhabi is pairing diplomacy with emergency aid.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
Haiti has opened its first embassy in the United Arab Emirates, giving the country a permanent diplomatic presence in Abu Dhabi as Port-au-Prince and the UAE look to deepen political, humanitarian and economic ties.⁠
⁠
Ambassador François Guillaume II began the mission this summer. On July 2, he presented a copy of his credentials to UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Omar Obaid Alhesan Alshamsi at the ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. On September 3, he formally presented his letters of credence to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, becoming Haiti’s ambassador to the Emirates.⁠
⁠
The UAE Foreign Ministry said the two countries maintain friendly relations and identified energy, tourism, trade, investment, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and coordination in multilateral forums as areas of cooperation. The Dominican Republic’s embassy in Abu Dhabi has described the mission as Haiti’s first embassy in the UAE. Guillaume, an economist and former minister of Haitians living abroad, previously served as Haiti’s ambassador to Qatar and as consul general in Miami.⁠
⁠
The diplomatic opening coincides with a new UAE aid commitment. On September 12, President Mohamed bin Zayed directed $10 million in urgent humanitarian assistance for Haiti through the Emirates Red Crescent. Officials said the package is intended to support food security, shelter, health services, water and sanitation, medicines and medical equipment, with internally displaced people and other vulnerable groups among the priorities. The Red Crescent said the first phase will focus on immediate food, shelter, health and WASH needs and will be coordinated with UAE missions, international organizations and local partners.⁠
⁠
The new embassy does not by itself resolve Haiti’s security or reconstruction crisis. It does, however, give Haiti a resident mission in one of the Gulf’s main political and financial capitals at a moment when Abu Dhabi is pairing diplomacy with emergency aid.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
Haiti has opened its first embassy in the United Arab Emirates, giving the country a permanent diplomatic presence in Abu Dhabi as Port-au-Prince and the UAE look to deepen political, humanitarian and economic ties.⁠
⁠
Ambassador François Guillaume II began the mission this summer. On July 2, he presented a copy of his credentials to UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Omar Obaid Alhesan Alshamsi at the ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. On September 3, he formally presented his letters of credence to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, becoming Haiti’s ambassador to the Emirates.⁠
⁠
The UAE Foreign Ministry said the two countries maintain friendly relations and identified energy, tourism, trade, investment, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and coordination in multilateral forums as areas of cooperation. The Dominican Republic’s embassy in Abu Dhabi has described the mission as Haiti’s first embassy in the UAE. Guillaume, an economist and former minister of Haitians living abroad, previously served as Haiti’s ambassador to Qatar and as consul general in Miami.⁠
⁠
The diplomatic opening coincides with a new UAE aid commitment. On September 12, President Mohamed bin Zayed directed $10 million in urgent humanitarian assistance for Haiti through the Emirates Red Crescent. Officials said the package is intended to support food security, shelter, health services, water and sanitation, medicines and medical equipment, with internally displaced people and other vulnerable groups among the priorities. The Red Crescent said the first phase will focus on immediate food, shelter, health and WASH needs and will be coordinated with UAE missions, international organizations and local partners.⁠
⁠
The new embassy does not by itself resolve Haiti’s security or reconstruction crisis. It does, however, give Haiti a resident mission in one of the Gulf’s main political and financial capitals at a moment when Abu Dhabi is pairing diplomacy with emergency aid.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
Haiti has opened its first embassy in the United Arab Emirates, giving the country a permanent diplomatic presence in Abu Dhabi as Port-au-Prince and the UAE look to deepen political, humanitarian and economic ties.⁠ ⁠ Ambassador François Guillaume II began the mission this summer. On July 2, he presented a copy of his credentials to UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Omar Obaid Alhesan Alshamsi at the ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. On September 3, he formally presented his letters of credence to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, becoming Haiti’s ambassador to the Emirates.⁠ ⁠ The UAE Foreign Ministry said the two countries maintain friendly relations and identified energy, tourism, trade, investment, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and coordination in multilateral forums as areas of cooperation. The Dominican Republic’s embassy in Abu Dhabi has described the mission as Haiti’s first embassy in the UAE. Guillaume, an economist and former minister of Haitians living abroad, previously served as Haiti’s ambassador to Qatar and as consul general in Miami.⁠ ⁠ The diplomatic opening coincides with a new UAE aid commitment. On September 12, President Mohamed bin Zayed directed $10 million in urgent humanitarian assistance for Haiti through the Emirates Red Crescent. Officials said the package is intended to support food security, shelter, health services, water and sanitation, medicines and medical equipment, with internally displaced people and other vulnerable groups among the priorities. The Red Crescent said the first phase will focus on immediate food, shelter, health and WASH needs and will be coordinated with UAE missions, international organizations and local partners.⁠ ⁠ The new embassy does not by itself resolve Haiti’s security or reconstruction crisis. It does, however, give Haiti a resident mission in one of the Gulf’s main political and financial capitals at a moment when Abu Dhabi is pairing diplomacy with emergency aid.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
23 hours ago
View on Instagram |
3/12
Vice President J.D. Vance is urging Americans to give the Trump administration more time, telling voters there is “still more work to do” as the 2026 midterms approach.⁠
⁠
On the All-In podcast this week, Vance said: “Give us another chance, or give us another couple of years, to continue to work on the amazing things that we’ve been doing for the past two years.” He argued that even voters who disagree with the administration on some issues should not hand power to Democrats, whom he described as “consumed by craziness.”⁠
⁠
The comments come as Republicans try to hold both chambers of Congress. Democrats currently lead on the generic congressional ballot in several averages, and President Donald Trump’s approval ratings remain underwater. The midterms are Nov. 3.⁠
⁠
Vance has been a central midterm messenger. At the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas earlier this month, he told supporters not to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” over policy disagreements and to focus on the contrast with Democrats. He has said he will decide after November whether to run for president in 2028.⁠
⁠
Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’ pitch.⁠
⁠
The vice president’s plea lands alongside a separate Trump pitch aimed at rallying Republican voters: a proposed $5,000 “Trump Dividend” for every U.S. adult if Republicans keep the House and Senate. Trump unveiled the idea at the Dallas convention, comparing it to a company issuing a cash distribution after a strong year. He said the money would have to be spent in the United States.⁠
⁠
The plan would require congressional approval. Estimates put the cost at more than $1 trillion. Some Republican lawmakers have been cautious, citing the national debt and inflation concerns; others have said details would have to be worked out after the election. Democrats have called the offer an attempt to buy votes. Trump has suggested he may not need a full congressional vote, though the Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse.⁠
⁠
Vance has tied the idea to revenue from tariffs. Whether it becomes law depends first on who controls Congress after November.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
Vice President J.D. Vance is urging Americans to give the Trump administration more time, telling voters there is “still more work to do” as the 2026 midterms approach.⁠
⁠
On the All-In podcast this week, Vance said: “Give us another chance, or give us another couple of years, to continue to work on the amazing things that we’ve been doing for the past two years.” He argued that even voters who disagree with the administration on some issues should not hand power to Democrats, whom he described as “consumed by craziness.”⁠
⁠
The comments come as Republicans try to hold both chambers of Congress. Democrats currently lead on the generic congressional ballot in several averages, and President Donald Trump’s approval ratings remain underwater. The midterms are Nov. 3.⁠
⁠
Vance has been a central midterm messenger. At the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas earlier this month, he told supporters not to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” over policy disagreements and to focus on the contrast with Democrats. He has said he will decide after November whether to run for president in 2028.⁠
⁠
Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’ pitch.⁠
⁠
The vice president’s plea lands alongside a separate Trump pitch aimed at rallying Republican voters: a proposed $5,000 “Trump Dividend” for every U.S. adult if Republicans keep the House and Senate. Trump unveiled the idea at the Dallas convention, comparing it to a company issuing a cash distribution after a strong year. He said the money would have to be spent in the United States.⁠
⁠
The plan would require congressional approval. Estimates put the cost at more than $1 trillion. Some Republican lawmakers have been cautious, citing the national debt and inflation concerns; others have said details would have to be worked out after the election. Democrats have called the offer an attempt to buy votes. Trump has suggested he may not need a full congressional vote, though the Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse.⁠
⁠
Vance has tied the idea to revenue from tariffs. Whether it becomes law depends first on who controls Congress after November.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
Vice President J.D. Vance is urging Americans to give the Trump administration more time, telling voters there is “still more work to do” as the 2026 midterms approach.⁠ ⁠ On the All-In podcast this week, Vance said: “Give us another chance, or give us another couple of years, to continue to work on the amazing things that we’ve been doing for the past two years.” He argued that even voters who disagree with the administration on some issues should not hand power to Democrats, whom he described as “consumed by craziness.”⁠ ⁠ The comments come as Republicans try to hold both chambers of Congress. Democrats currently lead on the generic congressional ballot in several averages, and President Donald Trump’s approval ratings remain underwater. The midterms are Nov. 3.⁠ ⁠ Vance has been a central midterm messenger. At the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas earlier this month, he told supporters not to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” over policy disagreements and to focus on the contrast with Democrats. He has said he will decide after November whether to run for president in 2028.⁠ ⁠ Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’ pitch.⁠ ⁠ The vice president’s plea lands alongside a separate Trump pitch aimed at rallying Republican voters: a proposed $5,000 “Trump Dividend” for every U.S. adult if Republicans keep the House and Senate. Trump unveiled the idea at the Dallas convention, comparing it to a company issuing a cash distribution after a strong year. He said the money would have to be spent in the United States.⁠ ⁠ The plan would require congressional approval. Estimates put the cost at more than $1 trillion. Some Republican lawmakers have been cautious, citing the national debt and inflation concerns; others have said details would have to be worked out after the election. Democrats have called the offer an attempt to buy votes. Trump has suggested he may not need a full congressional vote, though the Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse.⁠ ⁠ Vance has tied the idea to revenue from tariffs. Whether it becomes law depends first on who controls Congress after November.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
24 hours ago
View on Instagram |
4/12
Jeriah Mast, a 45-year-old former American missionary from Millersburg, Ohio, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, September 8, to two federal counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Haiti.
Mast entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent in Cleveland. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors and the defense agreed that a sentence between 25 and 33 years would be appropriate; the judge will have the final say. Sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2026.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Mast traveled from the United States to Haiti on numerous occasions between 2002 and 2019, including work with Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries (CAM). Investigators documented more than 30 flights he took between the two countries from November 2002 to August 2018.
A federal indictment originally charged Mast with four counts involving four boys in Haiti, with alleged offenses in 2004, 2007, and 2011. As part of the plea, he admitted guilt in two of those cases, each involving a minor between the ages of 12 and 16. Prosecutors are expected to seek dismissal of the remaining two charges.
The admitted conduct is part of a broader pattern Mast himself described to police in 2019. According to court records and contemporaneous reporting, he told investigators he had sexually abused more than 30 boys in Haiti & four children in Ohio. He previously pleaded guilty in Ohio state court to two counts of gross sexual imposition, received a 9-year sentence, and was granted early release in October 2025 before the federal charges proceeded.
“Jeriah Mast preyed on vulnerable children while working in Haiti as a missionary,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Criminal Division. U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio said Mast “violated the innocence of children & violated the trust of those who supported his supposed missionary work.” 
