Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 17 juin 2021

 WILL THE U.S. FINALLY CORRECT ITS COURSE IN HAÏTI ?

By AMY WILENTZ

JUNE 8, 2021 3 AM PT

This month may prove to be crucial for Haiti’s future. Americans used to think that any country’s political problems — and thus all its other difficulties — could be solved with a good, solid, democratic, U.S.- supported election.

But in many countries where we’ve proposed and followed through with backing for such elections, problems have continued or even been exacerbated. Haiti is one extreme example.

One reason for this, in Haiti as elsewhere, is that when the U.S. wants to help support and certify democratic elections, it usually already has a preferred dog in the race.

And that dog is not always a good dog.

In Haiti today, the dog also has many masters, who are collectively known as the Core Group, which consists of powerful outside advisors including the U.S., France, Canada, the Organization of American States and the U.N. Together they have supported specific candidates in past elections, viewing these as change vehicles for Haiti. Unfortunately, two things are true: These vehicles have a tendency to break down. And no Haitian government can exist without ongoing Core Group support.

Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moise, whose marred election was certified by the OAS in 2016, has been one such failure, and on a grand scale. After much controversy, he was finally seated as president in 2017, with Core Group backing.

But over time, Moise, theoretically chosen to bring Haiti along the democratic road, has shown himself to be a natural autocrat. Since early 2020, he has ruled by decree. He has not held legislative elections, letting Haiti’s law-making body become utterly depopulated through term-limit attrition and termination by Moise himself. He has also replaced mayors around the country with his own choices as each terms out, consolidating his hold on the central government and on the countryside.

He sent troops against Haiti’s Supreme Court and closed it down. He has arrested and jailed his political opponents and their family members, presided over grotesque corruption that has impoverished Haiti further, and failed to address — and is thought to have encouraged — escalating violence in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere.

He has ignored the COVID-19 crisis, while accepting international funds to address it. No vaccinations have been given in the country.

Gang killings and kidnappings have shut down businesses and schools. People are afraid to go out, and the police have been cowed into passivity by brutal killings of officers. In effect, these gangs — heavily armed and well-organized — run the streets of Haiti. They are a rivalrous and vicious cohort, several with proven ties to the Moise government and various nefarious Haitian businessmen.

The gangs attack nurses, doctors, lawyers, shopkeepers, priests, ministers, nuns, the occasional foreign visitor and assorted professionals, as well as police officers — it can seem as if they are targeting Haiti’s future.

Often, after an attack, a kidnapping, an assassination, a massacre, the government issues no statement, provides no response. As the weeks tick by, the gangs grow stronger.

In the midst of this dark situation, Moise has remained in power in spite of reasonable opposition claims that his term ended by law in February. He says his presidency will come to its grand finale in February 2022. Certainly he has overstayed his welcome with the Haitian people.

Moise has also announced that he will hold presidential and legislative elections, but only after a national referendum that would make autocratic changes to the Haitian Constitution. The referendum and the elections would be under Moise’s control and would take place in the ongoing atmosphere of extreme instability and danger in which voters’ security cannot be assured.

Until now, the U.S., along with the Core Group, has backed Moise’s claim to his extra year of rule. And until now, Haiti’s traditional international advisors have not publicly suggested Moise’s rule is corrupt and violent.

Pity the members of the Core Group, because the only explanation for their behavior is fear; they haven’t had the imagination to envision a Haiti without a despot at the wheel. The belief among those who advise Haiti has often been that, as the saying goes, you pick Haiti up and it explodes in your face.

Last month, the Biden administration reinstated Temporary Protected Status for about 100,000 Haitian migrants in the U.S., citing “serious security concerns, social unrest, an increase in human rights abuses” among other woes preventing their safe return home.

The TPS reinstatement, with its implicit judgment of Moise’s regime, has brought hope to many Haitians. In recent days, the U.N. has also seemed to distance itself from Moise. Maybe the U.S. is shifting course, and the constitutional changes and votes proposed by Moise will never come to be. Perhaps his ruinous vision for Haiti finally went too far even for his friends and supporters in the Core Group.

A little whisper of hope is fluttering around Port-au-Prince, with the news that in next few days, a five-member team from the OAS will visit Haiti to discuss the current crisis and possible solutions. Rumors are bouncing back and forth on WhatsApp, and suddenly among opposition parties and grass-roots organizers, the prospect of an OAS Haiti delegation is being greeted less with distrust than with a degree of optimism. One wonders how the gangs will welcome the team, however.

If nothing comes of this visit, there’s no telling toward what dark star Moise will next point the prow of his sinking ship of state.

Amy Wilentz is the author of “The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier” and “Farewell, Fred Voodoo: A Letter from Haiti,” among other books. 

