Halmos Event Delves Into Conflict and Assassination in Haiti

The Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS) and the Department of Humanities and Politics (DHP) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center (HCAS) hosted an event titled “Understanding the Conflicting Political Context of the Haitian President’s Assassination.” This event provided the opportunity for information and discussion regarding recent and historical perspectives on the events leading up to the assassination.

The event was coordinated by Elena Bastidas, Ph.D., faculty in DCRS. Bastidas welcomed the speakers and guests. Judith McKay, J.D., Ph.D., faculty in DCRS and Ransford Edwards, Ph.D. faculty in DHP were the facilitators. The speakers were two doctoral candidates in DCRS, Roland Joseph and Ernst Vincent.

Roland Joseph is a member of the Research Committee on Non-killing Security and International Relations at the Center for Global Nonkilling. He worked as a journalist and political analyst in Haiti for radio stations and newspapers such as Radio Evangelique Hosanna FM, Radio Ephphatha FM, and Journal le Matin for more than 15 years. He coordinated and led training sessions on peace, non-violence, nonkilling, and conflict resolution at Centre caribéen pour la non-violence globale et le développement durable (Caribbean Center for Global Non-Violence and Sustainable Development). Roland received his bachelor’s degree in political in Haiti; and his master’s degree in peace and conflict studies at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Ernst Vincent is working on his dissertation, which focuses on the conflict between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He is a pastor and a theologian. He received two master’s degrees from NSU, one in organizational leadership and one in conflict analysis and resolution. His research interests include the defense of human rights, race and ethnic relations and religious studies. Vincent is the current president of the Haitian Pastors Conference.