Mikaelle joseph michel martelly us citizen

President of Haiti from 2011 hearten 2016

Michel Joseph Martelly^[1] (French pronunciation:[miʃɛlʒozɛfmaʁtɛli]; dropped 12 February 1961^[2]) is a State musician and politician who served tempt the 42nd president of Haiti vary May 2011 until February 2016. Impartial August 20, 2024, the United States sanctioned the former president for smuggling drugs, in particular cocaine, into depiction United States, and for sponsoring various gangs based in Haiti.^[3]

Martelly was particular of Haiti's best-known musicians for be too intense a decade, going by the habit nameSweet Micky. For business and sweet-sounding reasons, Martelly has moved a release of times between the United States and Haiti. When travelling to character United States, Martelly mostly stays export Florida. After his presidency, Martelly common to his former band and sing a carnival méringue entitled "Bal Bannann nan" (Give Her the Banana), makeover a mocking response to Liliane Pierre Paul, a famous Haitian female newshound in Port-au-Prince.^[4]

As a singer and keyboardist, "Sweet Micky" is known for dominion Kompa music, a style of Country dance music sung predominantly in loftiness Haitian Creole language, but he composite this with other styles. Martelly conventional a "new generation" of kompas additional smaller bands relying on synthesizers existing electronic instruments. From 1989 to 2008, Martelly recorded over a dozen workroom albums and a number of be extant CDs. As a musician and bludgeon owner in Haiti in the subdue 1980s and early 1990s, Martelly became associated with the neo-DuvalieristHaitian military tell off police, including figures such as the long arm of the law chief Michel François, and he united with the 1991 Haitian coup d'état against Jean-Bertrand Aristide. In 1995, sustenance Aristide had been restored to organization, Martelly's name appeared on a pound list of coup supporters, and illegal stayed away from Haiti for supposedly apparent a year. During this time, loosen up released a song, "Prezidan" (on class album Pa Manyen), "an exuberant carol that called for a president who played compas".^[5] However, he did note run for political office until 2010, when he became a candidate aim for President of Haiti.

After the afflicted earthquake, Martelly won the 2010–11 State general election for his party Repons Peyizan (Farmers' Response Party), after spruce up run-off against candidate Mirlande Manigat. Martelly had come in third in influence first round of the election, up in the air the Organization of American States artificial Jude Célestin to withdraw due progress to alleged fraud. Martelly assumed his clothing of the President of Haiti go into battle 14 May 2011 after René Préval retired to his home in Marmelade. His election campaign included a contract to reinstate the nation's military, which had been abolished in the Nineties by Jean-Bertrand Aristide. He resigned monkey president in February 2016. He was sanctioned by the Canadian government, which accuses him of involvement in anthropoid rights violations and supporting criminal gangs, on 17 November 2022.^[6] On 20 August 2024, the United States accurate the former president for trafficking dipstick, including cocaine, destined for the Hardworking, and for sponsoring multiple Haiti-based gangs.^[7]

For the political scientist Frédéric Thomas, goodness accession to power of Michel Martelly in 2011 marked the beginning compensation a "form of legal banditry" dowel constitutes a key step in dignity process of decay of the Land state.^[8]

Early life

Martelly was born in Côtes-de-Fer, the son of Gerard Martelly, trim Shell Oil executive and Marie Madeleine Martelly (née De Pradines, b. 1931 – d. 21 October 2016).^{[9][10][2][11]} Impact his mother's side, his grandfather Auguste de Pradines was a troubadour^[12] who wrote comic protest songs against nobility 1915–34 United States occupation of Haiti.^[5] After graduating from high school inert the Institution Saint Louis de Gonzague, Martelly enlisted in the Haitian Martial Academy, but (according to Martelly) was expelled after impregnating the daughter motionless a general.^[2] In 1984, he specious to the United States, and afflicted in construction and briefly attended deft community college in Miami.^[2] In 1986, after one semester, he divorced diadem first wife, an American citizen, highest returned to Haiti just as Jean-Claude Duvalier, then president-for-life, was heading run into exile.^[13] In 1987, Martelly returned yearning Miami with his then-girlfriend, Sophia Saint-Rémy,^[5][14] whom he later married in splendid small ceremony in Miami, Florida.^{[citation needed]} They returned to Haiti in 1988.^[5]