OPINIONWORLD & NATIONOP-ED

U.S. to send vaccines to Latin America, Caribbean as COVID cases and deaths are surging

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JUNE 03, 2021

UPDATED JUNE 03, 2021 06:08 PM

The Biden administration announced Thursday it will donate by month’s end millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Latin America and the Caribbean, where increased movement between countries and relaxed public health measures are causing the deadly coronavirus and its variants to spread.

While the United States has about 51 percent of its population vaccinated, the rest of the region continues to see mounting infections and hospitalizations amid low vaccination rates. The World Health Organization and its regional arm, the Pan American Health Organization, have been pleading for months that the U.S. and other rich countries with surplus vaccines share their extra supplies with poorer countries.

The bulk of the 25 million U.S. doses will be given through the U.N.-backed vaccine global access platform known as COVAX, which is aimed at getting shots in the arms of people in poor and middle-income countries. Of the 19 million doses that the administration said it would donate via COVAX, six million are directed at South and Central America nations as well as the Caribbean Community.

“This vaccine strategy is a vital component of our overall global strategy to lead the world in the fight to defeat COVID-19, including emergency public health assistance and aid to stop the spread and building global public health capacity and readiness to beat not just this pandemic, but the next one,” the White House said in a statement.

Another six million vaccine doses will be donated directly to several countries that are considered strategic foreign policy partners, some of whom are struggling with surging infection rates, including Mexico, Canada and Haiti. This list also includes South Korea, Ukraine, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt.

Poverty-stricken and politically unstable, Haiti is the only country in the hemisphere that has not yet administered a single shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. The White House announcement said its dose-sharing approach prioritizes Latin America and the Caribbean on a per capita basis, favoring populous countries.

ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (JUNE 13TH, 2021)
Ez. 17, 22-24;Ps. 92; 2 Cor. 5, 6-10; Mk 4, 26-34 By +Guy Sansaricq.

The key teaching of the day comes in the form of a simple parable borrowed from nature. A small seed is planted in the ground and slowly grows up to become a huge tree. Prophet Ezekiel used this image when God’s people was held captive in Babylon. He compared them to a seed buried underground that will mysteriously become a great nation in the future.

It’s a message of HOPE. The Church faced tremendous obstacles in its initial days. Even today we sometimes experience discouragement when we look around and observe that the modern world ignores the Gospel. People don’t seem to resonate with joy when the word of God is proclaimed. Stories of brutality and violence make up the stuff of evening news.

We do not need to be disheartened. There is an undefeatable power in the truth and the grace of Jesus-Christ. The ultimate victory of the KINGDOM is assured. Happy are those who never lose hope! The line of Paul in the 2nd reading adds new strength to this message: we walk by faith and not by sight. Just like the growth of planted seeds cannot be observed by the farmer, we too do not see or perceive the secret spread of the KINGDOM. Yet beyond all the signs of death that we see all around, God’s work of life continues unabated.

Dismiss all forms of despair. Hold firm to faith and hope! Victorious is our GOD!

SEAN PENN ON LAURENT LAMOTHE, MARTELLY AND PREVAL

“This book and its images reflect a common spirit of a beautiful country and its people,” Penn writes

Samson Amore | June 10, 2021 @ 1:47 PM

While this book and its images reflect a common spirit of a beautiful country and its people, so does it subtly infuse the omnipresence delegated by its leadership to provide the flesh of the hands that were on, and what demanded a ubiquitous hands-on political commitment: The hands of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. I had been designated Ambassador-at-Large for Haiti, and as such, found myself in daily, if not multi-daily, conversations, bi-lateral negotiations, and diplomatic visits with Laurent Lamothe. I watched him give a minimum of seventeen hours a day to his country for the time of his service. I watched as he built systems of subsidies and empowerment for women, road constructions, training for the national police. I watched as he visited with the displaced in the camps in which my organization worked. I watched as he expedited legitimate adoptions of parentless children. And I joined, on a daily basis, as one more of those who placed extraordinary demand upon him. But I also remember at the end of so many long days and nights, being in a small group of confidantes, saying, “Mr. Prime Minister, it’s time you get some sleep.” If he wasn’t going to listen to Rene Preval, he wasn’t going to listen to me. His activities in support of his country have not waned since his resignation. Let this book be your introduction to an extraordinary man and country.”

Penn is also the subject of a new documentary about his philanthropy called “Citizen Penn,” which is now streaming on Discovery+.

“The Hands of the Prime Minister” releases June 15 but is available for preorder. The book’s synopsis says it tells the story of how Lamothe’s work from 2012 to 2015 helped create and manage a “hands-on, inclusive government set up” that helped Haiti briefly rebound from decades of disasters, both “man-made and natural.”

