Haitian first lady Sophia Martelly registers for Senate run

PORT-AU-PRINCE— The wife of Haitian President Michel Martelly registered to run for the Senate in her first attempt at elected office.

First lady Sophia Martelly filed the required documents on April 23 to compete in a crowded field for one of 20 open seats in the Aug. 9 election, representing the party created by her husband. She would represent a Senate district that includes the capital.

Haiti to appeal kidnapping verdict that drew wide criticism

PORT-AU-PRINCE— The Haitian government will appeal a widely criticized decision by a judge to dismiss charges against two men in a high-profile kidnapping case, the justice minister said Wednesday.

A notice of appeal was submitted to the Supreme Court within the required deadline to challenge the decision, Justice Minister Pierre-Richard Casimir said.

Haitian Heritage Month to include flag raising, parade on May 17

Haitian-Americans United, Inc. (H.A.U.) will host a series events organized in celebration of the 2015 Haitian Heritage Month in Massachusetts. H.A.U. and its partners continue to focus on “Unity” as the central theme for this year, while evoking the spirit and the determination of the ancestors that led to Haiti’s independence on January 1st, 1804. The theme for this year is "United We Stand, Stronger!"

As in past years, H.A.U. will coordinate several major events (one in collaboration with Haitian-American State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry) for the Haitian Heritage Month:

DotHouse Health to celebrate its new identity on April 28

DotHouse Health will celebrate the official dedication of its new name with a ribbon cutting event on Tuesday, April 28 at their Dorchester Avenue facility. Former Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy will officiate at the 12 p.m. event.

Formerly known as the Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, the health center has long been dubbed the “DotHouse” by locals. The new identity— rolled out last fall and implemented with a new logo and signage in recent weeks— seeks to emphasize the health care service and values that are central to the center’s mission.

Official: Uptick of Haiti migrants in Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas— The Bahamas says 178 Haitian migrants have been detained by local authorities over the last several days.

In a Sunday statement, Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said the archipelago off Florida's east coast has been "dealing with a deluge of illegal migrants who have breached our borders over the past week.''

Marathon killers already dead to us

Justice was served last week at the federal courthouse when the surviving Boston Marathon bomber was convicted of murdering our young neighbor, Martin Richard, and three other people — and maiming scores more— on Patriots Day in 2013. The outcome was never in doubt, but the punishment remains an open question for the jurors who sat through the harrowing weeks of testimony from survivors and law enforcement officers.

Northeastern hosts forum on Haitian experience at Guantanamo

Northeastern University hosts a conversation about the Haitian refugee crisis on 1991-94 and the decision made by the US government to detain thousands of Haitian-born migrants on Guantanamo before repatriating them back to Haiti. Free and open to the public. Sat., April 18, 2 p.m. Visit Confrontingguantanamo.com to register.

Northeastern University event

From Mattapan to Somerville, Roxbury to Cambridge, Greater Boston is home to the third-largest Haitian community in the United States. Northeastern University welcomes Boston’s Haitian and Haitian-American residents in a dialogue about the community’s past, present, and future.

The conversation will address the Haitian Refugee Crisis (1991–94) and the decision made by the U.S. government to detain thousands of Haitian-born refugees on Guantánamo before repatriating them back to Haiti. How has this wrongdoing been overcome? How should we—as a society and a city—remember and address such injustice?

Speakers include Dumas Lafontant, Director of the Lower Roxbury Coalition, Ninaj Raoul, cofounder and community organizer at Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees (HWHR), and community-activist Jean-Claude Sanon.

The event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is encouraged. Space is limited.

Get your 2024 Olympics news fix with The Relay

Our sister paper the Dorchester Reporter has launched a new feature called The Relay, a weekly newsletter covering the latest news on Boston’s bid for the 2024 Olympic Games. Sign-up here to receive it via email.

District Four council candidate sees opening for a new voice

Charles Yancey, the longest-serving member on the City Council, is facing a formidable challenge for his Fourth District seat from political newcomer Andrea Campbell.

Meeting set on plans for T’s Mattapan lot

In an effort to include community input into the transit-oriented development of the commuter parking lot next to Mattapan Station, MassDot will host a public meeting at the station’s community room next Tuesday (April 22) at 5:30 p.m.

“Any future development will need to continue to provide for safe and efficient station operation and maintenance, pedestrian and vehicular access, bus circulation and a minimum of 50 commuter parking spaces,” said the agency in a posted notice.

Boston Haitian Reporter