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{{short description|Haitian activist}}
{{short description|Haitian activist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Bernard Fils-Aimé
| name = Bernard Fils-Aimé
| image = 2009 Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence (portrait crop).jpg
| image = 2009 Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence (portrait crop).jpg
| caption = in 2009
| caption = in 2009
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|05|24}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|05|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Petionville]], Haiti
| birth_place = [[Petionville]], Haiti
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|08|08|1953|05|24}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|08|08|1953|05|24|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Miami]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Miami]], U.S.
| occupation = [[entrepreneur]], [[activist]]
| occupation = [[entrepreneur]], [[activist]]
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Fils-Aimé and his family left Haiti for [[New York City]] in 1966.<ref name="nyt" /> He graduated from [[John Jay Educational Campus (Brooklyn)|John Jay High School]] in 1971,<ref>{{cite book |title=Prospect 1971 |date=1971 |publisher=John Jay High School |location=Brooklyn, NY |url=https://www.bklynlibrary.org/brooklyncollection/finding-aid/brooklyn-yearbook}}</ref> then studied at [[Columbia University]] for two years. He became involved in student activism, and remained active after he left the university. At a Haiti-related event for student organizers, Fils-Aimé met Marise Piverger; they married in 1980 despite her parents' disapproval, and moved to [[Miami]].<ref name="nyt" />
Fils-Aimé and his family left Haiti for [[New York City]] in 1966.<ref name="nyt" /> He graduated from [[John Jay Educational Campus (Brooklyn)|John Jay High School]] in 1971,<ref>{{cite book |title=Prospect 1971 |date=1971 |publisher=John Jay High School |location=Brooklyn, NY |url=https://www.bklynlibrary.org/brooklyncollection/finding-aid/brooklyn-yearbook}}</ref> then studied at [[Columbia University]] for two years. He became involved in student activism, and remained active after he left the university. At a Haiti-related event for student organizers, Fils-Aimé met Marise Piverger; they married in 1980 despite her parents' disapproval, and moved to [[Miami]].<ref name="nyt" />


In Miami, Fils-Aimé co-founded the Haitian Refugee Center, which organized protests and litigated cases on behalf of detained Haitian refugees.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bernard Fils-Aimé, who helped launch Haiti’s 1st cell network, dies of COVID-19 at 67|url=https://www.today.com/video/bernard-fils-aime-who-helped-launch-haiti-s-1st-cell-network-dies-of-covid-19-at-67-90865221659|access-date=2020-09-24|website=TODAY.com|language=en}}</ref>
In Miami, Fils-Aimé co-founded the Haitian Refugee Center, which organized protests and litigated cases on behalf of detained Haitian refugees.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bernard Fils-Aimé, who helped launch Haiti’s 1st cell network, dies of COVID-19 at 67|url=https://www.today.com/video/bernard-fils-aime-who-helped-launch-haiti-s-1st-cell-network-dies-of-covid-19-at-67-90865221659|access-date=24 September 2020|website=TODAY.com|language=en}}</ref>


