Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 30 novembre 2016

 Fidel Castro and the Media

Fidel Castro dies at the age of 90 years and the press all over the world presents the man who for 25 years occupied a first row seat not only in his country, but also in many Third World countries; the one who made of his country, one on whom all the looks have converged.

The following are a few excerpts from various newspapers following the death of the “Marxist Leader.”

Melodie FM and Haiti en Marche

Fidel and Haiti!

PORT-AU-PRINCE, November 26^th - The man was a legend. But not a Living God, as was considered Papa Doc. The same with Balaguer, successor of the Dominican dictator Trujillo. Nevertheless, his influence covered several continents.

We were fortunate enough to have met Fidel Castro thanks to an invitation by President René Préval (1996-2001) as a journalistic group that accompanied him during an official visit to Cuba.

The highlight of the visit was the reception held at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana.

The protocol was at its highest. The honor guard had a parade within the building. It was a military-civilian government like any revolutionary government desires.

Both heads of state made their speeches. To our surprise, the Marxist leader did not only know the history of Haiti, he knew it better we did. This was due to the fact that he was a history buff, a crazy admirer. For him, the history of Haiti and of Cuba are closely linked. This goes back to Hatuey in Cuba and the Cacique Henry for us, both Indian chiefs who unequivocally refused to submit themselves to the Conquistadors, just like the heroes of the War for Independence in Haiti.

After the victory of the former slaves against the French in November, 1803, many colonists from Santo Domingo took refuge in Cuba where they reproduced the sugar industry which had made Haiti “The Pearl of the Antilles” under colonialism.

Fidel considered that Cuba held a large debt to Haiti because it alone implanted the seed for a real revolution in the New World, while the United States continued to practice slavery for several more decades.

The Guardian, 26 November 2016 by Richard Gott

“Fidel Castro, who died at the age of 90, was one of the more extraordinary political figures of the 20^th century. After leading a successful revolution on a Caribbean island in 1959, he became a player on the global stage, dealing on equal terms with successive leaders of the two nuclear superpowers during the cold war. A charismatic figure from the developing world, his influence was felt far beyond the shores of Cuba. Known as Fidel to friends and enemies alike, his life story is inevitably that of his people and their revolution. Even in old age, he still exercised a magnetic attraction wherever he went, his audience as fascinated by the dinosaur from history as they had once been by the revolutionary firebrand of earlier times.

The Russians were beguiled by him (Nikita Khrushchev and Anastas Mikoyan in particular), European intellectuals took him to their hearts (notably Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir), African revolutionaries welcomed his assistance and advice, and the leaders of Latin American peasant movements were inspired by his revolution. In the 21st century, he acquired fresh relevance as the mentor of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and Evo Morales in Bolivia, the leaders of two unusual revolutions that threatened the hegemony of the US. Only the US itself, which viewed Castro as public enemy No 1 (until they found an “axis of evil” further afield), and the Chinese in the Mao era, who found his political behavior essentially irresponsible, refused to fall for his charm. It took until Barack Obama’s presidency for US restrictions to be eased – but by then an intestinal illness had compelled Castro’s resignation as president in favor of his brother Raúl, who saw in the historic normalizing of relations between the two countries. Nonetheless, Fidel maintained his antagonism until the end, declaring in a letter on his 90th birthday this year that “we don’t need the empire to give us anything.”

Fidel Castro "torments" multiple American presidents

AFP Washington

The American media drew an unforgiving portrait of the Cuban ex-leader Fidel Castro, who died on Friday at the age 90. "Repressive leader" for some, "agony" of about ten presidents of the United States, wrote others.

In their electronic online editions, these media dedicated a wide part of their spaces to the "revolutionary leader who challenged" the United States, as wrote The New York Times.

"He brought the Cold war to the western hemisphere, tormented 11 presidents and brought the world at the edge of the nuclear war," recalls the Times. It also notes "the importance" in the twentieth century of this "international figure," who only managed a quite small island in the Caribbean with 11 million inhabitants.

For the Los Angeles Times, Fidel Castro was "a revolutionary icon whose influence was well felt far beyond Cuba." This point of view shared by Miami Herald, for whom his "shadow" propagated during almost fifty years through Latin America and world.

For his critics he was a "repressive leader who transformed his country into a Gulag,” asserts the Washington Post.

It remains to be seen whether his death will bring significant changes in Cuba. For Peter Schechter, expert at the Think Tank Atlantic Council based in Washington D.C., stability must prevail.

A Very Good Day for Haiti

by Focus On Haiti Initiative Team

If ever a country and its people needed a good day, it was Haiti and the Haitian people.  Over the past two months, they have been battered by a monstrous hurricane and, more recently, by widespread flooding and mudslides.  Over the past year, they have been subject to fraudulent elections and, when the country’s political, social, civic and economic leaders sought to rectify them, resistance and pressure to accept the election results status quo from external forces who ironically often present themselves as Haiti’s ‘friends.’  And, in the five years prior to those denigrating elections, the country and its people were subject to a government more known for organizing carnivals, engaging enthusiastically in debt-inducing political patronage and shady dealings, and disrespecting democratic process and practice than for leading the country to a stronger, more prosperous future.

