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Massachusetts State Representative Marie St. Fleur's among 4 Haitian women honored

By Amy Bracken, Globe Correspondent | October 22, 2006

State Representative Marie St. Fleur's year began disastrously: Days after being selected by gubernatorial candidate Tom O'Reilly as his running mate, she was forced to withdraw her candidacy for lieutenant governor when the Globe reported that she had a record of delinquency on both taxes and student loans.

Eight months later, things are looking up for St. Fleur. She easily won the Democratic primary in her home district; only perennial candidate Althea Garrison stands between her and reelection. And on Oct. 14 she was one of four ``outstanding" Haitian women honored for their achievements at this year's gala of the Association of Haitian Women in Boston .

Presenting an award to St. Fleur in John Hancock Hall, the association's director, Carline Desiré, said her group wanted to encourage the seven-year legislator to stand strong.

``We are honoring her today," she said, ``to let her know, yes, there are challenges out there, but we want her to continue on to be the strong woman that she is."

To applause, St. Fleur said, ``If anyone learns anything from what happened to me . . . I want to tell you: The reality is there is no one with a clean slate. Very few have a clean slate. That is not the issue. The issue is: Is there work to do, and are you willing to step up and get it done? There is work to do, and I'm willing to step up to get it done."

The group also honored:

New York-based songwriter and vocalist Emeline Michel , who had the audience singing and dancing to her rhythmic odes to Haiti.

Boston Public Schools teacher trainer Lunine Pierre-Jérôme , honored for her longtime volunteer work on domestic violence and AIDS issues as well as medical interpreting, counseling, and literacy education.

Marie Labranche, 70, honored in part for joining the ranks of about 100 students in the association's education program. In her youth she had been pulled out of elementary school to help raise her younger siblings.

This year's honorees will be among the first to have their photos in a ``wall of Haitian Women Achievers" at the group's Dorchester headquarters.

Massachusetts is the only state in the nation with two Haitian state legislators -- St. Fleur and Linda Dorcena Forry of Lower Mills -- and a Haitian college president -- Carole Berotte Joseph of MassBay Community College. All were on the Hancock Hall dance floor after the awards ceremony.

Today from 4 to 8 p.m., the Association of Haitian Women in Boston hosts an exhibit by Haitian photographer and sociologist Kesler Bienamé and a debate on how to address environmental degradation in Haiti. On Saturday the group will hold a domestic violence forum at the Haitian Multi-Service Center . For information, call 617-287-0096 .