Author: Opastaff
The Haitian community is once again facing the fallout of financial fraud after the arrest of Marc Henry Menard, a Florida resident accused of orchestrating a large-scale investment scheme. Menard was taken into custody and indicted on 24 counts including grand larceny, securities fraud, falsifying business records, and running a scheme to defraud. According to prosecutors, Menard used his company, Marcotech LLC, to lure Haitian investors in New York, Florida, and Georgia with promises of extraordinary returns on stocks and cryptocurrency. He allegedly claimed investors could earn between 12 and 20 percent each month. Over nearly three years, he managed…
Haiti has long been a country grappling with instability, corruption, and foreign interference. Now, in a desperate attempt to combat spiraling gang violence, the Haitian transitional government has turned to Erik Prince, founder of the infamous private military company Blackwater, and his latest venture, Vectus Global. The 10-year deal Prince struck with Haiti may sound like a lifeline, but history and reality suggest otherwise. Rather than securing stability, it risks trapping Haiti in yet another cycle of exploitation, dependency, and violence. https://www.tiktok.com/@iamcheyna/video/7540274906424970510?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7540308309985019423 For those who may not recall, Erik Prince’s reputation was cemented in Iraq in 2007 when Blackwater contractors…
Imagine overcoming Haiti’s toughest challenges, graduating high school amid instability, building a following online, and dreaming of a future full of possibilities, only to have your life violently cut short. This is the heartbreaking reality of 19-year-old Zamy Wanderson, better known as @yo.boy.wander on TikTok. Zamy was full of promise. His TikTok profile showed a laid-back young man who cherished time with friends and placed immense value on education. A recent graduate of Collège Canado-Haïtien, he had just completed high school. No one knows for sure what path he would have chosen next, but his life held open doors and…
Pétion-Ville, Haiti, August 18, 2025 – Businessman, attorney, and former presidential candidate Joseph Harry Bretous was gunned down on Sunday evening, August 17, in Pèlerin 2, a neighborhood of Pétion-Ville. According to reports, armed men on a motorcycle opened fire on his vehicle, fatally wounding him as he attempted to drive through the area. He was later pronounced dead after being rushed to a hospital. The killing of Bretous, who was set to turn 68 this week, has sent shockwaves through Haiti’s fragile political and social climate. Many observers now fear the rise of a new pattern where high-profile figures,…
On the morning of August 12, Miami-Dade deputies stormed a Biscayne Gardens home and arrested Abdias Datis, better known on-air as DJ AJ 305, while he was broadcasting live on “Unique FM,” a pirate radio station operating on 91.7 FM. The arrest marked a dramatic climax to years of warnings, fines, and investigations by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which had long accused Datis of illegally transmitting across South Florida’s crowded airwaves. Datis, a 44-year-old Haitian-American, is no stranger to controversy. He was first convicted of unauthorized broadcasting back in 2008, yet continued to operate “Unique FM” from various residences…
Guadalupian artist Antonny Drew recently stirred controversy during a press conference for Anie Alerte and the new band Zile’s tour in Haiti. When asked about his impressions of the country, Drew candidly remarked that “Okay pi pwop ke Okap,” meaning “Les Cayes is cleaner than Cap-Haïtien.” The artist explained that while Cap-Haïtien is a city with an incredibly rich history, what struck him most was the amount of garbage on its streets. By contrast, he found Les Cayes to be so clean it reminded him of his own native Guadeloupe. https://youtu.be/PcV9PWRJhzA The comment did not sit well with many residents…
EKIP’s new release, “Péché Mignon,” shows exactly why they’re still one of the most exciting bands in Konpa. The song blends smooth French lyrics, Creole flavor, and the group’s signature rhythm into something catchy and full of energy. The title means “guilty pleasure,” and the track is all about attraction, desire, and temptation, with playful words and a beat that sticks in your head. From the start, the lyrics tell the story of a man who can’t help but be drawn to a woman’s natural beauty. The chorus feels like an honest confession, mixing sweetness with a hint of seduction.…
On a sweltering July morning in Pasadena, Texas, federal agents closed in on Bazile Richardson, 48, a naturalized U.S. citizen known by several aliases, including Fredo, Fred Lion, Leo Danger, and Lepe Blode. By sundown, Richardson was in custody, facing charges that prosecutors say tie him directly to Haiti’s most notorious gang leader, Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier. An indictment unsealed in Washington, D.C., lays out an alleged conspiracy stretching from the gang-controlled neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince to the heart of the Haitian diaspora in the United States. Prosecutors accuse Richardson of raising and transferring U.S. dollars to Cherizier in violation of federal…
Black Parents, the celebrated Haitian-Canadian group from Montreal known for their groundbreaking Ragga Konpa style, is making a powerful comeback with a bold and captivating new project titled Agréable. This upcoming release is more than just a new album, it is a testament to the group’s ability to evolve while remaining firmly rooted in the rich Konpa tradition that shaped them. Formed in 1999 by siblings Dave (vocals), Wesley (vocals), Mario (bass), and Béatrice (drums), Black Parents has always been a true family affair. Their passion for music runs deep, inherited from their parents and uncles, famously known as Les…
In Hoogstraten, Belgium, the 2025 edition of Antilliaanse Feesten, held from August 7 to 9 in the Blauwbossen area, continued its tradition of delivering spectacular Caribbean and Latin music. The festival’s Saturday night lineup on August 9 featured a standout moment for Haitian fans and music lovers alike, T-Vice’s return to the stage nearly two decades after their last appearance in 2006. T-Vice, one of Haiti’s most celebrated konpa bands, performed to warm applause and enthusiastic dancing. Their energetic set, marked by signature rhythms and irresistible melodies, invigorated the crowd and earned them glowing reactions, signaling a heartfelt welcome back…