It is through this lens that Sunday, November 20, 2016 was a very good day for Haiti.  On that day, the bruised country held an election and determined citizens went to polling places around the country in what has been described by the head of the elections council as “a successful day… that unfolded in calm, serenity… and, in general… without violence.” Voters went to cast ballots for president, and in certain constituencies, for senators and lower chamber deputies engaged in a run-off election.  Should no single candidate for the presidency receive more than 50% of Sunday’s votes, a presidential run-off between the two top vote getters is scheduled for January 29, 2017.

In view of the tepid and rather late support of Sunday’s reformed balloting by international actors (including the U.S.), Haitians who have chaffed for years over the dominant role outsiders have played in their political process must have a sense of vindication over Sunday’s ‘calm, serene’ outcome.  Joining the interim government and its Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) in relishing this absolution is the multitude of civil society, church, and business leaders who supported the push toward Haitian assertion of ‘ownership’ of its presidential election.  Without doubt, Haitian ownership contributed significantly in the positive outcome on November 20th. Haitians all along the country’s socio-economic spectrum now had something to prove with this election.  With determination and dignity they demonstrated that they can lead their own political process, and conduct – and pay for - their own elections.  They must now be accorded all due respect for this important step in strengthening Haiti’s democratic process.  After all, it must be asked, what truly democratic country does not ‘own’ its own elections?

Kudos are thereby accorded to the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) that organized the election and to the workers it engaged nationwide to organize and guide the electoral process; to the Provisional government that stood against pressure to accept electoral fraud and that successfully found the $55 million needed to finance their election; to both the Haitian National Police (HNP) who provided unflinching security for the process and the United Nations peacekeepers and police trainers who worked alongside them; to the Haitian election monitoring organizations that exposed the prior fraud and remained engaged as watchdogs to assiduously monitor the election on November 20; and to the citizens of Haiti who voted in calm and serenity, and by doing so showed their commitment to this manifestation of democratic process.

That process improved significantly in large part because the CEP implemented much-needed reforms in arrangements for electoral observation by political party operatives.  Their number was reduced; they were given photo IDs; and they were permitted only one vote, at their home polling station.  A year earlier, the jaw-dropping number of close to one million of these ‘mandataires’ were empowered with generic ID badges that infused the process with fraud, repeated voting in multiple polling places, and the crowding of polling sites which certainly intimidated ‘ordinary’ voters.

The ballot also improved because of the determination of the CEP and Haitian security officials to clearly disseminate the rules of the electoral process and to take quick, appropriate action against those who sought to break them either leading up to the election or on Election Day itself.  Early reports indicate that some 43 arrests were made on Election Day of individuals seeking to disrupt voting transparency.  Happily, violence feared for Election Day – heightened by the HNP’s interception of several illicit deliveries of weapons during the run-up to elections – did not occur.

One good day, however, does not make a successful election outcome.  Much work remains in the aftermath of the actual voting.  Ballots must be secured and counted – unfortunately still a painfully long process in Haiti.  Results must be released fully and with the transparency needed to instill greater confidence in them among both Haitian citizens who have become apathetic toward and distrustful of elections,  and the international actors who have become accustomed to accepting controversial and flawed election results, sending a message that Haitians must be satisfied with a ‘second class’ democracy.

Beyond doubt, when those results are released, losing candidates will cry ‘foul,’ accusing the process of fraud and of bias against them.  This has become standard practice in Haitian elections… sometimes, as was seen in the 2015 so-called elections, with cause.  It will be up to Haitian election authorities to respond quickly, clearly and fairly to contestations, as it will be the responsibility of losing candidates to accept transparent and honest results. Spoilers – with or without guns - still lurk in the shadows seeking to undermine a process or an outcome that does not satisfy their goal of gaining power and protecting their privilege.  Vigilance is called for to monitor them and thwart any even tentative moves they make toward disruption.    And, as the country moves toward a probable presidential run-off election on January 2017, flaws in the reformed process, including those that created confusion among certain voters as to where they could actually vote, must be corrected.

As always, many challenges remain ahead, as reflected in the oft-cited Haitian proverb ‘dèyè mòn, gen mòn,’or, ‘beyond mountains there are more mountains.’  Nevertheless, Sunday, November 20, 2016 was a very good day for Haiti’s besieged and fragile democracy, and a very good day for Haiti.  Haiti’s true friends hold fervent hope for many more very good days to come.