CAM, supported by Amish, conservative Mennonite, & related groups, has said it fired Mast in 2019 after the allegations became public. The organization drew separate international attention in 2021 when 17 of its missionaries were kidnapped in Haiti.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican
Jeriah Mast, a 45-year-old former American missionary from Millersburg, Ohio, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, September 8, to two federal counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Haiti. Mast entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent in Cleveland. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors and the defense agreed that a sentence between 25 and 33 years would be appropriate; the judge will have the final say. Sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2026. The U.S. Department of Justice said Mast traveled from the United States to Haiti on numerous occasions between 2002 and 2019, including work with Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries (CAM). Investigators documented more than 30 flights he took between the two countries from November 2002 to August 2018. A federal indictment originally charged Mast with four counts involving four boys in Haiti, with alleged offenses in 2004, 2007, and 2011. As part of the plea, he admitted guilt in two of those cases, each involving a minor between the ages of 12 and 16. Prosecutors are expected to seek dismissal of the remaining two charges. The admitted conduct is part of a broader pattern Mast himself described to police in 2019. According to court records and contemporaneous reporting, he told investigators he had sexually abused more than 30 boys in Haiti & four children in Ohio. He previously pleaded guilty in Ohio state court to two counts of gross sexual imposition, received a 9-year sentence, and was granted early release in October 2025 before the federal charges proceeded. “Jeriah Mast preyed on vulnerable children while working in Haiti as a missionary,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Criminal Division. U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio said Mast “violated the innocence of children & violated the trust of those who supported his supposed missionary work.” CAM, supported by Amish, conservative Mennonite, & related groups, has said it fired Mast in 2019 after the allegations became public. The organization drew separate international attention in 2021 when 17 of its missionaries were kidnapped in Haiti. #lunionsuite #haitianamerican
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
5/12
Three of the Haitian music industry’s most recognizable names did not roll on Eastern Parkway for this year’s West Indian American Day Parade. The West Indian American Day Carnival Association says T-Vice, Tony Mix and SakPase Nation were barred because they failed to meet carnival rules. The bands tell a different story. T-Vice says it was not refused and chose to stay off the route. Tony Mix publicly announced he would not take part.⁠
⁠
The annual parade stepped off Monday, Sept. 7, along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. Days earlier, The Haitian Times reported that WIADCA had kept the three groups off the official lineup. As of that Thursday, five other Haitian groups had been approved to participate. Haitian flags, mas and music were still on the Parkway. The missing piece was the big konpa trucks that usually stop traffic.⁠
⁠
Cecile Ford is WIADCA’s board secretary and chair of the Mas Committee. She said organizers had warned the groups that the rules would be enforced.⁠
⁠
“We’ve tried to work with them and each year there was a promise… they just take it as a joke,” Ford said. Ford later pointed to overcrowding on trucks as a safety problem.“We have pictures & photos [they] were not compliant with the number of people they have on their trucks, which is a security issue & safety issue,” she said.⁠
⁠
WIADCA’s written rules state only bands with a WIADCA permit can enter the parade. Participants must be costumed. Artist trucks, advertising trucks and “T-shirt bands” are excluded. Band leaders are required to put marshals on the route, keep vehicles insured and stay within height and safety limits set with police and the city. Failure to comply can mean removal from the parade.⁠
⁠
T-Vice answered Ford by name. The band said it was not refused. T-Vice said the Parkway absence was its own choice, while the carnival association said the group was barred.  Tony Mix also spoke with an official announcement circulated that he would not take part in the 2026 Labor Day carnival. SakPase Nation did not respond.⁠
⁠
Haitian mas and music was still on the route, including Lespri Ayiti and RAM among groups carrying the Haitian presence.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican
Three of the Haitian music industry’s most recognizable names did not roll on Eastern Parkway for this year’s West Indian American Day Parade. The West Indian American Day Carnival Association says T-Vice, Tony Mix and SakPase Nation were barred because they failed to meet carnival rules. The bands tell a different story. T-Vice says it was not refused and chose to stay off the route. Tony Mix publicly announced he would not take part.⁠
⁠
The annual parade stepped off Monday, Sept. 7, along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. Days earlier, The Haitian Times reported that WIADCA had kept the three groups off the official lineup. As of that Thursday, five other Haitian groups had been approved to participate. Haitian flags, mas and music were still on the Parkway. The missing piece was the big konpa trucks that usually stop traffic.⁠
⁠
Cecile Ford is WIADCA’s board secretary and chair of the Mas Committee. She said organizers had warned the groups that the rules would be enforced.⁠
⁠
“We’ve tried to work with them and each year there was a promise… they just take it as a joke,” Ford said. Ford later pointed to overcrowding on trucks as a safety problem.“We have pictures & photos [they] were not compliant with the number of people they have on their trucks, which is a security issue & safety issue,” she said.⁠
⁠
WIADCA’s written rules state only bands with a WIADCA permit can enter the parade. Participants must be costumed. Artist trucks, advertising trucks and “T-shirt bands” are excluded. Band leaders are required to put marshals on the route, keep vehicles insured and stay within height and safety limits set with police and the city. Failure to comply can mean removal from the parade.⁠
⁠
T-Vice answered Ford by name. The band said it was not refused. T-Vice said the Parkway absence was its own choice, while the carnival association said the group was barred.  Tony Mix also spoke with an official announcement circulated that he would not take part in the 2026 Labor Day carnival. SakPase Nation did not respond.⁠
⁠
Haitian mas and music was still on the route, including Lespri Ayiti and RAM among groups carrying the Haitian presence.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican
Three of the Haitian music industry’s most recognizable names did not roll on Eastern Parkway for this year’s West Indian American Day Parade. The West Indian American Day Carnival Association says T-Vice, Tony Mix and SakPase Nation were barred because they failed to meet carnival rules. The bands tell a different story. T-Vice says it was not refused and chose to stay off the route. Tony Mix publicly announced he would not take part.⁠
⁠
The annual parade stepped off Monday, Sept. 7, along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. Days earlier, The Haitian Times reported that WIADCA had kept the three groups off the official lineup. As of that Thursday, five other Haitian groups had been approved to participate. Haitian flags, mas and music were still on the Parkway. The missing piece was the big konpa trucks that usually stop traffic.⁠
⁠
Cecile Ford is WIADCA’s board secretary and chair of the Mas Committee. She said organizers had warned the groups that the rules would be enforced.⁠
⁠
“We’ve tried to work with them and each year there was a promise… they just take it as a joke,” Ford said. Ford later pointed to overcrowding on trucks as a safety problem.“We have pictures & photos [they] were not compliant with the number of people they have on their trucks, which is a security issue & safety issue,” she said.⁠