“This book and its images reflect a common spirit of a beautiful country and its people,” Penn writes in the introduction. He added, “where I have seen courage, love and inspiration, I have never seen a greater level of it than among the people of this ever challenged nation.”

Lamonthe was Haiti’s longest-serving prime minister in the country’s modern history, despite having held the position for less than three years. He was elected in 2012 and resigned in 2014. In 2015 Lamonthe said “my government’s top priority was to serve these vulnerable citizens who had always been forgotten by traditional politicians and the political class.”

Holsinger said in a statement Thursday, “in following Laurent throughout the interview process for this book, I was able to provide a deep-dive into the changes made during his time in office. His common sense solutions, made by listening to the people, provided remarkable outcomes. What he created in record time still exists today–he essentially rebuilt a country in 31 months.”

According to the Guardian, Penn’s interest with Haiti began after the country was rocked by a massive earthquake in 2010, killing over 300,000 people. Shortly afterward, Penn was named ambassador-at-large for the country. “Citizen Penn” director Don Hardy told the paper that also was in part the beginning of the “Citizen Penn” documentary.

“I saw him hurriedly set up some way for a plane to get into Haiti with supplies, watched it right in front of me,” Hardy told the Guardian. “He was on the first plane he could get. I reached out to his assistant to ask if Sean needed someone there on site to film what was going on, and she said yes. A couple weeks later, myself and a few friends were there on the ground shooting footage that could go out to news organizations and show what was going on.”

Check out the full foreward from Penn below.

“It was January 2010 when a confluence of circumstances and fate first brought me to Haiti. Having intermittently lived and continuously worked in Haiti these last six years following the devastating earthquake that was felt around the world, I have learned many things about its glorious people and the challenges of their country’s history and future. I have worked among its poor, its wealthy, and its leadership in equal parts. I’ve seen people of both its courage and its corruption within all three of these groups. But where I have seen courage, love and inspiration, I have never seen a greater level of it than among the people of this ever challenged nation.

Not long after the earthquake was Haiti hit with yet another devastating blow that only in the impoverished world could yield seven thousand deaths from a disease imminently curable where there is clean water and education: Cholera. And it was during that bacteria’s devastating campaign against the Haitian people that the election process had restarted and a new president was to be elected.

I met the man who would be President, Michel Martelly, in the middle of the night during a period of great social unrest. His passion and intelligence were unquestionable. Yet still, like all Haiti’s presidents in the post Duvalier years, would he and his cabinet face the extraordinary burden of leading within the architecture of a constitution that had been written as a reactionary testament to the violations of dictatorships that had come before. The power of the president and the prime minster he would appoint were sure to be tested.

That same night I was introduced to another man, soon to be confirmed as Haiti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Lamothe. I was taken by his sharp mind and clarity of purpose. Just a few short months later, I had requested of the former President of Haiti, Rene Preval, that he meet with the new Foreign Minister of the opposition party, Lamothe. It was my hope, at once, to scratch the surface in bridging political divides, but more particularly, as my respect for President Preval’s political wisdom was great, it seemed to me the guidance of this elder statesman could be of some value to the younger man whose business history was formidable but who had held no political office prior to his engagement as Foreign Minister.

We sat in the Miami home owned by the wife of Preval. He had greeted us warmly at the door, and now the discussion had begun. Many things were discussed that night. But what I remember most keenly was the advice of President Preval to the younger Lamothe—that Lamothe and his President select eight agenda items that they would bear all their energy toward accomplishing for the full five years of their administration. Preval was a political chess master. He had deep knowledge of the restrictions by constitution on paper and the constitution of its people. And yet, as wise as President Preval’s words may have been, what was clear in the post earthquake phenomenon—the monies flowing into foreign designed projects for indigenous consumption—that in Haiti’s new world, the eight suggested agenda items would quickly rise to a demand for a focus on eight hundred. Disagreements between President Martelly and his sworn Prime Minister soon led to Foreign Minister Lamothe’s rise to selection as Haiti’s Prime Minister, a position he held for nearly three years, the longest of any Prime Minister in contemporary Haiti.

While this book and its images reflect a common spirit of a beautiful country and its people, so does it subtly infuse the omnipresence delegated by its leadership to provide the flesh of the hands that were on, and what demanded a ubiquitous hands-on political commitment: The hands of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. I had been designated Ambassador-at-Large for Haiti, and as such, found myself in daily, if not multi-daily, conversations, bi-lateral negotiations, and diplomatic visits with Laurent Lamothe. I watched him give a minimum of seventeen hours a day to his country for the time of his service. I watched as he built systems of subsidies and empowerment for women, road constructions, training for the national police. I watched as he visited with the displaced in the camps in which my organization worked. I watched as he expedited legitimate adoptions of parentless children. And I joined, on a daily basis, as one more of those who placed extraordinary demand upon him. But I also remember at the end of so many long days and nights, being in a small group of confidantes, saying, “Mr. Prime Minister, it’s time you get some sleep.” If he wasn’t going to listen to Rene Preval, he wasn’t going to listen to me. His activities in support of his country have not waned since his resignation. Let this book be your introduction to an extraordinary man and country.”