Robert “Bob” Maguire, Ph.D.Director, Focus On Haiti InitiativeElliott School of International AffairsThe George Washington University, Washington DCNovember 21, 2016

Fidel Castro: A Global Revolutionary

The original source of this article is Granma (Cuba)

Copyright © Sergio Alejandro Gómez, Granma, 2016

The Cuban Revolution and Fidel’s ideas have inspired all those searching for a different world; looking to overcome the contradictions which world powers try to present as inevitable.

At a time when it seemed as though all was lost following the fall of the Socialist camp in Eastern Europe; the light that had been lit in 1959, began to shine even brighter. Defending socialism in order to resolve humanity’s problems, even during the most difficult times in the country’s history, placed Fidel on the short list of revolutionaries who have known how to interpret “the significance of the historic moment.”

Such conviction was never tied to dogmas. In the same way that Cuban weapons and resources supported guerillas fighting against dictatorships across our continent, Fidel – the fighter from the Sierra – knew how to recognize when the time for armed struggle had ended, and that of political transformation had begun.

He has had the privilege of seeing various generations of Latin American revolutionaries come and go, individuals who have had the good fortune of benefiting from his support: from Salvador Allende to Hugo Chávez, to name just two of the many brave regional leaders.

“To me Fidel is a father, a comrade, a master of impeccable strategy,” stated Chávez during an interview with Granma in 2005. The two leaders first met in 1994, where Fidel received the recently freed lieutenant colonel at the foot of his plane’s stairway, on arrival in Havana.

Chávez’s 1999 presidential electoral victory marked the beginning of a new era for Latin America and the Caribbean which, as has been noted by protagonists of this process, from Evo Morales to Rafael Correa, would have been impossible without Fidel’s leadership.

Although a counter-offensive is currently underway by right wing forces, attempting to destroy all the gains made over the last decade, there exist concrete examples of the fulfillment of over 200 years of integration efforts, such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, founded in 2010.

Much earlier however, in a meeting during the 1993 Sao Paulo Forum in Havana, the Cuban leader had told leftist forces: “What more can we do, what more can the Latin American left do than create a consciousness promoting unity? This should be inscribed on the flags of the left. With socialism or without socialism.”

In addition to his tireless revolutionary work, Fidel’s humanist ideas have alerted many to the major problems facing humanity, from climate change to the possibility of global destruction by nuclear weapons.

No one can look back over 20^th and 21^st century history, without studying the work and ideas of this Cuban who wrote a small Caribbean island into the pages of “true global history,” as told by the people.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 7 décembre 2016

 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon apologises for role in 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti

 'We apologise to the Haitian people. We did not do enough with regard to the cholera outbreak,' the UN chief said. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has apologised for the deadly cholera outbreak in Haiti that claimed around 9,300 lives and infected over 800,000 people in 2010. He admitted that peacekeepers from Nepal were responsible for bringing the disease into the nation, which was previously cholera-free.

In a report published on Thursday (1 December), the UN secretary-general said: "The preponderance of the evidence and the weight of the circumstantial evidence does lead to the conclusion that personnel associated with the Mirebalais United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti facility were the most likely source of introduction of cholera into Haiti."

The report was presented at a special meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York, where UN chief directly addressed the people of Haiti in three languages and said, "We apologise to the Haitian people. We simply did not do enough with regard to the cholera outbreak and spread in Haiti. We are profoundly sorry for our role.

"As a father and grandfather, I felt tremendous heartache at the pain so many families have had to endure. I will never forget it," he added.

Acknowledging his apology, special rapporteur Philip Alston said "the secretary-general has finally acted, albeit in his last month in office, after years of stonewalling", but added that his confession was a "half-apology".

"The determination not to accept legal responsibility entrenches a scandalous legal maneuver designed to sidestep the UN's legal obligations. It renders a meaningful apology impossible, as is made clear by the half-apology of the secretary-general today: he apologizes that the UN has not done more to eradicate cholera, but not for causing the disease in the first place," Alston said.

According to experts, cholera was introduced in Haiti by infected Nepalese UN peacekeepers who were part of a UN peacekeeping force established in 2004 after former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide was thrown out of office by an armed rebellion.

The number of the peacekeepers was increased after the 2010 earthquake and the outbreak was blamed on a leak in sewage pipes at a UN base.

Haiti presidential election winner vows anti-graft, food security push

By Joseph Guyler Delva and Makini Brice| PORT-AU-PRINCE

The winner of Haiti's presidential election, Jovenel Moise, vowed on Thursday to reform the constitution and tackle corruption when he takes office next year.

The electoral council said Moise won a majority of votes and prevailed by more than 25 percentage points, according to preliminary results for the Nov. 20 vote that Haitians hoped would put the country on sounder political and economic footing.

Turnout for the election was only about 20 percent in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. If the results are not successfully challenged, there will be no second round and Moise will become the Caribbean country's next president.

