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Screenshot of King Kino of Phantoms and Haitian Diaspora protesting against Martelly in New York
NEW YORK, USA (defend.ht) – On Wednesday, Haitian Kompa musician King Kino led an anti-Martelly protest through the streets of New York where the Haitian Diaspora chanted “Martelly must go!” This occurred as Martelly was in the city for the United Nations General Assembly.
A video shows the former maestro of Phantoms carrying a banner that reads “Haiti: Born to be Free” followed by a crowd that chanted, “grenadye alasso”, grenadiers on the assault in English.
The cameraman asked King Kino what was going on to which the former artist who supported Mirlande Manigat for presidency in the 2010 elections said:
“We are here today, to ask about the $1 and 50 cents, so they can tell us what they did with it, where is it? The bluffing has to end.”
“We want to know where the $1 and 50 cents is? These guys are wasting money, showing out with the people’s money, they are showing out with the Diaspora’s money.”
“We want to know what is going on. Respect the Diaspora.”
Defend Haiti believes King Kino is referring to the 5 cents per minute charged on long distance calls to Haiti and the $1.50 surcharge on money transfers for the National Fund for Education by President Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, which DH uncovered as not transparent, legal or funding education in Haiti.
Recently, King Kino met with U.S. President Barack Obama perhaps to discuss his discontent with the Haitian administration. President Michel Martelly has not met with the U.S. President.
King Kino and Martelly have a long history of opposition to each other. As an artist Martelly delivered some of the most vulgar insults ever recorded on an audio device against his fellow musician.
The protest hearkens back to when the musician Michel Martelly led a protest against former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was ousted in a Coup d’Etat in 2004.
Meanwhile in Haiti, anti-government protests have been growing by the day in several regions of the country.