Fils-Aimé later went back to school, completing his bachelor's degree<ref name="nyt" /> and a [[Master of Public Administration]] from [[Florida International University]].<ref name="global">{{cite web|title=Speaker Biographies|url=https://globalwa.org/events-center/past-annual-conferences/conference-2010/speaker-biographies/|accessdate=13 August 2020|website=Global Washington Conference 2010}}</ref> He worked in various administrative positions at [[Miami-Dade Community College]]: he was director of placement at the Wolfson campus,<ref>{{Cite news|date=1991-03-18|title=Clipped From The Miami Herald|pages=79|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57984889/the-miami-herald/|access-date=2020-09-08}}</ref> and later served as the [[Dean_(education)#Higher_education|assistant dean of students]]. <ref name="herald">{{cite web|last1=Charles|first1=Jacqueline|date=11 August 2020|title=Entrepreneur, activist Bernard Fils-Aimé dead at 67|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article244866827.html|website=Miami Herald}}</ref> Fils-Aimé was also a member of the Book Distribution Committee for the [[Miami Book Fair International]] in 1992,<ref>{{Cite news|date=1992-11-15|title=Clipped From The Miami Herald|pages=382|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57985459/the-miami-herald/|access-date=2020-09-24}}</ref> 1993,<ref>{{Cite news|date=1993-11-07|title=Clipped From The Miami Herald|pages=222|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57985579/the-miami-herald/|access-date=2020-09-24}}</ref> and 1995.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1995-11-05|title=Clipped From The Miami Herald|pages=969|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57985768/the-miami-herald/|access-date=2020-09-24}}</ref>
Fils-Aimé later went back to school, completing his bachelor's degree<ref name="nyt" /> and a [[Master of Public Administration]] from [[Florida International University]].<ref name="global">{{cite web|title=Speaker Biographies|url=https://globalwa.org/events-center/past-annual-conferences/conference-2010/speaker-biographies/|accessdate=13 August 2020|website=Global Washington Conference 2010}}</ref> He worked in various administrative positions at [[Miami-Dade Community College]]: he was director of placement at the Wolfson campus,<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 March 1991|title=Clipped From The Miami Herald|pages=79|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57984889/the-miami-herald/|access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref> and later served as the [[Dean_(education)#Higher_education|assistant dean of students]]. <ref name="herald">{{cite web|last1=Charles|first1=Jacqueline|date=11 August 2020|title=Entrepreneur, activist Bernard Fils-Aimé dead at 67|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article244866827.html|website=Miami Herald}}</ref> Fils-Aimé was also a member of the Book Distribution Committee for the [[Miami Book Fair International]] in 1992,<ref>{{Cite news|date=15 November 1992|title=Clipped From The Miami Herald|pages=382|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57985459/the-miami-herald/|access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> 1993,<ref>{{Cite news|date=7 November 1993|title=Clipped From The Miami Herald|pages=222|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57985579/the-miami-herald/|access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> and 1995.<ref>{{Cite news|date=5 November 1995|title=Clipped From The Miami Herald|pages=969|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57985768/the-miami-herald/|access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref>


==Business in Haiti==
==Business in Haiti==
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==Political involvement==
==Political involvement==
Fils-Aimé was a close friend of Haitian [[President of Haiti|President]] [[Rene Preval]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-03-04|title=Clipped From The Miami Herald|pages=A4|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57987038/the-miami-herald/|access-date=2020-09-24}}</ref>
Fils-Aimé was a close friend of Haitian [[President of Haiti|President]] [[Rene Preval]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=4 March 2017|title=Clipped From The Miami Herald|pages=A4|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57987038/the-miami-herald/|access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref>


In the aftermath of the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]], Fils-Aimé was critical of the Haitian government's plan to [[Eminent domain|appropriate]] land for building aid camps; he observed that many political conflicts in Haiti had been triggered by land disputes.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2010-02-20|title=Clipped From The Ithaca Journal|pages=9|work=The Ithaca Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57986745/the-ithaca-journal/|access-date=2020-09-24}}</ref> He also defended a private-sector-run opinion poll for the [[2010–11 Haitian general election|2010–11 Haitian presidential election]] in the name of transparency, as previous such polls had not been publicly released.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2010-11-12|title=Clipped From The Miami Herald|pages=9|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57986884/the-miami-herald/|access-date=2020-09-24}}</ref>
In the aftermath of the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]], Fils-Aimé was critical of the Haitian government's plan to [[Eminent domain|appropriate]] land for building aid camps; he observed that many political conflicts in Haiti had been triggered by land disputes.<ref>{{Cite news|date=20 February 2010|title=Clipped From The Ithaca Journal|pages=9|work=The Ithaca Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57986745/the-ithaca-journal/|access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> He also defended a private-sector-run opinion poll for the [[2010–11 Haitian general election|2010–11 Haitian presidential election]] in the name of transparency, as previous such polls had not been publicly released.<ref>{{Cite news|date=12 November 2010|title=Clipped From The Miami Herald|pages=9|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57986884/the-miami-herald/|access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref>