Final results are due to be announced on Dec. 29.

Moise will take over from a transitional government in power since his predecessor and political benefactor, Michel Martelly, left office in February, and his victory sparked protests by political opponents that the election was rigged.

He will have no shortage of challenges, facing galloping inflation and high unemployment.

In an interview, Moise said he won rightfully and would use the mandate to implement constitutional and institutional reforms intended to boost stability and reduce corruption.

"The constitution represents a blockage," said Moise. "We are in a phase of democratization. We are constructing a democracy. We cannot construct a democracy with irritants."

He argued that Haiti should not stage multiple local, parliamentary and presidential elections during a five-year presidential term and suggested holding them at the same time.

Anti-corruption judges would need to be vetted better, while institutions already in place to combat the "plague" of corruption would have to be reinforced and reorganized, he said.

"Corruption is the main brake (to development) in poor countries," said Moise. "At the highest level of the government, we have to set the tone and preach by example."

Moise also said he would include people of other political stripes in his administration, noting that political instability had led to a dependence on international aid.

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"You cannot develop a country on donations," he said.

Moise also pledged to overhaul the economy, making particular mention of agriculture, tourism and construction.

"I can't say in five years I will make Haiti 100 percent self-sufficient (in food)," said Moise, an agricultural entrepreneur known on the campaign trail as the "Banana Man."

"I think that if Haiti is not self-sufficient in food, it is because we have stopped working," he added.

(Reporting by Joseph Guyler Delva and Makini Brice; Editing by Peter Cooney)

CONATEL calls to order

In a note, the General Direction of the Executive Body of the National Council of Telecommunications (CONATEL) notes that at the end of the election day of 20 November 2016, some broadcasting stations in violation of the provisions of the Penal Code , Telecommunications laws and regulations, systematically disseminate information likely to disturb public order, incite the population to violence and undermine the integrity of many citizens.

CONATEL recalls that, according to the provisions of Article 6 of the Decree of 12 October 1977 granting the Haitian State the monopoly of telecommunications services, "telecommunications likely to disturb public order, national security, international relations , morality and good morals or the normal life of the society and its institutions are not conveyed," and the penalties incurred in such cases are provided for in article 139 of the aforementioned decree :

"...When the offense is committed through a broadcasting service, the penalty affects the concessionaire, the staff involved or those who operate it on a regular or occasional basis, as appropriate, the penalty may be progressive and extend to the cancellation of the concession for the holder, to the suspension for two years in respect of staff and a fine imposed on participants in accordance with the law and the regulations."

CONATEL, as the regulatory body in the telecommunications sector, associate itself with the competent authorities with a view to the application of measures which they deem necessary in order to avoid endangering the public peace and the integrity of the citizens.

Also, it urges the broadcasting stations concerned to put an immediate end to these irresponsible abuses and practices, while urging everyone to show serenity and tolerance at this decisive crossroads of national life.

The Core Group takes note of preliminary results and reiterates its call to act in accordance with the Electoral Decree

Port-au-Prince, 30 November 2016 - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the other members of the "Core Group" (the Ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, the United States of America and the European Union, and the Special Representative of the Organization of American States) take note of the preliminary results of the 20 November 2016 Presidential elections as a crucial step towards the completion of the electoral cycle. The “Core Group” commends the national authorities for their leadership of this process.  Its members reiterate their call on all to act in accordance with the Electoral Decree. 

Miami: ART BASEL five days of excitement in Miami’s diverse districts

This big cultural celebration brought together thousands of visitors, art lovers, and curious onlookers to Miami from November 30^th till December 4^th. They gathered in Miami’s diverse art districts, although it was impossible to see it all. We went to Las Olas in Fort-Lauderdale where visitors were able to admire the works of two painters: Philippe Dodard and Carlos Salas. The exhibit Cross Looks / Miradas Transversales attracted a large crowd. In Miami, there was Afrotopia, in the Wynwood District. This was an opportunity for several painters of African descent to show the role that artists can play in resistance movements to fight oppression. The hustle and bustle of the Wynwood District did not stop, not until the very last minute. Each person admiring the numerous paintings which were on display. However, it was the Wynwood Walls that drew most of the attention, especially in little spots where people could slow down and take a break.

As for the Little Haiti District, the one which the Haitian community continues to fight to keep its identity, it remained busy around the Caribbean Market Place and around the Little Haiti Cultural Center. This center presented a wonderful exhibit of the Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance with Edouard Duval Carrie, Tomas Esson, Jose Bedia, Ada Lalcacer, Firelei Baez, Ebony Paterson, Sinone Vega, London Tsai and Onajide Shabaka.

The theme of this exhibition was the Caribbean without borders. It is 8^th edition of this exhibit and it can be said that it is the most significant exhibit dedicated to the Caribbean. It too happened in the within the framework of Art BaseL Miami Beach.

