Jean L. Dominique, Haiti’s most prominent journalist was slain, along with the groundskeeper of his radio station, Radio Haiti Inter, on April 3, 2000 by unidentified gunmen.
The Agronomist, the Sidewalk Film Club’s feature film for next Tuesday, is a documentary, which pays tribute to Dominique.
Dominique, the film club said, had dedicated a 40-year radio career to ending the Duvalier dictatorships and establishing democracy in Haiti. He survived years of threats and beatings at the hands of Duvalier’s Tonton Macoutes and was twice forced into exile, the last time was when President Aristide was overthrown in 1991. Dominique died in a hail of gunfire as he arrived at his office for the morning news programme on April 3, 2000.
His wife and fellow journalist Michele Montas tried to keep the radio station going, but shut it down and fled to New York in 2003 after her bodyguard was killed during an attack on her home. Montas is now spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
The Agronomist is part of the story of Haiti, and of the Haitians who have struggled for democracy in Haiti. Jean Dominique’s story is also about the power of free media. The Agronomist was first screened at the UN Headquarters on World Press Freedom Day in 2004, to an audience including Secretary General Kofi Annan.
As usual admission is free and the film starts at 7.30 pm
