Martine Moïse
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|
Martine Moïse | |
|---|---|
 Moïse in December 2019 | |
| First Lady of Haiti | |
| In role 7 February 2017 – 7 July 2021 | |
| President | Jovenel Moïse |
| Preceded by | Ginette Michaud Privert |
| Succeeded by | Annie Claude Massiau (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Martine Marie Étienne Joseph 5 June 1974 Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| Political party | Tèt Kale |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Pétion-Ville |
| Alma mater | Quisqueya University |
Martine Marie Étienne Moïse (née Joseph; born 5 June 1974) is the former First Lady of Haiti and widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. She served as the first lady from 7 February 2017 to 7 July 2021. Moïse was wounded during the early morning attack on their home in Pétion-Ville that left her husband assassinated.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Moïse was born Martine Marie Étienne Joseph on 5 June 1974, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.[2] She completed her elementary and high school studies at Roger Anglade School in Port-au-Prince in 1993.[2] She then received a degree in interpretation studies at Quisqueya University in 1997.[2]
First Lady of Haiti
[edit]She met her future husband, Jovenel Moïse, while both were students at Quisqueya University.[3][better source needed] The couple married in 1996.[3] Later that same year, Moïse and her husband moved to Port-de-Paix, Nord-Ouest department, with the intention of working in rural development.[3]
She became Haiti's first lady after her husband won the November 2016 presidential election on February 7, 2017. During her tenure, Martine Moïse served as president of the Fondasyon Klere Ayiti, a community development organization focused on civic education and women's issues.[4] In October 2017, she became president of coordination for Global Fund in Haiti, which aims to alleviate HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other public health diseases in Haiti.[4] Moïse also advocated new investments in the Haitian arts and crafts industry in an effort to boost local artisans.[4]
Attack
[edit]On 7 July 2021, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, while Martine Moïse was shot and seriously wounded during the attack at their residence in Pétion-Ville.[5] Moïse suffered gunshots wounds to her arms and thigh, with other severe injuries to her hand and abdomen.[6] Moïse was initially treated at the General Hospital of Port-au-Prince, while erroneous rumors of her death began to circulate.[7][8][5]
Haiti's Ambassador to the United States, Bocchit Edmond, told reporters that Moïse was "in stable, but critical condition" and arrangements were being made to evacuate her to Miami for treatment.[9]
Later the same day, Moïse was airlifted by Trinity Air Ambulance from Haiti to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in Florida, arriving in Fort Lauderdale at approximately 3:30 p.m.[6] She was taken by ambulance from the airport to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.[6][10]
On 10 July, she posted an audio message to her Twitter account, saying her husband was killed in a well-planned attack by a group of "highly trained and heavily armed" individuals, with the assassination being so quick he couldn't say a word. She accused unnamed people of being behind the assassination of her husband, due to the issue of roads, water, electricity, and the constitutional referendum, so they could stall a democratic transition of power. She also called on Haiti to not lose its way and not let Jovenel's sacrifice go to waste.[11]
Martine shared photos of herself lying in the hospital bed on 14 July and thanked the medical team for saving her. She added that she was still in shock over the way her husband died, and her pain over his death would never pass.[12]
She returned to Haiti on 17 July after she was released from the hospital. Her flight landed at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, where she was greeted by government officials, including the interim President Claude Joseph. Her return was not announced in advance and left many surprised.[13]
On 19 February 2024, Moïse was indicted for alleged complicity regarding her husband's assassination. Claude Joseph and former police chief Léon Charles were also indicted, with Charles being charged with murder.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Haiti President Jovenel Moïse assassinated at home". CNBC. Associated Press. 2021-07-07. Archived from the original on 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ a b c "Mrs. Martine Moïse, Haiti". Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network. Archived from the original on 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ a b c Boursiquot, Sherley (2017-02-07). "Who Is Jovenel Moïse? Meet Haiti's New President After 2016 Election". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ a b c Feitelberg, Rosemary (2019-09-25). "Five Minutes With Haiti's First Lady Martine Moïse: 'Haiti Is Fighting to Get Up From the Floor'". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on 2019-09-27. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ a b "Haiti President Jovenel Moïse assassinated at home, official says". Euronews. 2021-07-07. Archived from the original on 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ a b c Stanwood, Janine (2021-07-07). "First Lady of Haiti Martine Moïse arrives in South Florida for treatment after being shot multiple times". WPLG. Archived from the original on 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
- ^ "Muere primera dama de Haití tras ser herida en atentado contra Jovenel Moïse". El Nuevo Diario (in Spanish). 2021-07-07. Archived from the original on 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ "Muere primera dama de Haití, Martine Moïse, tras ataque al mandatario". Diario Libre (in Spanish). 2021-07-07. Archived from the original on 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ "Haiti's first lady in critical condition, to be brought to Miami -Haitian envoy". Reuters. 2021-07-07. Archived from the original on 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
- ^ "Haiti President Jovenel Moïse assassinated in middle-of-the-night attack at his home". Miami Herald. 2021-07-07. Archived from the original on 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ "Haiti: Wife of assassinated President Jovenel Moise speaks out". Al-Jazeera. 10 July 2021. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021.
- ^ Musumeci, Natali (16 July 2021). "Assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse's wife shares photos of herself from hospital bed, says 'this pain will never pass'". Business Insider. Retrieved 16 July 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Martine Moïse, Wife Of Slain President, Returns To Haiti". NPR. Associated Press. 17 July 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ "Widow, ex-prime minister and former police chief indicted in 2021 assassination of Haiti's president". AP News. 2024-02-19. Archived from the original on 2024-02-20. Retrieved 2024-02-20.