This was also an opportunity for exchange and dialogue between Caribbean artists living in their countries, and those living in the Diaspora. All these artists who gathered around the Magic Garden gave the public a chance to admire not only the works built from magical plants from the Caribbean, but also to present in bottles and vials products with different virtues from throughout the Caribbean.

A key point of Art Basel in Little Haiti was a meeting of the community with visitors rushing to the Caribbean Market Place to admire paintings from Haiti, thanks to an initiative by the Haitian Ministry of Culture and Communication, especially since the painters were also on site to answer questions from visitors. Another highlight were the five chefs who gathered to offer samples of culinary specialties from home: Soup Joumou, Tchaka, Rum Cake among others. There was enough for everybody and the rum punch in did not stop flowing. To dive into the Haitian gastronomy, what could be better! Art Basel 2016 will remain engraved in our memories!

Minustah: Minustah condemns attacks and intimidations against citizens as well as journalists

In a press release forwarded to the media, the special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Haiti, Sandra Honoré, says he despises and condemns attacks and intimidations tactics against citizens as well as against journalists exercising their duties.

The chief of the MINUSTAH calls upon everyone to refuse any incitement or recourse to violence, to cause defamation, or intimidations of any kinds. In brief the MINUSTAH calls everyone to abstain from any act which could contribute to disturbing the peace and the stability of the country.

The special Representative greets the actions undertaken to end these practices and reminds everyone that national authorities are responsible for intervening so that the people guilty of illegal acts are pursued and judged by virtue of the electoral decree and the other applicable legal rules.

Insecurity: a powerful gang leader was arrested

Agents of the Haitian National Police Force arrested the powerful leader of the gang of Grand Ravine known as Tèt Kale, on December 3^rd at the Toussaint L’ouverture International Airport, as he was getting ready to leave the country.

Tèt Kale, whose real name is Junior Décimus, had in his possession a Haitian passport with an American visa valid for 5 years, when the agents of the PNH stopped him.

Junior Décimus is blamed for the death of another gang leader from the same area, who was killed last July.

The area of Grand Ravine is well-known for being controlled armed gangs. It is widely-believed that there are many political sectors which use the services of these various gang leaders, to reach their goals. 

Ségolène Royal pays homage to Fidel Castro, but this does not please everyone

“France does not have to give of lesson" to Cuba on human rights, declared the French Minister of Ecology, the only French politician to have gone on site to pay tribute to the recently deceased Cuban leader

French Minister of Ecology Ségolène Royal, was in Santiago de Cuba last Saturday to pay her respects to the memory of Fidel Castro, "He is a historical monument", she said of Castro, rejecting charges of human rights violations.  “This is also a symbol of a very deep friendship between Cuba and France," she declared to French journalists shortly after her arrival in Cuba. She was scheduled to attend an evening ceremony Saturday night to pay tribute to the "Comandante." Then, on Sunday, she was to attend the funeral, which was more restricted.

The candidate of the socialist Party in France’s 2007 presidential elections was one of the only members of a European government, along with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, to have made the trip to Cuba. There were there to participate in a week of national mourning dedicated to the former Cuban president, who died on November 25^th at the age of 90.

"Thanks to Fidel Castro, the Cubans got back their territory, their life, their fate. They were inspired by the French Revolution without knowing the terror which there was during the French Revolution", Royal said.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 3 janvier 2017

 President Jocelerme Privert announces his decision to leave on February 7^th

JOCELERME PRIVERT: “I will leave on February 7^th.” That is the headline of the front page of the daily paper “The Quotidien.”

In response to a question asked by the daily newspaper “The Quotidien”: Will you leave office on February 7^th if no elected candidate, confirmed by the CEP comes out on top in these elections, the President Privert answered:

I was asked this question twice this week. My position is clear. I will leave on February 7^th, 2017. Yesterday, in front of numerous member of the international community, I repeated that I will leave on February 7th.”

Also on the news this week: the resumption of work at the tabulation center. This process began on Tuesday, December 20^th. The electoral Court ordered the verification of 12 %  or 1,560 votes.

“The National” wrote: “According to representatives from Fanmi Lavalas and Pitit Dessalines the first votes examined were ridden with irregularities.”

The verification of ballots continues

Still on the same subject: “Haiti Libres” writes:  

The verification began on Tuesday, but with much tension, difficulties and delays...

In addition, the electoral court decided after dialoguing with political parties to include 27 PVs of Jean-Charles Moise, as well as the 364 PVs of Jude Célestin handed to the court for verification purposes. This number of PV is included in the total 1,560 PV that have be to be verified.

The beginning of the verification, which was initially planned for noon didn’t actually start until about 7:00 am p.m. because of the difficulties between the parties, to get agree with each other on the method of how to select a sample of 12 percent of the PVs.