⁠
WIADCA’s written rules state only bands with a WIADCA permit can enter the parade. Participants must be costumed. Artist trucks, advertising trucks and “T-shirt bands” are excluded. Band leaders are required to put marshals on the route, keep vehicles insured and stay within height and safety limits set with police and the city. Failure to comply can mean removal from the parade.⁠
⁠
T-Vice answered Ford by name. The band said it was not refused. T-Vice said the Parkway absence was its own choice, while the carnival association said the group was barred.  Tony Mix also spoke with an official announcement circulated that he would not take part in the 2026 Labor Day carnival. SakPase Nation did not respond.⁠
⁠
Haitian mas and music was still on the route, including Lespri Ayiti and RAM among groups carrying the Haitian presence.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican
Three of the Haitian music industry’s most recognizable names did not roll on Eastern Parkway for this year’s West Indian American Day Parade. The West Indian American Day Carnival Association says T-Vice, Tony Mix and SakPase Nation were barred because they failed to meet carnival rules. The bands tell a different story. T-Vice says it was not refused and chose to stay off the route. Tony Mix publicly announced he would not take part.⁠
⁠
The annual parade stepped off Monday, Sept. 7, along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. Days earlier, The Haitian Times reported that WIADCA had kept the three groups off the official lineup. As of that Thursday, five other Haitian groups had been approved to participate. Haitian flags, mas and music were still on the Parkway. The missing piece was the big konpa trucks that usually stop traffic.⁠
⁠
Cecile Ford is WIADCA’s board secretary and chair of the Mas Committee. She said organizers had warned the groups that the rules would be enforced.⁠
⁠
“We’ve tried to work with them and each year there was a promise… they just take it as a joke,” Ford said. Ford later pointed to overcrowding on trucks as a safety problem.“We have pictures & photos [they] were not compliant with the number of people they have on their trucks, which is a security issue & safety issue,” she said.⁠
⁠
WIADCA’s written rules state only bands with a WIADCA permit can enter the parade. Participants must be costumed. Artist trucks, advertising trucks and “T-shirt bands” are excluded. Band leaders are required to put marshals on the route, keep vehicles insured and stay within height and safety limits set with police and the city. Failure to comply can mean removal from the parade.⁠
⁠
T-Vice answered Ford by name. The band said it was not refused. T-Vice said the Parkway absence was its own choice, while the carnival association said the group was barred.  Tony Mix also spoke with an official announcement circulated that he would not take part in the 2026 Labor Day carnival. SakPase Nation did not respond.⁠
⁠
Haitian mas and music was still on the route, including Lespri Ayiti and RAM among groups carrying the Haitian presence.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican
Three of the Haitian music industry’s most recognizable names did not roll on Eastern Parkway for this year’s West Indian American Day Parade. The West Indian American Day Carnival Association says T-Vice, Tony Mix and SakPase Nation were barred because they failed to meet carnival rules. The bands tell a different story. T-Vice says it was not refused and chose to stay off the route. Tony Mix publicly announced he would not take part.⁠
⁠
The annual parade stepped off Monday, Sept. 7, along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. Days earlier, The Haitian Times reported that WIADCA had kept the three groups off the official lineup. As of that Thursday, five other Haitian groups had been approved to participate. Haitian flags, mas and music were still on the Parkway. The missing piece was the big konpa trucks that usually stop traffic.⁠
⁠
Cecile Ford is WIADCA’s board secretary and chair of the Mas Committee. She said organizers had warned the groups that the rules would be enforced.⁠
⁠
“We’ve tried to work with them and each year there was a promise… they just take it as a joke,” Ford said. Ford later pointed to overcrowding on trucks as a safety problem.“We have pictures & photos [they] were not compliant with the number of people they have on their trucks, which is a security issue & safety issue,” she said.⁠
⁠
WIADCA’s written rules state only bands with a WIADCA permit can enter the parade. Participants must be costumed. Artist trucks, advertising trucks and “T-shirt bands” are excluded. Band leaders are required to put marshals on the route, keep vehicles insured and stay within height and safety limits set with police and the city. Failure to comply can mean removal from the parade.⁠
⁠
T-Vice answered Ford by name. The band said it was not refused. T-Vice said the Parkway absence was its own choice, while the carnival association said the group was barred.  Tony Mix also spoke with an official announcement circulated that he would not take part in the 2026 Labor Day carnival. SakPase Nation did not respond.⁠
⁠
Haitian mas and music was still on the route, including Lespri Ayiti and RAM among groups carrying the Haitian presence.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican
Three of the Haitian music industry’s most recognizable names did not roll on Eastern Parkway for this year’s West Indian American Day Parade. The West Indian American Day Carnival Association says T-Vice, Tony Mix and SakPase Nation were barred because they failed to meet carnival rules. The bands tell a different story. T-Vice says it was not refused and chose to stay off the route. Tony Mix publicly announced he would not take part.⁠
⁠
The annual parade stepped off Monday, Sept. 7, along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. Days earlier, The Haitian Times reported that WIADCA had kept the three groups off the official lineup. As of that Thursday, five other Haitian groups had been approved to participate. Haitian flags, mas and music were still on the Parkway. The missing piece was the big konpa trucks that usually stop traffic.⁠
⁠
Cecile Ford is WIADCA’s board secretary and chair of the Mas Committee. She said organizers had warned the groups that the rules would be enforced.⁠
⁠
“We’ve tried to work with them and each year there was a promise… they just take it as a joke,” Ford said. Ford later pointed to overcrowding on trucks as a safety problem.“We have pictures & photos [they] were not compliant with the number of people they have on their trucks, which is a security issue & safety issue,” she said.⁠
⁠
WIADCA’s written rules state only bands with a WIADCA permit can enter the parade. Participants must be costumed. Artist trucks, advertising trucks and “T-shirt bands” are excluded. Band leaders are required to put marshals on the route, keep vehicles insured and stay within height and safety limits set with police and the city. Failure to comply can mean removal from the parade.⁠
⁠
T-Vice answered Ford by name. The band said it was not refused. T-Vice said the Parkway absence was its own choice, while the carnival association said the group was barred.  Tony Mix also spoke with an official announcement circulated that he would not take part in the 2026 Labor Day carnival. SakPase Nation did not respond.⁠
⁠
Haitian mas and music was still on the route, including Lespri Ayiti and RAM among groups carrying the Haitian presence.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican
Three of the Haitian music industry’s most recognizable names did not roll on Eastern Parkway for this year’s West Indian American Day Parade. The West Indian American Day Carnival Association says T-Vice, Tony Mix and SakPase Nation were barred because they failed to meet carnival rules. The bands tell a different story. T-Vice says it was not refused and chose to stay off the route. Tony Mix publicly announced he would not take part.⁠ ⁠ The annual parade stepped off Monday, Sept. 7, along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. Days earlier, The Haitian Times reported that WIADCA had kept the three groups off the official lineup. As of that Thursday, five other Haitian groups had been approved to participate. Haitian flags, mas and music were still on the Parkway. The missing piece was the big konpa trucks that usually stop traffic.⁠ ⁠ Cecile Ford is WIADCA’s board secretary and chair of the Mas Committee. She said organizers had warned the groups that the rules would be enforced.⁠ ⁠ “We’ve tried to work with them and each year there was a promise… they just take it as a joke,” Ford said. Ford later pointed to overcrowding on trucks as a safety problem.“We have pictures & photos [they] were not compliant with the number of people they have on their trucks, which is a security issue & safety issue,” she said.⁠ ⁠ WIADCA’s written rules state only bands with a WIADCA permit can enter the parade. Participants must be costumed. Artist trucks, advertising trucks and “T-shirt bands” are excluded. Band leaders are required to put marshals on the route, keep vehicles insured and stay within height and safety limits set with police and the city. Failure to comply can mean removal from the parade.⁠ ⁠ T-Vice answered Ford by name. The band said it was not refused. T-Vice said the Parkway absence was its own choice, while the carnival association said the group was barred. Tony Mix also spoke with an official announcement circulated that he would not take part in the 2026 Labor Day carnival. SakPase Nation did not respond.⁠ ⁠ Haitian mas and music was still on the route, including Lespri Ayiti and RAM among groups carrying the Haitian presence.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican
2 days ago
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6/12
KidSuper founder Colm Dillane and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso hosted the second annual People’s Runway on the building’s steps, spotlighting five rising Brooklyn designers chosen from hundreds of applicants. The night was built as a platform for talent that usually gets shut out of official Fashion Week calendars. Then @WyclefJean walked out and changed the temperature.⁠ ⁠ The Haitian-born Fugees architect opened with “No Woman, No Cry,” slid into a Brooklyn rap, and brought Carnival dancers in exploding color onto the steps. He stepped off briefly, then returned with “a friend.” Lauryn Hill appeared in a painted KidSuper coat. The front row surged the runway with phones up. They delivered Fugees heat, including “Ready or Not” 30 years after The Score dropped and rewrote what hip-hop could sound like.⁠ ⁠ Both artists wore KidSuper. The moment was brief, loud, and exactly the kind of collision the brand lives for: fashion, music, community, and no velvet rope.⁠ ⁠ Dillane has spent years turning KidSuper into more than clothes, painting, music, unexpected stages. This edition doubled down on that. After the emerging designers showed, he sent out a handful of his own looks, including one worn by his mother, then handed the night to Wyclef. Reynoso kept the energy Brooklyn-loud: if you like it, cheer. Everybody’s VIP here.⁠ ⁠ For Haitian and Caribbean audiences, the night landed differently. Wyclef Jean remains one of the most visible Haitian artists of his generation, guitar, politics, carnival energy, and a catalog that never stayed in one lane. Seeing him pull Lauryn Hill onto the steps of a public building in Brooklyn, wearing a local designer’s coat, felt like the culture showing up for itself without asking permission.⁠ ⁠ The People’s Runway is still young. Dillane has already said he wants it to become annual and that the real measure is what the designers do after the lights go down. Saturday night gave them a stage, a crowd that included athletes and artists, and a closing act that most official Fashion Week shows never get.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
7/12
The Broward County School Board on Tuesday considered giving Superintendent Howard Hepburn authority to begin the district's process for renaming Sawgrass Springs Middle School, at 12500 West Sample Road, in honor of the late Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer. No new name has been proposed.⁠
⁠
District staff wrote that Metayer was deeply involved with the Sawgrass Springs school community, building relationships with students, families, educators, and staff. Naming the school for her, the item states, would recognize her legacy of education, service, environmental stewardship, and care for others.⁠
⁠
Metayer, 38, was elected to the Coral Springs City Commission in 2020, becoming the city's first Black and Haitian-American woman commissioner. She was re-elected in 2024 and appointed vice mayor in December 2024, then appointed to a second term in the role in November 2025.⁠
⁠
A first-generation Haitian-American born in Broward County and raised in Coral Springs, Metayer graduated from Coral Springs Charter School, earned a bachelor's degree in environmental science from Florida A&M University, and a Master of Health Science from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She worked as an environmental scientist on disaster relief and climate resilience efforts, including after Hurricanes Irma, Michael, and Dorian. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried had described her as the party's vice chair of Haitian outreach.⁠
⁠
Metayer was found dead in her Coral Springs home on April 1. Her husband, Stephen Bowen, was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence; he has pleaded not guilty.⁠
⁠
In April, U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz introduced legislation to rename the U.S. Postal Service facility at 3255 NW 94th Avenue the "Nancy Metayer Post Office Building." The bill cleared the House Oversight Committee in July and awaits a vote by the full House.⁠
⁠
Tuesday's school board item only starts the renaming process; a final name change would still require community input and subsequent board votes.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
The Broward County School Board on Tuesday considered giving Superintendent Howard Hepburn authority to begin the district's process for renaming Sawgrass Springs Middle School, at 12500 West Sample Road, in honor of the late Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer. No new name has been proposed.⁠ ⁠ District staff wrote that Metayer was deeply involved with the Sawgrass Springs school community, building relationships with students, families, educators, and staff. Naming the school for her, the item states, would recognize her legacy of education, service, environmental stewardship, and care for others.⁠ ⁠ Metayer, 38, was elected to the Coral Springs City Commission in 2020, becoming the city's first Black and Haitian-American woman commissioner. She was re-elected in 2024 and appointed vice mayor in December 2024, then appointed to a second term in the role in November 2025.⁠ ⁠ A first-generation Haitian-American born in Broward County and raised in Coral Springs, Metayer graduated from Coral Springs Charter School, earned a bachelor's degree in environmental science from Florida A&M University, and a Master of Health Science from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She worked as an environmental scientist on disaster relief and climate resilience efforts, including after Hurricanes Irma, Michael, and Dorian. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried had described her as the party's vice chair of Haitian outreach.⁠ ⁠ Metayer was found dead in her Coral Springs home on April 1. Her husband, Stephen Bowen, was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence; he has pleaded not guilty.⁠ ⁠ In April, U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz introduced legislation to rename the U.S. Postal Service facility at 3255 NW 94th Avenue the "Nancy Metayer Post Office Building." The bill cleared the House Oversight Committee in July and awaits a vote by the full House.⁠ ⁠ Tuesday's school board item only starts the renaming process; a final name change would still require community input and subsequent board votes.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
8/12
See You In Jamaica!! 
Haiti’s national team will play its first competitive matches since the 2026 World Cup this month, opening Concacaf Nations League play with two games at Sabina Park.