Sean Penn Details Ties to Political Confidant and Ex-Haiti PM Laurent Lamothe in Biography Intro

Reseau Citadelle - Cyrus Sibert

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 11 juin 2021

Naomi Osaka Quits the French Open 

The four-time Grand Slam winner was fined after refusing to appear at a news conference. She wrote on Instagram that she had suffered from bouts of depression since 2018.

May 31, 2021

Pete Kiehart for The New York Times

PARIS — Naomi Osaka dropped out of the French Open one day after officials threatened to expel her from the season’s second Grand Slam tournament if she continued to refuse to attend news conferences after her matches.

The move was a dramatic turn in the high-stakes standoff between the most powerful officials in tennis and Osaka, the world’s highest paid female athlete and a generational star who has quickly evolved into the most magnetic new figure in the sport.

“I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris. I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer,” Osaka wrote on Instagram. “More importantly I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly. The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that.”

Never before has such a consequential star exited an event as big as the French Open over something that nearly every top tennis player has said in recent days is as much a part of being on the tour as lengthy travel schedules. The clash also stood in stark contrast to last summer, when tennis officials suspended play at the Western & Southern Open after Osaka announced she would not play her semifinal match to draw attention to the issue of police violence against Black people following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.

The suspension of play, a move that several sports undertook as athletes threatened a boycott, allowed Osaka to remain in the tournament. She won her postponed semifinal match and then defaulted the final because of an injury.

Last Wednesday, seemingly with little warning to any tennis officials, Osaka posted on Instagram and Twitter her decision to skip all press obligations during the French Open because the experience harms the mental health of players, especially when they have to answer questions following a defeat.

“If the organizations think they can keep saying, ‘do press or you’re going to get fined,’ and continue to ignore the mental health of the athletes that are the centerpiece of their cooperation then I just gotta laugh,” Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam tournament winner, wrote. She said she would accept any fines levied against her for skipping the news conferences and requested that the funds be donated to a charity dedicated to mental health.

In her statement on Monday, Osaka wrote that she “gets huge waves of anxiety” before speaking to the media.

“So here in Paris I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press conferences,” she wrote. “I announced it preemptively because I do feel like the rules are quite outdated in parts and I wanted to highlight that. I wrote privately to the tournament apologizing and saying that I would be more than happy to speak with them after the tournament as the Slams are intense.”

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Players are subject to fines of up to $20,000 for skipping a news conference, though the fines have historically been far less. Still, tour officials and most players have long believed that news conferences, though uncomfortable at times, are important for the promotion of the sport.

After learning of Osaka’s decision, the WTA Tour said Friday it welcomed a dialogue with her about mental health but stood by its position on press obligations for players. “Professional athletes have a responsibility to their sport and their fans to speak to the media surrounding their competition, allowing them the opportunity to share their perspective and tell their story,” the WTA said.

Osaka gave an on-court interview but did not do a news conference after her first-round match.

Osaka gave an on-court interview but did not do a news conference after her first-round match.Pete Kiehart for The New York Times

Osaka, however, refused to bend, even as several other major players, including the No. 3 men’s player Rafael Nadal and No. 1 women’s player Ashleigh Barty, said they disagreed with Osaka and that speaking to the news media was part of the job. Osaka, who made more than $50 million last year in endorsements and prize money, did not appear for a media day news conference and skipped a news conference after her first-round win over Patricia Maria Tig on Sunday in straight sets.

Osaka did take three questions from an on-court interviewer, Fabrice Santoro, after the match and a few more queries on her way off the court from Wowow, the Japanese broadcaster with which she is under contract.

Within hours she was fined $15,000 by the French Open tournament referee. In addition, the leaders of the four Grand Slam tournaments — the Australian, French and United States Opens and Wimbledon — warned that she risked harsher penalties, including being defaulted from the tournament, if she continued not to fulfill her media obligations.

In the statement, signed by Jayne Hrdlicka, the head of Tennis Australia; Gilles Moretton, president of the France Tennis Federation; Ian Hewitt, the chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club; and Mike McNulty, chairman of the United States Tennis Association; the officials said they had reached out to Osaka to open a discussion about both her well being and concerns she had about news conferences and mental health.