According to the method finally, adopted, the number of PVs selected randomly and by taking into account the size of every department, will be read aloud, as well as the number of votes obtained by each candidate and the motive of the PV. Then, every challenging party is entitled to a few minutes to examine it, without the touching it.  The PV be protected by plastic. They can then make their comments.

Escape of the prison of Gonaïves:

Seven prisoners have escaped. The incident would have occurred the night between December 19 and December 20. Two months ago, some prisoners would have tried to escape from the same prison. They were unsuccessful. But this time, having sawed the bars off a window in the back of the building, they managed to escape.

The National commented on the escape with declarations by Maryse Jonas, the governments’ Commissioner in Gonaïves. She said she was surprised that prisoners escape from this building made into a Prison, but which was not built for that purpose. In fact, the opposite would have surprised her.

Nevertheless HPN, published comments made by people in charge of the General Inspection for the Haitian National Police, and they believed that the escape of the 7 prisoners of the civil prison of Gonaïves on December 20^th, 2016, was due to the carelessness of the policemen officers on duty.

Seizure of 3.000 tons of drug in Jamaica: this drug was intended for Haiti

On Wednesday evening at about 11:30 pm, the police of Portland (Jamaica) seized 3,000 pounds of Cannabis intended for Haiti, during a special operation in White River.

Within 21 bags, narcotics were found in a hut. Also, two individuals considered to be leading players in the business of “drug for weapons," were arrested and placed in police custody.

The Police of Portland is convinced that this Cannabis estimated at 15 million Jamaican dollars (± 120,000 US dollars), was intended to trade drugs for weapons practiced by local fishermen and their counterparts in Haiti.

The assistant Superintendent of Police Rex Swearing, Commanding Officer of the Portland Police, believes that this seizure has allowed to prevent the entry of dozens of weapons to Jamaica illegally.

Christmas Village in Jacmel

From December 23^rd to the 25^th, the Christmas Village of Jacmel enchanted the Christmas and New Year holidays for all families. Participants could discover the city’s festivities, gastronomy as well as a great diversity of arts and crafts, while adding a zest of ecology and respect for the environment. As always, Jacmel is a creative cultural destination!

The Digicel Foundation brings joy:

Last Monday, the Digicel Foundation brought joy to students St-Anne’s Presbyterian School of Yacinthe (a province of Petit-Gôave) where of youngsters between the ages of 5 and 16 received gifts. This event fell within the framework of an initiative by the Foundation for the last 4 years. Its objective is to allow children at the school, it has built, to experience "The Magic of Christmas".

Celebrating 200 years of the Lower House.

Port-au-Prince, December 9th, 2016 - (AHP) – the Chamber of Deputies is getting ready to celebrate its bicentennial. The President of the Assembly, Cholzer Chancy reminds that the lower house was established in 1816, while the senate already existed.

To celebrate 200 years of the Lower House several activities have been planned including a retreat on the logistic and the work of the parliament.

Considering the importance of this institution in the democratic process, Chancy considers that this occasion should not go unnoticed.

Deputy Patrick Norzéus, president of the ad hoc committee informed that representatives of the U.S. congress will visit the country in honor of this celebration.

US Haiti Aid Reports to Congress Include “Incomplete Data,” Fail to “Link Projects and Outcomes,” New Review Finds

 State Department Reports Also Fail to Adequately Identify Mistakes and Lessons Learned

WASHINGTON - A new paper from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) and the Haiti Advocacy Working Group (HAWG) reviews reports released by the US State Department on contracts for Haiti aid and finds significant omissions and deficiencies, including incomplete data, a failure to link projects and outcomes, and a failure to adequately identify mistakes and lessons learned. The State Department reports are intended to comply with the Assessing Progress in Haiti Act, which was signed into law in August 2014. CEPR and HAWG incorporated Haitian civil society feedback in their review of these reports.

“The Assessing Progress in Haiti Act represents a significant, bipartisan effort by the US Congress to shed light on how effectively US taxpayer dollars are being used to assist Haiti with its ongoing rebuilding efforts years after its devastating 2010 earthquake,” CEPR analyst and report coauthor Alexander Main said. “Unfortunately, while State is releasing some information, there is still a great need for additional clarity and detail to obtain the transparency and accountability that people in both the US and Haiti deserve.”

“Nearly seven years after the earthquake, much of the Haitian population still struggles to meet basic needs; there has been improvement in some sectors, but key national indicators such as food security and economic growth have actually worsened,” Jasmine Huggins, paper coauthor and Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer for Church World Service, said. “As Haiti addresses future development challenges in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, it is critically important that we all understand how past US aid was spent, who benefitted and what lessons we have learnt from projects implemented.”

