By Lorenzo W. Snelling / Special to Le Floridien
As the first and only Haitian-American-owned radio station in the nation, WSRF 1580 AM and 99.5 FM in North Miami Beach achieved another milestone.
The radio station, located at 1510 N.E. 162nd Street, celebrated the completion of months of renovations of its facility during an event on July 21 that drew fans and local dignitaries from North Miami, North Miami Beach and surrounding areas.
But attendees found it kind of odd when Markenson Jeanty, a radio broker at the station who lives in the Ives Dairy area, was designated by North Miami Mayor Dr. Alix Desulme, who couldn’t attend the event, to read and hand the proclamation to radio staff on behalf of the city instead of a city official.
Jeanty has a Sunday afternoon show Called ‘ 360 Degree Media.’ at the radio station.
Some people criticized Jeanty and Desulme who believe the mayor gave the proclamation without engaging the city protocol.
According to North Miami’s city charter, the mayor presides over meetings of the council and is recognized as the head of the city government for all ceremonial purposes.
Like other cities’ charters in Miami-Dade, in the event the mayor can’t attend ceremonies, he/she can designate a city official, usually the vice mayor or a council member, to act on the city’s behalf.
But the city charter for North Miami doesn’t address the mayor designating an individual outside city hall to read and present proclamations.
However, some people in North Miami said the mayor should’ve followed protocol and picked the vice mayor, a council member or the town clerk to do the honors.
Patrick Maignan, a North Miami Beach businessman who’s involved in local politics and was at the event, said though it wasn’t illegal for the mayor to designate someone outside city hall to read the proclamation, it doesn’t look good for North Miami.
“The mayor can pick whomever he wants to deliver the proclamation but he should’ve had staff to do it instead,” Maignan said. “I’m not in a position to blame anybody but I think it’s something that doesn’t look good.”
Naomi Esther Blemur, who’s running for mayor of North Miami in 2024, also chimed in on the proclamation controversy.
Blemur, who was a 2022 candidate for Florida Agriculture Commissioner, said in order to achieve “our” common objectives and better serve the community as public servants, it is imperative that we prioritize working together harmoniously.
“We must strive to improve our delivery of these essential attributes in all our endeavors, particularly in official city matters,” she said.
Desulme, North Miami Vice Mayor Mary Estime-Irvin and Councilman Pierre Frantz Charles all couldn’t be reached for comments.
Critics said North Miami Vice Mayor Mary Estime-Irvin and Councilman Pierre Frantz Charles were unaware of the proclamation.
In an email, City Clerk Vanessa Joseph said she was glad to be at the event to celebrate the radio station’s milestone.
“Unfortunately, since I was not a part of the development or delivery of the proclamation, I am unable to provide any comments,” she said.
Jeanty declined to comment about the proclamation but said: “I volunteer for many things in the community.”
The radio station, owned by Niche Radio, Inc., broadcasts a full-service/ brokered format primarily in Haitian Creole and French with songs and radio talk shows.
It’s a staple for the Haitian community to discuss issues impacting Haitian-Americans.
Rose-Philippe Coriolan, operations manager for the radio station, said the renovations included building a bigger studio, more space for audiences and guests for talk shows and more room for equipment and technology for better quality sound.
She said the company purchased the radio station in 2005 and had been renting the building for years before it decided to buy the facility.
Coriolan said she and others at the radio station were delighted to see people attend the celebration but wasn’t aware of the proclamation controversy.
She said it didn’t matter who read and gave the proclamation to the radio station.
‘It didn’t make a difference,” she said. “We wanted to be blessed by the place.”