Osaka, they said, refused to engage with them, leaving them with no choice but to pursue significant penalties to help ensure that Osaka did not gain an advantage over her competitors.

“We want to underline that rules are in place to ensure all players are treated exactly the same, no matter their stature, beliefs or achievement,” the officials stated. “As a sport there is nothing more important than ensuring no player has an unfair advantage over another, which unfortunately is the case in this situation if one player refuses to dedicate time to participate in media commitments while the others all honor their commitments.”

In her Instagram post Osaka also wrote, “I’m gonna take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans.”

Matthew Futterman is a veteran sports journalist and the author of two books, “Running to the Edge: A Band of Misfits and the Guru Who Unlocked the Secrets of Speed” and “Players: How Sports Became a Business.” @mattfutterman

THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (June 6rd, 2021)
Ex. 24, 3-8; Ps. 116; He. 9, 11-15; Mk. 14, 12-16 + 22-26. By +Guy Sansaricq

We celebrate today the mystery of CHRIST’S REAL PRESENCE in the bread and wine of the Eucharist. At mass, we do not simply perform a memorial service through which we simply remember what Jesus did. We MAKE PRESENT the sacrifice HE performed for us on Calvary. The LAMB of SACRIFICE is mysteriously made available to us. We are called to ‘EAT THE BREAD AND DRINK THE CUP. ” We are called to “Drink the blood that flowed from the side of the REDEEMER and while doing so to pledge our total adherence to the NEW COVENANT.

”Jesus said: “He who eats of my flesh and drinks of my blood shall have everlasting life and I will raise Him up on the last day.” He who meditates on this text and also on John 6 and 1 Cor. 10 and so many other texts cannot disregard or reject this central teaching.

This is a key tenet of our faith universally accepted from Jesus’ time to the sixteen century, the time of the reformation. The rejection of this teaching constitutes a serious mutilation of the inviolable deposit of the faith. But today we are not involved in discussions.

We stand humbly as witnesses of this great Mystery of Jesus’ death and Resurrection. We obey his command to eat and drink in faith the bread that has become His body, the wine turned into HIS blood. We commit ourselves to LIVE IN COMMUNION WITH HIM. Accepting the Eucharist is actually accepting Jesus the seed of eternal Life, the food of the journey!

Constitutional Referendum: How the International Community is Supporting an Illegal Power Grab in Haiti

“New Constitution: We Will Vote.” 

The billboards are plastered across Port-au-Prince and throughout the country, as the government launches an all-out push ahead of a referendum planned for next month. The government is holding televised “debates,” printing ballots, lobbying international organizations, and apparently laying the groundwork for what it claims is a necessary effort to put Haiti’s governance on a path to success. 

The catch? The campaign is only happening on one side. The entire effort is contested by myriad civil society organizations, grassroots groups, and political parties, all of whom maintain that the referendum is an illegal power grab on the part of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse. In fact, over the last week, a number of prominent political actors have called on the population to revolt against the referendum and use whatever means possible to prevent the vote from taking place. 

[For a more detailed discussion on the specifics of the constitutional reform, and why many in Haiti are so adamantly opposed to it, the Haitian Studies Associated recently hosted a roundtable discussion with leading Haitian experts on the subject.] 

Haiti is not the only country in the hemisphere currently debating constitutional reform. Last fall in Chile, voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of creating a new charter, and then earlier this month elected representatives responsible for drafting the new text. The constitutional convention’s work is expected to take many months, and the vote on the new text is not expected until sometime in mid-2022. There are regulations mandating the involvement of traditionally marginalized groups, including women and the nation’s Indigenous population. 

By contrast, Haiti’s new charter was drafted by a small commission composed entirely of members handpicked by the president. On June 27, when Haitians are being asked to go to the polls, they will have to vote on the entirety of the new text with a simple “yes” or “no,” even though they have yet to see the final version. The commission did not issue a first draft of the proposed changes until January, and released it only in French, which the vast majority of Haitians do not speak. It released a revised version in late May, a month before the scheduled vote, and plans to issue one more version in June.

This week, after meeting with Moïse, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, reiterated the official position of the international community that, thus far, preparations for the referendum “have not been sufficiently transparent or inclusive.” The US’s public position is that its preference is for the Haitian government to first focus on holding legislative and presidential elections this fall before tackling the constitution controversy. For the last 17 months, Haiti has been without a functioning parliament, allowing the entire referendum process to unfold with President Moïse ruling by decree and without legislative oversight. 

For many in Haiti, Moïse shouldn’t be in the National Palace anymore, let alone oversee the creation of a new constitution. Legal experts, human rights organizations, religious entities, and a broad-based network of civil society organizations contend that Moïse’s presidential mandate ended on February 7, 2021. They maintain that not only is his reform effort illegal, but that there is no chance for free, fair, or credible elections to be held under his watch at all. Last month, 69 members of the US Congress wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing their agreement. 