Match Calendar:
🇯🇲 Sept. 24 — Haiti vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Sabina Park Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica
🇯🇲 Sept. 27 — Haiti vs. Costa Rica
Sabina Park Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica
🇩🇴 Oct. 1 — Dominican Republic vs. Haiti
Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo
🇨🇷 Oct. 4 — Costa Rica vs. Haiti
Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica
The Grenadiers face Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 9 p.m., then Costa Rica on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 9 p.m. Both matches will be played in Kingston because Haiti remains unable to host internationals at home.
The window continues on the road. Haiti visits the Dominican Republic on Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, then closes the stretch Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. against Costa Rica at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San José.
The four fixtures are part of the 2026–27 Concacaf Nations League League A group stage. Haiti is drawn with Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. The top two teams in the group advance toward the quarterfinals, with a path that also feeds into qualification for the 2027 Gold Cup.
The timing matters. @FHFHaiti returned to the World Cup this summer for the first time since 1974 and exited the group stage after losses to Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco. The last match, a 4-2 defeat to Morocco in Atlanta, produced Haiti’s only two goals of the tournament. These Nations League dates are the first official matches since that campaign ended.
For the diaspora, Kingston is the reachable stop. South Florida, Jamaica, and the wider Caribbean can get to Sabina Park in a way they cannot get to a home game in Port-au-Prince.
Haiti will need points early. Costa Rica is the group’s most established side. Trinidad and Tobago is a familiar Caribbean rival. Two results in Kingston would give the Grenadiers a platform before the October trips to Santo Domingo and San José.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
See You In Jamaica!! 
Haiti’s national team will play its first competitive matches since the 2026 World Cup this month, opening Concacaf Nations League play with two games at Sabina Park.
Match Calendar:
🇯🇲 Sept. 24 — Haiti vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Sabina Park Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica
🇯🇲 Sept. 27 — Haiti vs. Costa Rica
Sabina Park Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica
🇩🇴 Oct. 1 — Dominican Republic vs. Haiti
Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo
🇨🇷 Oct. 4 — Costa Rica vs. Haiti
Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica
The Grenadiers face Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 9 p.m., then Costa Rica on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 9 p.m. Both matches will be played in Kingston because Haiti remains unable to host internationals at home.
The window continues on the road. Haiti visits the Dominican Republic on Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, then closes the stretch Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. against Costa Rica at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San José.
The four fixtures are part of the 2026–27 Concacaf Nations League League A group stage. Haiti is drawn with Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. The top two teams in the group advance toward the quarterfinals, with a path that also feeds into qualification for the 2027 Gold Cup.
The timing matters. @FHFHaiti returned to the World Cup this summer for the first time since 1974 and exited the group stage after losses to Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco. The last match, a 4-2 defeat to Morocco in Atlanta, produced Haiti’s only two goals of the tournament. These Nations League dates are the first official matches since that campaign ended.
For the diaspora, Kingston is the reachable stop. South Florida, Jamaica, and the wider Caribbean can get to Sabina Park in a way they cannot get to a home game in Port-au-Prince.
Haiti will need points early. Costa Rica is the group’s most established side. Trinidad and Tobago is a familiar Caribbean rival. Two results in Kingston would give the Grenadiers a platform before the October trips to Santo Domingo and San José.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
See You In Jamaica!! 
Haiti’s national team will play its first competitive matches since the 2026 World Cup this month, opening Concacaf Nations League play with two games at Sabina Park.
Match Calendar:
🇯🇲 Sept. 24 — Haiti vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Sabina Park Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica
🇯🇲 Sept. 27 — Haiti vs. Costa Rica
Sabina Park Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica
🇩🇴 Oct. 1 — Dominican Republic vs. Haiti
Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo
🇨🇷 Oct. 4 — Costa Rica vs. Haiti
Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica
The Grenadiers face Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 9 p.m., then Costa Rica on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 9 p.m. Both matches will be played in Kingston because Haiti remains unable to host internationals at home.
The window continues on the road. Haiti visits the Dominican Republic on Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, then closes the stretch Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. against Costa Rica at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San José.
The four fixtures are part of the 2026–27 Concacaf Nations League League A group stage. Haiti is drawn with Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. The top two teams in the group advance toward the quarterfinals, with a path that also feeds into qualification for the 2027 Gold Cup.
The timing matters. @FHFHaiti returned to the World Cup this summer for the first time since 1974 and exited the group stage after losses to Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco. The last match, a 4-2 defeat to Morocco in Atlanta, produced Haiti’s only two goals of the tournament. These Nations League dates are the first official matches since that campaign ended.
For the diaspora, Kingston is the reachable stop. South Florida, Jamaica, and the wider Caribbean can get to Sabina Park in a way they cannot get to a home game in Port-au-Prince.
Haiti will need points early. Costa Rica is the group’s most established side. Trinidad and Tobago is a familiar Caribbean rival. Two results in Kingston would give the Grenadiers a platform before the October trips to Santo Domingo and San José.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
See You In Jamaica!! 
Haiti’s national team will play its first competitive matches since the 2026 World Cup this month, opening Concacaf Nations League play with two games at Sabina Park.
Match Calendar:
🇯🇲 Sept. 24 — Haiti vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Sabina Park Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica
🇯🇲 Sept. 27 — Haiti vs. Costa Rica
Sabina Park Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica
🇩🇴 Oct. 1 — Dominican Republic vs. Haiti
Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo
🇨🇷 Oct. 4 — Costa Rica vs. Haiti
Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica
The Grenadiers face Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 9 p.m., then Costa Rica on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 9 p.m. Both matches will be played in Kingston because Haiti remains unable to host internationals at home.
The window continues on the road. Haiti visits the Dominican Republic on Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, then closes the stretch Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. against Costa Rica at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San José.
The four fixtures are part of the 2026–27 Concacaf Nations League League A group stage. Haiti is drawn with Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. The top two teams in the group advance toward the quarterfinals, with a path that also feeds into qualification for the 2027 Gold Cup.
The timing matters. @FHFHaiti returned to the World Cup this summer for the first time since 1974 and exited the group stage after losses to Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco. The last match, a 4-2 defeat to Morocco in Atlanta, produced Haiti’s only two goals of the tournament. These Nations League dates are the first official matches since that campaign ended.
For the diaspora, Kingston is the reachable stop. South Florida, Jamaica, and the wider Caribbean can get to Sabina Park in a way they cannot get to a home game in Port-au-Prince.
