Palm Beach, Fla. – President Donald J. Trump today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Haiti to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Jovenel Moïse on February 7, 2017, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Canada announced Friday they will also be in attendance.
The Honorable Thomas A. Shannon, Jr., Under Secretary for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State, will lead the delegation. Peter F. Mulrean, Ambassador to the Republic of Haiti, Omarosa Manigault, Director of Communications of Public Liaison and Kenneth Merten, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs and Haiti Special Coordinator will be joining President Donald Trump Tuesday.
About Jovenel Moïse
In 2015, President Michel Martelly designated Moïse as the presidential candidate of the political party Martelly founded, the Haitian Tèt Kale Party (PHTK).
In his campaign, Moïse promoted bio-ecological agriculture as an economic engine for Haiti, whose population is over 50% rural. He also expressed support for policies pursued by Martelly: universal education and health care, energy reform, rule of law, the creation of sustainable jobs, environmental protection, and development of Haiti as a destination for ecotourism and agritourism.
Moïse received 32.8% of votes in the first round of the 2015 elections held on 15 October 2015, qualifying for a runoff with the second-place finisher, Jude Célestin.[4] However, an exit poll conducted by the Haiti Sentinel showed Moïse receiving only 6% of the vote,[5] and many observers called the results fraudulent.[6] Thousands of people took to the streets in violent protest, forcing the postponement of the runoff election.[7]
On 27 November 2016, election officials said Moïse had won the 2016 election in the first round based on preliminary results, with an estimated voter turnout of 21%