“We have repeatedly stated that constitutional reform is for the Haitian people to decide,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price told the press in late April. “We’ve emphasized to the Haitian government that the US government will not provide financial support for a constitutional referendum.” But, while the US isn’t providing direct support, that does not mean its policy is not de facto enabling the referendum. 

The International Community’s Silent Support

The international community has remained largely silent on the question of the referendum. The Core Group, which consists of the US, Canada, Brazil, France, the EU, the UN, and the OAS, among others, issued a statement in April noting that the process was not sufficiently transparent or inclusive. Nevertheless, international actors have refrained from explicitly calling for its cancellation or even its delay. Further, both the UN and the OAS are actively providing support for the referendum, despite their public statements of concern. 

These two multilateral organizations have provided technical assistance to the commission tasked with drafting the new text since it was formed last fall. The OAS even helped with revisions to the text in an attempt to remove some of the more controversial aspects in the original. The UN, meanwhile, has helped to procure sensitive voting materials for the electoral council overseeing the referendum and has an agreement in place to provide logistics for holding the vote. The UN is also helping to advise the national police on an electoral security strategy. 

But, more important than this technical assistance is the international community’s insistence on the holding of elections this fall. It is simply impossible to separate elections from the referendum, and donor support for the former is making the latter more likely by the day. 

For starters, the new constitution would drastically alter the political landscape; for example, replacing the post of prime minister with a vice president, and abolishing the Senate altogether. Additionally, the draft text, if approved, mandates the government to institute a new electoral law. How can one speak of organizing elections in a few months when nobody even knows what posts will actually be contested, or under what laws? Clearly, the elections depend to a great degree on what happens in June. 

Further, the international push for elections papers over valid criticisms of the broader voting process. The current electoral council was appointed by decree by the president, contrary to the law; the supreme court refused to swear in the new members. This is the electoral council that is set to oversee both the referendum and the elections later this year. By supporting their management of elections, one inherently supports their management of the referendum. 

The US support for the illegal electoral council goes even further. Through USAID, the US government has spent $12.6 million since Moïse was elected in support of “elections and political processes.” Most of that money goes to US-based entities like the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republic Institute (IRI), and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). The organizations implement their own programs, and so do not necessarily equate to “direct” support to the referendum or to elections. 

But, in late March, acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Julie Chung tweeted: “The U.S., via @USAID_Haiti, is helping the Haitian people prepare for elections by providing technical support to the @cep_haiti, strengthening political parties and NGOs, and increasing the participation of women in Haitian politics.”

The US may not be directly funding the referendum, but make no mistake, the policies of the international community are going a long way toward ensuring the controversial referendum takes place as scheduled.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 4 juin 2021

 Karine Jean-Pierre White House briefing lauded as historic

BY SAM BOJARSKI MAY. 26, 2021

THE HAITIAN TIMES

Dec. 24, 2020

Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addresses the media May 26. (Screenshot photo)

For the first time as a member of the Biden White House, Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stepped up to the podium May 26 with a thick, brown binder for an on-camera briefing with the White House press corps. 

She briefed reporters on administration appointments, President Joe Biden’s proposed American Jobs Plan and an investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, before fielding questions from reporters on numerous topics. 

During the televised briefing, one reporter asked Jean-Pierre to reflect on “making history” as the first Black woman in 30 years to stand behind the White House press podium, on behalf of the president. 

“Being in this building is not about one person, it’s about what we do on behalf of the American people,” Jean-Pierre, 46, said in response. “Clearly the president believes that representation matters, and I appreciate him giving me this opportunity, and it’s another reason why we are so proud that this is the most diverse administration in history.” 

Prior to the scheduled briefing, Jean-Pierre’s appearance was welcomed by the media and colleagues, including Press Secretary Jen Psaki, as an historic moment. Psaki, who typically briefs the press, has announced she is leaving her role in about a year. The New York Times reported that the televised briefing by Jean-Pierre was seen internally as an audition for the press secretary role. 

FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY (May 30th, 2021) +Guy Sansaricq Dt. 4, 32-34+39-40; Ps. 33; Rom. 8, 14-17; Mt. 28, 16-20

Everything in the material world can be described by words. Material objects can be seen, touched, weighed, smelled and tasted. On the contrary, God a spiritual being cannot be experienced by our senses. Therefore He cannot be described by human words. He is invisible, inaccessible to our senses. God is MYSTERY. Through FAITH only can we reach HIM!