Haiti will need points early. Costa Rica is the group’s most established side. Trinidad and Tobago is a familiar Caribbean rival. Two results in Kingston would give the Grenadiers a platform before the October trips to Santo Domingo and San José.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
See You In Jamaica!! Haiti’s national team will play its first competitive matches since the 2026 World Cup this month, opening Concacaf Nations League play with two games at Sabina Park. Match Calendar: 🇯🇲 Sept. 24 — Haiti vs. Trinidad and Tobago Sabina Park Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica 🇯🇲 Sept. 27 — Haiti vs. Costa Rica Sabina Park Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica 🇩🇴 Oct. 1 — Dominican Republic vs. Haiti Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez, Santo Domingo 🇨🇷 Oct. 4 — Costa Rica vs. Haiti Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica The Grenadiers face Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 9 p.m., then Costa Rica on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 9 p.m. Both matches will be played in Kingston because Haiti remains unable to host internationals at home. The window continues on the road. Haiti visits the Dominican Republic on Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, then closes the stretch Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. against Costa Rica at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San José. The four fixtures are part of the 2026–27 Concacaf Nations League League A group stage. Haiti is drawn with Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. The top two teams in the group advance toward the quarterfinals, with a path that also feeds into qualification for the 2027 Gold Cup. The timing matters. @FHFHaiti returned to the World Cup this summer for the first time since 1974 and exited the group stage after losses to Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco. The last match, a 4-2 defeat to Morocco in Atlanta, produced Haiti’s only two goals of the tournament. These Nations League dates are the first official matches since that campaign ended. For the diaspora, Kingston is the reachable stop. South Florida, Jamaica, and the wider Caribbean can get to Sabina Park in a way they cannot get to a home game in Port-au-Prince. Haiti will need points early. Costa Rica is the group’s most established side. Trinidad and Tobago is a familiar Caribbean rival. Two results in Kingston would give the Grenadiers a platform before the October trips to Santo Domingo and San José. #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
3 days ago
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9/12
President Donald Trump has nominated Austin Holmes of Florida to serve as U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Haiti, according to a slate of nominations transmitted to the Senate on September 14. Holmes must still be confirmed by the Senate before he can assume the post.⁠
⁠
Holmes is CEO of RallyX and previously served as CEO of Caribbean Security Group and chairman of Mission of Hope. He has worked in Haiti since 2009, previously lived in the country, and speaks Haitian Creole. His biography and public testimony describe nearly two decades of work spanning humanitarian response, disaster logistics, education programs, private-sector operations, and high-risk security coordination.⁠
⁠
The nomination arrives months after Holmes testified in February before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. He appeared alongside then-U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Henry Wooster at a hearing focused on Haiti’s security crisis and U.S. assistance. During that session, Holmes argued that security and freedom of movement must come first if humanitarian aid and longer-term recovery are to succeed. He also pressed for Haitian-led security capacity rather than an open-ended foreign presence.⁠
⁠
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince has been led by a chargé d’affaires since mid-2025 after Ambassador Dennis Hankins left the post. Wooster, who took charge of the mission in June 2025, was later nominated as ambassador to Kenya. The Haiti ambassadorship has therefore remained vacant while gangs continue to control large parts of Port-au-Prince and the country prepares for long-delayed elections.⁠
⁠
If confirmed, Holmes would take one of Washington’s most difficult Caribbean assignments: a political transition, armed-group violence, humanitarian collapse, and the question of how U.S. security and assistance policy should be sequenced. His supporters point to on-the-ground experience, Creole fluency, and a security-first record. Senate confirmation will determine whether that background becomes official U.S. policy in Port-au-Prince.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican
President Donald Trump has nominated Austin Holmes of Florida to serve as U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Haiti, according to a slate of nominations transmitted to the Senate on September 14. Holmes must still be confirmed by the Senate before he can assume the post.⁠ ⁠ Holmes is CEO of RallyX and previously served as CEO of Caribbean Security Group and chairman of Mission of Hope. He has worked in Haiti since 2009, previously lived in the country, and speaks Haitian Creole. His biography and public testimony describe nearly two decades of work spanning humanitarian response, disaster logistics, education programs, private-sector operations, and high-risk security coordination.⁠ ⁠ The nomination arrives months after Holmes testified in February before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. He appeared alongside then-U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Henry Wooster at a hearing focused on Haiti’s security crisis and U.S. assistance. During that session, Holmes argued that security and freedom of movement must come first if humanitarian aid and longer-term recovery are to succeed. He also pressed for Haitian-led security capacity rather than an open-ended foreign presence.⁠ ⁠ The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince has been led by a chargé d’affaires since mid-2025 after Ambassador Dennis Hankins left the post. Wooster, who took charge of the mission in June 2025, was later nominated as ambassador to Kenya. The Haiti ambassadorship has therefore remained vacant while gangs continue to control large parts of Port-au-Prince and the country prepares for long-delayed elections.⁠ ⁠ If confirmed, Holmes would take one of Washington’s most difficult Caribbean assignments: a political transition, armed-group violence, humanitarian collapse, and the question of how U.S. security and assistance policy should be sequenced. His supporters point to on-the-ground experience, Creole fluency, and a security-first record. Senate confirmation will determine whether that background becomes official U.S. policy in Port-au-Prince.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
10/12
Ballon d’Or Names Melchie Dumornay Among 30 Nominees for 2026 Women’s Award⁠
⁠
France Football has officially named Melchie Dumornay to the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or. The Haiti international and OL Lyonnes midfielder appears on the list released September 8, her second consecutive nomination for the sport’s highest individual honor. The winner will be announced October 26 in London.⁠
⁠
Dumornay, 23, built her case on a complete season in France and Europe. She helped Lyon win a domestic treble Première Ligue, Coupe de France, and Coupe de la Ligue and reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. She was named Première Ligue Player of the Season and selected to UEFA’s Champions League Team of the Season, with a hat-trick in the French league final among her defining performances.⁠
⁠
She is the first Haitian player ever nominated for the Ballon d’Or, a barrier she broke in 2025. This year she returns with a stronger résumé and is being ranked by several outlets among the leading contenders, alongside names such as Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Pernille Harder, and Khadija Shaw.⁠
⁠
The official Ballon d’Or graphic places her in the same frame as the game’s established stars. For Haiti, that is the story: a player from Mirebalais standing on the shortlist on merit. October 26 will decide the trophy. The nomination is already history confirmed.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
