Uncertain Election Date and Budget

The August 30th election date is no longer valid, and no new date has been planned yet. Jacques Desrosiers, President of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), believes that elections this year are still possible. Regarding the preliminary budget (which is currently under review), the government has expressed reluctance regarding the submitted amount of USD 250 million (https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-47170-zapping-haiti-of-march-28-2026.html), and again, no amount has been confirmed at this time.

Haitians make up the largest group of students in the Dominican Republic

According to data from the Dominican Central Bank, of the 2,250 foreign students enrolled in Dominican universities, Haitians remain the largest group with 1,163 students, followed at a distance by American (493), European (210), Venezuelan (142), Colombian (52) students, and the remainder from various other countries. 59.1% of all foreign students in the Dominican Republic are pursuing studies in medical sciences, representing 46.6% of all enrollments.

Diphtheria : 5 people have died

On Thursday, the Ministry of Public Health revealed that at least five people have died from diphtheria in Haiti. However, a vaccine distribution campaign, in collaboration with several health centers and public hospitals, has already been launched in all ten departments, confirmed Dr. Martial Benèche, head of the MSPP's Expanded Program on Immunization.

Trump attacks Haitians

On April 9, President Donald Trump posted a virulent message on Truth Social about immigration, referring to a "criminal" described by the DHS as an undocumented Haitian migrant involved in the hammer murder of a woman in Florida.https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-47249-usa-a-haitian-savagely-kills-an-innocent-mother-with-a-hammer.html He accuses the Biden administration and the TPS program of allowing his entry and continued presence in the United States, as well as federal courts of blocking his decision to end this program for Haitians. The message sparked strong reactions on social media.

Nippes : Inauguration of the National School of Plaisance

This week saw the inauguration of the National School of Plaisance, in the Nippes department, which is now housed in brand-new buildings. The school now has two preschool classrooms, nine primary school classrooms, an administrative block, a restroom block, and a small cafeteria. Currently, the multi-sports field and the school garden remain to be developed. The National School of Plaisance is currently enrolled in 358 schools (166 girls and 192 boys) for the academic year, offering instruction from 1st to 9th grade.

Voodoo : New National Ati

On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, a branch of the National Confederation of Haitian Voodoo Practitioners (KNVA) appointed Mambo Florence D. Jean Joseph as the National Ati. During the same ceremony, Leonel Mompoint Mondestin was introduced as the National Emperor of Haitian Voodoo.

HL/ HaitiLibre