In the First reading Moses is heard making this point to the people in the desert. You must obey the Lord even if you do not see him. His MIGHTY DEEDS give evidence of his existence. The second reading speaks about another mighty deed of our God. He pours His SPIRIT upon the believers. He literally adopts us as His Heirs, co-heirs with Christ, the First Son.

From these words and many others flows our faith in the Holy Trinity. God although absolutely ONE has a SON. At the same time HE SENDS what He calls HIS SPIRIT upon his SON and upon us. We may therefore claim that God is FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT.

As we live in communion with Jesus and receive a share of HIS SPIRIT, we can say that our entire spiritual life unfolds within the Son, through the Spirit to the glory of the Father. The teaching on the Holy Trinity highlights God’s love for us who are called to be sharers of his Spirit of life, sons in the SON and therefore GUESTS of his intimate life!

Stop pushing for elections in Haiti, President Biden. They will only make things worse | Editorial

By the Miami Herald Editorial Board

May 29, 2021 04:30 PM

Haiti is a mess. And the Biden administration finally acknowledged that in granting Temporary Protected Status to more than 100,000 Haitians in the United States. President Biden has kept part of his campaign promise and reversed his predecessor’s attempt to terminate TPS, humanitarian relief that has provided a safe haven for tens of thousands of Haitians and Central Americans living in this country.

For that, Biden, whose Department of Homeland Security issued a new 18-month TPS designation to Haitians living in the United States as of May 21, 2021, should be commended. It means that he and his officials have finally heard what immigration activists, clergy, members of the Haitian community in the United States and Haitians in Haiti have been saying for months:Haiti is too dangerous for its nationals to return.

But the administration’s work in that tortured nation is not done. If Haiti is so dangerous and so unstable that the administration has given its U.S.-based citizens a reprieve through TPS, then Haiti also is too dangerous and too unstable to hold credible and secure elections. But the Biden administration has been insisting on them. It should stop.

Not a cure-all

TPS is only a Band-aid solution. Now Congress and Biden must take the necessary next steps to give Haitians not just a permanent solution with a pathway to citizenship in order to remain in the United States, but also the choice to return home in confidence, not fear — because their homeland is safe.

This brings us to the Biden administration’s Haiti policy — or, rather, its lack of a clear policy committed to restoring democracy there.

For months, the administration has been following its predecessor’s mantra of “elections at all costs” by calling on Haitian President Jovenel Moïse to hold legislative and presidential elections this year. But in insisting that elections are the only way forward, the Biden administration has failed to address the stark realities that led to its decision to grant a new TPS designation. Conditions on the ground in Haiti make clear that Moïse cannot hold free, fair and credible elections: serious security concerns, social unrest, human-rights abuses, crippling poverty.

In other words, Moïse, Haiti’s wannabe autocrat, is not governing. He has failed to meet Haitian citizens’ most basic needs. Instead of tackling gang violence that has led to an alarming rash of kidnappings and human-rights violations, Moïse has used the past 16 months of one-man rule to take several unconstitutional actions. They include the creation of a problematic national intelligence agency; the introduction, in the words of Acting Assistant Secretary of State Julie Chung, “dubious definitions of terrorism”; a reduction in the role of key institutions such as the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes, and the removal and replacement of three Supreme Court judges.

He has also pushed a controversial June 27 referendum on the constitution that almost every Haitian constitutional scholar and legal expert has said is illegal. But rather than listen to them, U.S. State Department officials have ignored them. Some in the State Department have reportedly told members of Congress in private that they do not think moving forward with the constitutional referendum is appropriate, they have refused to say so publicly. The administration’s mixed messaging is unhelpful and should stop.

Action, not rhetoric

In a recent address to members of the Haitian diaspora to commemorate the country’s May 18 Haitian Flag Day, Chung said the United States will “unapologetically denounce authoritarianism, impunity, human rights violations and corruption.” We are, right now, calling Chung and the Biden administration on it.

It’s time for Washington to end the rhetoric on Haiti and take real action. It’s time to stop equating democracy solely with elections,and it’s past time to promote and demand good governance. That means that the administration must stop supporting leaders with autocratic tendencies simply because it deems them “democratically elected.” They are just as guilty as their counterparts elsewhere in the hemisphere who trample human rights and promote policies that will keep them in power.

It’s time to support the Haitian people, not just by keeping needed remittances flowing into Haiti as the TPS designation will do, but by also giving Haitians in the United States the real choice to return home if they choose, and real hope that things will get better.

The Biden administration must ask itself: What does it want conditions in Haiti to look like at the end of its 18-month TPS designation? Does it want the number of Haitians coming to our border to have exponentially increased because the country has become even more unlivable following the controversial constitutional referendum? This not only will further derail the possibility of holding free, fair and credible elections, but it will fast track what the Catholic Church has described as Haiti’s “descent into hell.”