Among the shortfalls that CEPR and HAWG identify:

•    Incomplete information: There is a significant quantity of missing data at the subprime level, equivalent to 34 percent of the $300 million awarded to subprime partners.
•    No clear links between projects and outcomes: The report fails to provide information about what benchmarks and goals have and have not been met at the project level.
•    No clear picture of who the beneficiaries of US assistance are.
•    Scant information on US coordination with Haitian and international entities.
•    No information on nongovernmental capacity building.
•    A failure to identify mistakes and lessons learned.

CEPR and HAWG also noted:

Haitian [civil society] groups are largely unaware of the APHA reports, suggesting that USAID and the State Department have done little to familiarize groups with the reports. In addition, no part of the report has been translated into French or Kreyòl, rendering them inaccessible to the vast majority of Haitians.

“As organizations that partner with local Haitian civil society, we continually push the U.S. government to more and better consultation with Haitians to make international aid more accountable to the people it is intended to reach,” noted coauthor Charissa Zehr of the Mennonite Central Committee US Washington Office.

The paper’s authors attempted to remedy this by sharing selections of the State Department reports with Haitian civil society organizations, and included their feedback and questions in the CEPR/HAWG review.

The Assessing Progress in Haiti Act’s key actionable component is its reporting requirement instructing the US State Department to produce four annual reports with detailed information on the status of US aid programs in Haiti. CEPR and HAWG reviewed the 2014 and 2015 reports released by the State Department.

The Haiti Advocacy Working Group is comprised of international development, faith-based, human rights, and social justice organizations advocating on issues related to US-Haiti policy.

###

The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) was established in 1999 to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people's lives. In order for citizens to effectively exercise their voices in a democracy, they should be informed about the problems and choices that they face. CEPR is committed to presenting issues in an accurate and understandable manner, so that the public is better prepared to choose among the various policy options.

A plan to regulate motorcycle taxis was just revealed by the police

Police Commissioner Carl Henry Boucher explained that this plans aims at establishing a database on the owners and drivers of motorcycle taxis.

During an interview with the daily newspaper, “The National,” the police commissioner explained: “We established a database with information gathered on the motorcycles owners, the drivers, and two references supplied those concerned.”

At the launching of this project last Wednesday at the Petion-Ville Police Station, a vest was handed to each driver. Every driver will be identified by a number and a helmet sticker. A color code has also been established within the framework of this plan. Every municipality in the metropolitan zone will be assigned a color.

The head of the Haitian National Police has been very concerned about the crimes committed by motorcyclists, especially on victims coming out of banks. Boucher explained: “With the implementation of this plan, the police was able to document no less than 4,775 motorcycles, out of which 369 are suspected by the police. At this time, the owners of these motorcycles have been summoned to verify the origin of these vehicles.

This database will allow the police to go back and investigate crimes by men on motorcycle. "A person, a vest, a number" insisted the Police Commissioner, who did not say however what will take place if a motorcycle driver does not wear his vest, or if he disappears with no trace as it usually happens.

During a police stop, motorcyclists will need to provide their registration, but not their license. That way, the police know at which police station the motorcycle was registered. 

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 6 janvier 2017

 January 1st, 2017

No. 2017/01

President Obama’s Message to Interim President Jocelerme Privert

 on the Commemoration of the 213th Independence of Haiti

Dear Mr. Interim President:

On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Haiti on commemorating the 213th anniversary of your nation's independence on January 1.  Haiti has an historic place in the shared struggle for independence in the Western Hemisphere.  The United States continues its steadfast support for a future of democracy and increased economic opportunity in Haiti. 

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

January 1st, 2017

No. 2017/02

Statement by Secretary John Kerry

Haiti National Day

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate Haiti and its citizens on this day of national celebration as Haiti marks the 213th anniversary of its independence.

Nearly one million people in the United States are of Haitian ancestry.  Our shared pride in that heritage resulted this year in the designation of Little Haiti as an official neighborhood of Miami, Florida.  The vibrancy of Little Haiti is a symbol of the community’s advocacy for historic preservation and a testament to its incorporation into the fabric of U.S. culture and society.

As Haiti rebuilds from the impact of Hurricane Matthew in the country’s southwest, the United States reaffirms its unwavering friendship for the people of Haiti.  We view 2017 as an opportunity to continue to work together in support of the full renewal of Haiti’s democratic institutions and the seating of a new president elected by the Haitian people. 

The Secretary-General

Appeal for Peace

1 January 2017

New York

On my first day as Secretary-General of the United Nations, one question weighs heavily on my heart.

How can we help the millions of people caught up in conflict, suffering massively in wars with no end in sight?

Civilians are pounded with deadly force. Women, children and men are killed and injured, forced from their homes, dispossessed and destitute. Even hospitals and aid convoys are targeted.

No one wins these wars; everyone loses. Trillions of dollars are spent destroying societies and economies, fueling cycles of mistrust and fear that can last for generations. Whole regions are destabilized and the new threat of global terrorism affects us all.

On this New Year’s Day, I ask all of you to join me in making one shared New Year’s resolution:

Let us resolve to put peace first.