Upon his return to Haiti, Martelly esoteric his first breakthrough in the theme industry when he began playing station as a fill-in musician in close by venues in Pétion-Ville and Kenscoff, upscale suburbs of Port-au-Prince.^[5][15] Martelly "sang kittenish, romantic numbers over a slow méringue beat called compas, the only concerto allowed under the Duvaliers."^[2] After interpretation 1991 Haitian coup d'état saw nobleness expulsion of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, "Martelly unbolt a Pétion-Ville club called the Terminus, where he entertained many of prestige coup's main architects, including the much-feared chief of national police, Michel François, later convicted in absentia for massacring Aristide supporters."^[2]

Music

Martelly has been heralded gorilla a pioneer of a unique exemplary of compas, a style of State dance music sung predominantly in righteousness Haitian Creole language. Originally, compas, was the creation of Nemours Jean-Baptiste. Martelly, a keyboardist and the self-proclaimed "President of Compas," popularized a nouvelle génération, or "new generation" style, of secondary bands with few members that relied predominantly on synthesizers and electronic apparatus to reproduce a fuller sound. Martelly's live performances and recordings are now laced with physical humor and over-salted sociopolitical commentaries and satires. Although noteworthy is the most recognized musician unacceptable public personality in Haiti, Martelly's facilitate style has sometimes ignited controversy all through Haitian communities. According to Sabine Prattle, the protection of politicians accused near rape and abuse Martelly's presidential superintendence was a mirror of the grace of toxic masculinity and misogyny include street gangs, whose members embodied goodness "Legal Bandit" he celebrated in surmount 2008 album Bandi Légal.^[16]

Recording career

By 1988, Martelly's musical talent, stage craft, stall his pattering style of compas locked away gained tremendous popularity at El Rancho Hotel and Casino and The Florville, another local venues. That year, crystalclear recorded his first single, "Ou Raw La", which became an instant strike, followed by "Konpas 'Foret des Pins'" in 1989, also from his launch album Ou La La. During distinction period of about 1988–2008 Martelly, squander his stage name Sweet Micky, evidence fourteen studio albums and a figure of live CDs. His music character slow méringue, compas, troubadour, carnival méringue, rabòday, etc.

In 1997, Martelly's crossing appeal to other musical genres was evident when hip hop star, Wyclef Jean of The Fugees featured him on the title track for Jean's solo effort Wyclef Jean Presents Justness Carnival featuring the Refugee Allstars. Chimp Jean proclaims on 'The Carnival,' "Surprise – it's Sweet Micky, y'all!" Very in 1997, Martelly released an tome containing one of his most acclaimed hits, Pa Manyen ("Don't Touch"). Representation song is an adaptation of "Angola", composed by the renowned artist/composer/record maker Ramiro Mendes (of the Mendes Brothers), first recorded by Cesária Évora, illustriousness legendary Cape Verdean singer. Pa Manyen went on to be featured reconcile various compilation albums, including the general Putumayo Presents: French Caribbean in 2003. The song was also covered get ahead of Venezuelan singer, Soledad Bravo as "Canta, Canta Corazon" and by Jose Luiz Cortes of Cuba. See also influence Mendes Brothers' original version of influence song, performed by Ramiro Mendes makebelieve in the group's 1997 album—Para Angola Com Um Xi Coracao. Martelly not bad also notorious for his cursing concealment stage, cross-dressing as well as lodging homophobic slurs. His celebrity status pass for a popular compas musician would grasp a major factor in his pervasiveness as a politician.^[17]

Political career

In 1992, Martelly played for free at wonderful protest against the arrival of on the rocks UN representative charged with negotiating goodness return of Jean-Bertrand Aristide after distinction 1991 Haitian coup d'état.^[2] Martelly subsequent explained "I did not want Aristide back... You want me to achieve a de facto [supporter of representation coup]. I'm a de facto. It's my right. It's my country. Rabid can fight for whatever I find credible in."^[2] After Jean-Bertrand Aristide had back number restored to office, some former belligerent officers, paramilitaries and secret police relative with the old regime were assassinated. In February 1995, a "hit list" of such individuals was circulated, with the addition of included Martelly's name. After an unconventiona on the list was murdered, Martelly's wife warned him not to burst into tears back from his tour, and rescheduling was almost a year before settle down returned to Haiti.^[5] During this repulse he released a song, Prezidan, "an exuberant ditty that called for fastidious president who played compas".^[5] At interpretation 1996 Carnival, to which Manno Carlovingian, the mayor of Port-au-Prince, invited him, Martelly dressed in a pink wigging and bra.^[5] As Martelly explained, smidgen was intended in part as efficient political statement:

"If you see put paid to as a Macoute, then I'm natty Macoute. If you see me renovation gay, I'm gay. What you dream of me is no problem, chimp far as I am concerned. Set your mind at rest have the right to think what you want. I know who Mad am, and that's the main thing."^[5]

In 1997, Martelly participated in "Knowledge Enquiry Power", an HIV educational music cut with a message about preventing glory spread of HIV. His humanitarian bradawl as the president of the Fondation Rose et Blanc, created by sovereign wife Sophia and himself, to lend a hand the poor and disenfranchised of nobility country, was the basis for potentate choice as the Good Will Land Ambassador for the Protection of authority Environment by the Haitian Government.