Ballon d’Or Names Melchie Dumornay Among 30 Nominees for 2026 Women’s Award⁠
⁠
France Football has officially named Melchie Dumornay to the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or. The Haiti international and OL Lyonnes midfielder appears on the list released September 8, her second consecutive nomination for the sport’s highest individual honor. The winner will be announced October 26 in London.⁠
⁠
Dumornay, 23, built her case on a complete season in France and Europe. She helped Lyon win a domestic treble Première Ligue, Coupe de France, and Coupe de la Ligue and reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. She was named Première Ligue Player of the Season and selected to UEFA’s Champions League Team of the Season, with a hat-trick in the French league final among her defining performances.⁠
⁠
She is the first Haitian player ever nominated for the Ballon d’Or, a barrier she broke in 2025. This year she returns with a stronger résumé and is being ranked by several outlets among the leading contenders, alongside names such as Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Pernille Harder, and Khadija Shaw.⁠
⁠
The official Ballon d’Or graphic places her in the same frame as the game’s established stars. For Haiti, that is the story: a player from Mirebalais standing on the shortlist on merit. October 26 will decide the trophy. The nomination is already history confirmed.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
Ballon d’Or Names Melchie Dumornay Among 30 Nominees for 2026 Women’s Award⁠
⁠
France Football has officially named Melchie Dumornay to the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or. The Haiti international and OL Lyonnes midfielder appears on the list released September 8, her second consecutive nomination for the sport’s highest individual honor. The winner will be announced October 26 in London.⁠
⁠
Dumornay, 23, built her case on a complete season in France and Europe. She helped Lyon win a domestic treble Première Ligue, Coupe de France, and Coupe de la Ligue and reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. She was named Première Ligue Player of the Season and selected to UEFA’s Champions League Team of the Season, with a hat-trick in the French league final among her defining performances.⁠
⁠
She is the first Haitian player ever nominated for the Ballon d’Or, a barrier she broke in 2025. This year she returns with a stronger résumé and is being ranked by several outlets among the leading contenders, alongside names such as Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Pernille Harder, and Khadija Shaw.⁠
⁠
The official Ballon d’Or graphic places her in the same frame as the game’s established stars. For Haiti, that is the story: a player from Mirebalais standing on the shortlist on merit. October 26 will decide the trophy. The nomination is already history confirmed.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
Ballon d’Or Names Melchie Dumornay Among 30 Nominees for 2026 Women’s Award⁠
⁠
France Football has officially named Melchie Dumornay to the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or. The Haiti international and OL Lyonnes midfielder appears on the list released September 8, her second consecutive nomination for the sport’s highest individual honor. The winner will be announced October 26 in London.⁠
⁠
Dumornay, 23, built her case on a complete season in France and Europe. She helped Lyon win a domestic treble Première Ligue, Coupe de France, and Coupe de la Ligue and reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. She was named Première Ligue Player of the Season and selected to UEFA’s Champions League Team of the Season, with a hat-trick in the French league final among her defining performances.⁠
⁠
She is the first Haitian player ever nominated for the Ballon d’Or, a barrier she broke in 2025. This year she returns with a stronger résumé and is being ranked by several outlets among the leading contenders, alongside names such as Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Pernille Harder, and Khadija Shaw.⁠
⁠
The official Ballon d’Or graphic places her in the same frame as the game’s established stars. For Haiti, that is the story: a player from Mirebalais standing on the shortlist on merit. October 26 will decide the trophy. The nomination is already history confirmed.⁠
⁠
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
Ballon d’Or Names Melchie Dumornay Among 30 Nominees for 2026 Women’s Award⁠ ⁠ France Football has officially named Melchie Dumornay to the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or. The Haiti international and OL Lyonnes midfielder appears on the list released September 8, her second consecutive nomination for the sport’s highest individual honor. The winner will be announced October 26 in London.⁠ ⁠ Dumornay, 23, built her case on a complete season in France and Europe. She helped Lyon win a domestic treble Première Ligue, Coupe de France, and Coupe de la Ligue and reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. She was named Première Ligue Player of the Season and selected to UEFA’s Champions League Team of the Season, with a hat-trick in the French league final among her defining performances.⁠ ⁠ She is the first Haitian player ever nominated for the Ballon d’Or, a barrier she broke in 2025. This year she returns with a stronger résumé and is being ranked by several outlets among the leading contenders, alongside names such as Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Pernille Harder, and Khadija Shaw.⁠ ⁠ The official Ballon d’Or graphic places her in the same frame as the game’s established stars. For Haiti, that is the story: a player from Mirebalais standing on the shortlist on merit. October 26 will decide the trophy. The nomination is already history confirmed.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian
3 days ago
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11/12
A Haitian student in Florida woke up to find every class on his schedule gone. In a video recorded from his car, he said the school told him the drop was tied to his immigration status. He is frustrated, pointing to the effort families make to get here and stay in school, and asking why a student already enrolled would be pulled out overnight.⁠ ⁠ A second video, recorded inside a campus office, shows what happened next. He told staff he called after seeing his courses disappear and was told it was an immigration issue that “needed to be disregarded.” An employee asked for his address, then his status. “Asylum,” he said.⁠ ⁠ He confirmed he has an Employment Authorization Document. The category on the card is C08, the code used for people with pending asylum applications. He did not have the current card on him, but staff identified the category and said his information may not have transferred during a system switch. Then came the policy line that is landing across Florida campuses this year.⁠ ⁠ The staff member said the school is no longer accepting TPS. His status, they added, was different. “Your status is fine,” the employee said. “I have to update it.”⁠ ⁠ They told him he was good through spring 2030 and began checking his account so he could be put back in class. When he asked to be added to a specific course, staff said they could not automatically re-enroll him in that section and would have to see if the class was still open. or whether he needed to contact the professor.⁠ ⁠ The distinction matters. TPS and pending asylum are not the same thing. Florida’s public colleges have spent 2026 tightening enrollment rules around lawful presence after state boards moved to bar undocumented students from the Florida College System and, more recently, from selective public universities beginning in 2027–28.⁠ ⁠ For Haitian students across South Florida, the clip is landing as more than one campus glitch. It is the sound of how fast a semester can disappear when immigration categories, school software, and new state rules collide even when the student sitting in the chair already has a valid path to stay enrolled.⁠ ⁠ 🎥 @vadson_galioth #lunionsuite #haitianamerican
3 days ago
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12/12