Let us make 2017 a year in which we all – citizens, governments, leaders – strive to overcome our differences.

From solidarity and compassion in our daily lives, to dialogue and respect across political divides… From ceasefires on the battlefield, to compromise at the negotiating table to reach political solutions…

Peace must be our goal and our guide.

All that we strive for as a human family – dignity and hope, progress and prosperity – depends on peace. 

But peace depends on us.

I appeal to you all to join me in committing to peace, today and every day.

Let us make 2017 a year for peace.

Thank you. 

SANDRA HONORÉ'S WISHES

To mark the beginning of 2017, Sandra Honoré, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Haiti, and Civilian Leader of the MINUSTAH, praised the courage and the dignity of the Haitian people in the face of numerous humanitarian, economic, and political challenges during 2016. She congratulated Haitians for resuming the crucial electoral process in order to consolidate democracy, bring stability and sustain the development of Haiti.

She presented her best wishes for Haitians in 2017 and wished that this new year is one of peace and prosperity for all.

Madam Honoré hopes that 2017 is a year of unity and solidarity between the diverse segments of Haitian society, the difference social classes, and the different generations, confirming the Haitian motto that “With Unity Comes Strength.”

Various institution are condemning the mismanagement of trade between Haiti and the Dominican Republic

The business relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic were badly mismanaged by the Haitian State at the level of the border between both countries, criticized representatives of various institutions interviewed by AlterPresse.

There is a weakening in the trend, demonstrated by an increase in the importation of Dominican products by Haiti.

"One third of the products imported by Haiti from foreign countries come from the Dominican Republic."

In addition, several voices, in various economic branches, denounced the irresponsibility of Provisional President, Jocelerme Privert and of the government of Enex Jean-Charles, in the case concerning the ban of 23 Dominican products by ground transportation to Haiti.

This decision came into effect on September 15^th, 2015, under the administration of the president Michel Joseph Martelly.

Haitian Members of Parliament, and senators who represent border areas, expressed their wish to lift the ban on the 23 Dominican products.

This ban was suspended by the Haitian government, without the publication of a document, denounced Gregory Brandt of the Economic Forum of the Haitian private sector.

"The State has no control over its border… If there was a smooth running at the level of the border, the State would not need any money from foreigners to finance its projects," he maintained. "The more we let time pass, without making an intervention at the level of the border, the more it will be difficult to make good decisions," he warned.

FLASH: Beware of scams regarding payment for U.S. visas

The Embassy of the United States wants to remind everyone that it does not accept payment for visas by Western Union. It never allows payment this way. This is a scam designed to steal your money. Alert the U.S. Embassy of any visa scams at: Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.

The Marigot City Hall goes up in flame

When will it stop? 

It happened during the night between Thursday, November 29^th and Friday, November 30^th. Following the publication by the CEP of some of the final elections results, violent fires were started in several municipalities throughout the country. But the worst one was in Marigot, where the city hall was completely destroyed by flames.

The mayor of the municipality, René Danneau confirmed, "Unidentified individuals set fire to the building and there is nothing left.”

And that's not all; a night club was also burned down, and two houses were damaged by the fire. That same night, the mayor’s private home was also attacked and damaged by rocks that were thrown at it.

CHOLERA: Balance sheet on the rise !

It is not good news. But the Ministry of Public Health has determined that one of the consequences of Hurricane Matthew in October was an abrupt increase in the number of suspected case of cholera from 2,377 cases in September to 4,985 cases in October. Forty-eight of these new cases were identified in the Departments of Grande Anse and of the South.

From January 2016 till November, there were 39,329 new cases of cholera. That was 24 % more than during the same period in 2015. There were 420 deaths.

The Agency Free Haiti tried to explain why cholera is persisting in Haiti. According to the Agency, it is due to the inadequate financing of the National Plan for the Elimination of Cholera (45 % financing, or $9.2 million of the $20.3 million goal). Other culprits include the poor access to drinking water and the lack of adequate quality medical care.

But other factors also contribute to the persistence of cholera in our country. “Haiti Libre” quotes the lack of knowledge of the sociocultural factors tied to this problem, the high population density, and the mobility of this population towards urban areas.

Shooting at Lalue results in three deaths!

Last Friday near the Office of Immigration on John Brown Avenue in Lalue, three young men with "dreadlocks" mistakenly referred to as "Rastafarians" in Haiti, were shot down in their car by unidentified individuals on motorcycles.

Two of the victims, the driver and the passenger, were shot dead in their vehicle; the 3^rd, who had managed to get out, tried to run away. The killers on motorcycles pursued him and shot him down on the sidewalk several times before fleeing.

A triple murder which looked like a strange execution, for reasons still unknown... It should be noted that this crime took place while police officers were less than 100 meters from the crime scene according to witnesses.