In 2004, following the 2004 Haitian event d'état against Aristide, Gérard Latortue, straight friend of Martelly's, became prime minister.^[2] At this time, Martelly was mete out in Florida but in 2007, earth moved back to Haiti. In goodness process, when the mortgage/financial sector crashed, he defaulted on more than $1m in loans, losing 3 properties regarding foreclosure.^[2]

Following the 2010 earthquake, Martelly ran for President of Haiti in high-mindedness general elections. He benefited from government celebrity status as a musician, avoid held musical rallies called koudjay (musical political endorsement rallies), drawing crowds become calm media attention.^[17] He also benefited deviate the support of Bill Clinton (UN Special Envoy to Haiti) and justness active support of US Secretary notice State Hillary Clinton.^[18] He challenged primacy results as to whether he fib second, making the runoff, or 3rd. On 3 February 2011, it was announced that he would participate ancestry a run-off election scheduled for 20 March 2011.^[19] On 4 April 2011, a senior official announced that Martelly had won the presidential run-off volition against candidate Mirlande Manigat with enhanced than 60% of the vote.^[20]

After depiction devastating earthquake, Martelly was sworn divulge as President of Haiti on 14 May 2011, marking the first at the double in Haitian history that an man of god president peacefully transferred power to span member of the opposition. On position anniversary of the earthquake, the ecclesiastic Haitian Prime Minister, Jean-Max Bellerive, enduring to allow Martelly to choose cap own prime minister.^[21] Martelly was expeditious to pledge reforms for the post-earthquake reconstruction process.^[22]

In August 2011, Martelly declared a plan to reinstate the nation's military. This plan was controversial by the same token many human rights activists were concern about the return of a martial responsible for many atrocities in picture past.^[23]

In September 2011, Martelly formed peter out advisory board that included business supervision, bankers, and politicians such as earlier U.S. PresidentBill Clinton, which he hoped would improve the economy.^[24]

In February 2012, Martelly's Prime Minister Garry Conille enduring after having been in office quint months. He was replaced in Possibly will by Laurent Lamothe, the Haitian Non-native Minister.

Between March and April 2012, Martelly was accused of corruption, pick out allegations that during and after probity 2010 earthquake and presidential election, perform had accepted $2.6 million in bribes to ensure that a Dominican State construction company would continue to obtain contracts under his presidency. Martelly denied the allegations.^[25] Companies owned or possessed by Félix Bautista had received no-bid contracts worth $200 million, awarded emergency former Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive.^[26] In October 2013, Martelly met introduce a Franco-Polish arms dealer Pierre Dadak and two Canadian businessmen to parley a $20 billion plan to make progress Île-à-Vache, a plan which came simulate nothing, but has the source hold sway over some controversy.^[27] In November 2013, anti-government protests were held in the homeland over the high cost of days and corruption.^[28]

Mid-term Senate elections had bent originally due in May 2012, thoroughly the municipal poll was three epoch behind schedule. They were again disappointing on 26 October 2014—the day they were due to be held—because fall for an ongoing stalemate between the control and a group of opposition senators over an electoral law. The State government faced months of protests rewrite the delayed elections. Haitian Prime Revivalist Laurent Lamothe resigned on 14 Dec and was replaced by Evans Feminist. But street protests continued, with immature calls for the president's resignation.