In 2019, Fils-Aimé published an op-ed in the ''[[Miami Herald]]'' decrying President [[Jovenel Moïse|Jovenel Moïse's]] responses to the [[2018–2019 Haitian protests]]. The article was reprinted after the ''Herald'' erroneously attached a photograph of [[Reggie Fils-Aimé]] instead of Bernard Fils-Aimé.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-12-08|title=Incorrect photo (Reggie instead of Bernard)|pages=C5|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57987127/incorrect-photo-reggie-instead-of/|access-date=2020-09-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-12-09|title=Corrected photo|pages=A13|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57987147/corrected-photo/|access-date=2020-09-24}}</ref>
In 2019, Fils-Aimé published an op-ed in the ''[[Miami Herald]]'' decrying President [[Jovenel Moïse|Jovenel Moïse's]] responses to the [[2018–2019 Haitian protests]]. The article was reprinted after the ''Herald'' erroneously attached a photograph of [[Reggie Fils-Aimé]] instead of Bernard Fils-Aimé.<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 December 2019|title=Incorrect photo (Reggie instead of Bernard)|pages=C5|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57987127/incorrect-photo-reggie-instead-of/|access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=9 December 2019|title=Corrected photo|pages=A13|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57987147/corrected-photo/|access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref>


==Family==
==Family==
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==Death==
==Death==
Fils-Aimé died of [[COVID-19]] at the [[University of Miami]] Hospital on August 8, 2020.<ref name="herald"/>
Fils-Aimé died of [[COVID-19]] at the [[University of Miami]] Hospital on 8 August 2020.<ref name="herald"/>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 10:36, 8 October 2020

Bernard Fils-Aimé
in 2009
Born(1953-05-24)24 May 1953
Petionville, Haiti
Died8 August 2020(2020-08-08) (aged 67)
Miami, U.S.
Alma materFlorida International University
Occupation(s)entrepreneur, activist
SpouseMarise Piverger (m. 1980)
Children3

Bernard Fils-Aimé (24 May 1953 – 8 August 2020) was a Haitian entrepreneur and activist. He was part of community assistance organizations for Haitians in America, cofounding the Haitian Refugee Center and serving on the board of the Haitian Education & Leadership Program. He also served as the managing director of Comcel Haiti from its founding in 1998 until its sale to Digicel in 2012.

Early career and activism

Bernard Fils-Aimé was the youngest of four children. His father, Camile Fils-Aimé, died soon after he was born.[1] His mother, Uranie Gabriel Fils-Aime, was the directrice of the Republic of Guatemala Primary School in Petionville.[2] She opposed François Duvalier, and was briefly arrested for criticizing his policies.[1]

Fils-Aimé and his family left Haiti for New York City in 1966.[1] He graduated from John Jay High School in 1971,[3] then studied at Columbia University for two years. He became involved in student activism, and remained active after he left the university. At a Haiti-related event for student organizers, Fils-Aimé met Marise Piverger; they married in 1980 despite her parents' disapproval, and moved to Miami.[1]

In Miami, Fils-Aimé co-founded the Haitian Refugee Center, which organized protests and litigated cases on behalf of detained Haitian refugees.[4]

Fils-Aimé later went back to school, completing his bachelor's degree[1] and a Master of Public Administration from Florida International University.[5] He worked in various administrative positions at Miami-Dade Community College: he was director of placement at the Wolfson campus,[6] and later served as the assistant dean of students. [7] Fils-Aimé was also a member of the Book Distribution Committee for the Miami Book Fair International in 1992,[8] 1993,[9] and 1995.[10]

Business in Haiti

In 1995, Fils-Aimé moved back to Haiti, although he would regularly visit Miami.[7] His first business venture was SabbAimé S.A., an importer and distributor of frozen chicken.[5] Around this same time, a group of American investors wanted to start a wireless carrier in Haiti, and approached Fils-Aimé to serve as a local partner. He helped negotiate the initial licenses for what would become Comcel, and became the first CEO.[1]

He recognized that Comcel faced unique hurdles as one of the few large private enterprises in Haiti. When subscribers complained of being unable to charge their phones, Fils-Aimé would let them charge their phones for free at Comcel headquarters.[11] He also directed Comcel's resources toward philanthropic initiatives; when the company changed its name to Voila, Fils-Aimé became the president of the Voila Foundation.[1]

From 2006 to 2007, he served as the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti.[12]

Fils-Aimé retired from Voila's management after its sale to Digicel in 2012. He then joined the board of the Haitian Education & Leadership Program. He also served as president of the Trilogy International Foundation, which is associated with Comcel's US parent company.[13]

Political involvement

Fils-Aimé was a close friend of Haitian President Rene Preval.[14]

In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Fils-Aimé was critical of the Haitian government's plan to appropriate land for building aid camps; he observed that many political conflicts in Haiti had been triggered by land disputes.[15] He also defended a private-sector-run opinion poll for the 2010–11 Haitian presidential election in the name of transparency, as previous such polls had not been publicly released.[16]

In 2019, Fils-Aimé published an op-ed in the Miami Herald decrying President Jovenel Moïse's responses to the 2018–2019 Haitian protests. The article was reprinted after the Herald erroneously attached a photograph of Reggie Fils-Aimé instead of Bernard Fils-Aimé.[17][18]

Family

Fils-Aimé and his wife Marise had three children: daughter Erica and sons Karl and Gerard.[1]

Death

Fils-Aimé died of COVID-19 at the University of Miami Hospital on 8 August 2020.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Leland, John (28 August 2020). "Bernard Fils-Aimé, Haitian Activist and Cellphone Mogul, Dies at 67". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Bros, Emmanuel (27 April 1978). "ARRETE" (PDF). Le Moniteur (in French). No. 29. Port-au-Prince, Haiti: Presses Nationales d'Haiti.
  3. ^ Prospect 1971. Brooklyn, NY: John Jay High School. 1971.
  4. ^ "Bernard Fils-Aimé, who helped launch Haiti's 1st cell network, dies of COVID-19 at 67". TODAY.com. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Speaker Biographies". Global Washington Conference 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Clipped From The Miami Herald". The Miami Herald. 18 March 1991. p. 79. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b c Charles, Jacqueline (11 August 2020). "Entrepreneur, activist Bernard Fils-Aimé dead at 67". Miami Herald.
  8. ^ "Clipped From The Miami Herald". The Miami Herald. 15 November 1992. p. 382. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Clipped From The Miami Herald". The Miami Herald. 7 November 1993. p. 222. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Clipped From The Miami Herald". The Miami Herald. 5 November 1995. p. 969. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  11. ^ Romero, Simon (19 December 2000). "TECHNOLOGY: A Cell Phone Surge Among World's Poor; In Haiti, Entrepreneurs as Suppliers". The New York Times.
  12. ^ "Passing of Bernard Fils-Aimé". Haiti Libre. 13 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Bernard Fils-Aimé". Haitian Education and Leadership Program. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Clipped From The Miami Herald". The Miami Herald. 4 March 2017. pp. A4. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Clipped From The Ithaca Journal". The Ithaca Journal. 20 February 2010. p. 9. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Clipped From The Miami Herald". The Miami Herald. 12 November 2010. p. 9. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Incorrect photo (Reggie instead of Bernard)". The Miami Herald. 8 December 2019. pp. C5. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Corrected photo". The Miami Herald. 9 December 2019. pp. A13. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
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