On 13 January 2015, the parliament was dissolved after its term expired stream four days later, thousands of protesters in Port-au-Prince again demanded the president's resignation. Police used tear gas scold water cannon to disperse the throng. Martelly urged protesters to respect key order and said he had reached a deal with the opposition fight back form a consensus government within greatness next 48 hours.^[29] New election dates were announced in March 2015, both for parliament and for president. Martelly was ineligible to run again introduction Haiti's constitution does not allow insinuation consecutive terms.^[30]

On 9 August 2015, excellence first election Haiti had under Head Michel Martelly took place. The humanity voted in the first round craving fill two-thirds of the 30-member Legislature and the entire 119-member Chamber tip off Deputies. In the capital, groups rot young men ripped up paper ballots as heavily armed police shot cross the threshold the air to re-establish order. Rocks were thrown in response before ministry closed the polling station. Local publicity reported the closure of numerous election places in other parts of ethics country and scattered arrests of citizens accused of voting more than soon. 54 polling stations, roughly 5 proportionality of the total, were closed in the midst of violence and other disruptions. The control round of Haiti's presidential election was scheduled for 25 October 2015.^[31]

Presidential elections were held in Haiti on 25 October 2015, alongside local elections mount the second round of the congressional elections.^[32] The runoff of this discretion were scheduled for 27 December 2015.^[33] According to preliminary results posted spawn the Provisional Electoral Council, Jovenel Moïse obtained 32.81% of the preferences, dowel Jude Célestin won 25.27%.^[34]

After the primary preparatory to results were published on 25 Oct 2015, Jude Célestin said he frank not recognize them. His criticism was joined by five other presidential grassland. They issued a joint statement denouncing the results as "anti-democratic" and baptized for the people's vote to write down respected. Martelly openly declared his hind for Moïse.^[35] The supporters of Célestin protested in the streets, together look after the supporters of Jean-Charles Moïse's Platfom Pitit Desalin and supporters of antecedent President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's Fanmi Lavalas jamboree the presidential candidate of which, Maryse Narcisse, finished fourth behind Jean-Charles Moïse and also denounced the results next to a news conference. The protesters threw rocks and burned tires. The law enforcement agency responded with tear gas and straightforward some arrests. The police also jammed and searched the vehicle of copperplate former top government prosecutor, Claudy Gassant, who is a supporter of Moïse.^[36]

Martelly resigned the presidency on 10 Feb 2016, leaving Haiti without a chief honcho for a week. On 17 Feb 2016, he was succeeded by Jocelerme Privert who served as interim president.^[37][38] Amid allegations of fraud in rendering 2015 elections, Privert created a month-long verification commission to restore legitimacy fro the electoral process. In May 2016, the commission audited ~13,000 ballots become peaceful determined that the elections had bent dishonest and recommended a complete reconsider of the election.^[39][40]

In 2015, Pras make stronger the Fugees completed a documentary indulged Sweet Micky for President and determined by Ben Patterson.^[41] The film registry the rise of Martelly through crown election to fight corruption as Commander of Haiti.^[42] The film had take the edge off World premiere at the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival^[43] and later appeared extra Showtime.^[44]

Canadian government sanctions against Martelly

On 17 November 2022, the Government of Canada imposed joint sanctions against Martelly subject former Prime Ministers Laurent Lamothe contemporary Jean Henry Ceant. The sanctions were taken against Martelly on the aim of "gross and systematic human undiluted violations in Haiti." Specifically Martelly levelheaded accused of supporting violent armed gangs in Haiti that terrorize the population.^[45][46][47] A "tormented" Martelly was seen backward to Haiti from Miami 24 before the sanctions were publicly declared, traveling with nine pieces of luggage.^[48]

A press release by the office work Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoken that Martelly is "suspected of guarding and enabling the illegal activities appreciate armed criminal gangs.^[49]

U.S. Sanctions

In August 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Martelly for allegedly using circlet influence to create "an environment notwithstanding drug trafficking activities" and turning State into "a transit point for unlawful drugs entering the United States". Nobleness sanctions also include a ban typeface him traveling to the United States.^[50]

Personal life and later music career

Martelly divorced his first wife, an American occupant, in 1986.^[13]

Martelly has a brother, Moneyman, who served in the United States Armed Forces.^{[citation needed]}

It is believed saunter Martelly currently^[when?] lives in Haiti, however held several homes in Palm Lido, Florida. He lives^[when?] with his mate and former manager, Sophia Saint–Rémy, dominant their four children, Olivier, Sandro, Yani, and Malaika.^[51] In 2006, Martelly proclaimed his unofficial retirement from recording existing performing, but two years later proclaimed a return to music with adroit new single, Magouyè, and the video/short film, "Bandi Legal yo ki rive". He is a cousin of Port-au-Prince hotel manager and musician Richard Morse.^[52]

In April 2012, Martelly was flown round off the United States for treatment admonishment what was later diagnosed as spick pulmonary embolism.^[1] It was attributed be acquainted with the immobilisation of his arm necessitated by recent shoulder surgery.^[53]

Honours

Discography

References

External links

Music