U.S. to blame, too

While Biden works to persuade members of Congress to support a pathway to citizenship with his legislation to overhaul immigration, he must also direct his State Department to take a harder look at Haiti and make some real changes. He must do so because the United States has long had a heavy hand in Haiti’s politics and is not immune from blame for what is currently taking place there. It’s also the right thing to do. After all, we once occupied the country for 19 years and, in that process, forced a new constitution to benefit our own desires.

It is time for the Biden administration to also listen to the cries of Haitian families, here and those on the island — who are increasingly becoming kidnap victims — and of the country’s young grassroots activists who have been screaming for a better and free Haiti.

Biden should acknowledge that the first step to a free Haiti is not through insisting on “elections at all costs” but by insisting on good governance. And it should start with the United States openly and unapologetically opposing the June 27 constitutional referendum that, despite whatever good intentions some in the international community may have, will not bring Haiti closer to democracy. Rather, it will pull the country deeper into chaos and authoritarianism. 

Permanent Council Good Offices Mission to Haiti

Terms of Reference

The OAS Permanent Council recognizes the serious political, security, and human rights situation in Haiti. In a show of solidarity with the Haitian people, on March 17, the OAS Permanent Council approved by consensus a resolution (CP/RES. 1168 (2315/21) to express its concern for the situation and extend an offer of support as a contribution to resolve the current political crisis in Haiti.

Background

Member States welcomed the participation of the Government of Haiti in this process and emphasized the need for free and fair elections in 2021, preceded by an inclusive dialogue, as essential to allowing Haiti to move forward and achieve a democratic transition of power in both the Presidential and legislative branches. While many in Haiti recognize that it is critically needed, including President Moïse himself, meaningful political dialogue has so far proven unachievable in the face of deepening divisions in the country. This represents a source of significant risk for the electoral process.

Purpose of the Good Offices Mission

As stated in the March 17th resolution, a Good Offices Mission, under the auspices of the Permanent Council, would serve “to facilitate a dialogue that would lead to free and fair elections” in 2021. This would involve meeting with a wide variety of stakeholders from Government, from the broader political class, as well as from civil society, in order to gauge the situation and encourage dialogue that could lead to an accord. The Mission will not engage in mediation.

Timing

The OAS Good Offices Mission should deploy soon due to the deteriorating situation in Haiti. The OAS Good Offices Mission can help promote understanding among key political actors and create conditions for political dialogue in the country. As the security situation in Haiti becomes potentially more challenging and as the country draws closer to the Constitutional referendum set to take place in June, this window of opportunity will gradually close.

The OAS welcomes the invitation from the President of Haiti for the deployment of a Good Offices Mission, with technical support from the OAS Secretariat, as soon as possible.

Composition

The delegation should be composed of five Permanent Representatives, representing distinct subregions of the Hemisphere, and would be established by the Chair of the OAS Permanent Council, in coordination with interested member states. The Chair would designate the leader of the OAS Good Offices Mission.

Member States would also request, through the PC Presidency, the participation of the OAS Secretariat. A representative designated by the General Secretariat should be considered as a possible participantto the mission for follow-up purposes in hand with the good offices of the Special Representative of the OAS Secretary General in Haiti.

Draft Agenda

 We propose a two-day visit to Haiti and recommend the following meetings, primarily with Haitian stakeholders:

 Meeting with President Moïse, with participation of interim Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Joseph ·

 Roundtable with Haitian political actors (majority, moderate, and opposition)

• Roundtable with Haitian civil society stakeholders and religious leaders ·

 Roundtable with key Haitian private sector representatives (ADIH, AmCham, Franco Haitian Chamber, CCIH, Haitian Chamber of Commerce of Women Entrepreneurs)

 Outcomes ·

 Issuance of Communique/End of Mission Statement by OAS PC Delegation;

• Debrief with the nine OAS member state Chiefs of Mission resident in Haiti (Argentina, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, United States) ·

 Report presented to the President of the Permanent Council and to the Council itself, with a request that it be submitted to the President of Haiti and made public.

• Renewed commitment of all relevant stakeholders in Haiti to an inclusive, democratic process leading to free and fair elections in the coming months.

Working Toward a Democratic and Prosperous Haiti: U.S. Views

Julie Chung, Assistant Secretary of State

Thank you. Good morning. I would first like to wish you a wonderful Haitian Heritage Month. I wish we could be together in person this morning. This month gives us an opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate Haiti’s many contributions to the world, and especially to the United States. Today is also Haitian Flag Day – a day to commemorate the creation of Haiti’s national flag. I recognize you may have other important events to attend, and I know there is a march planned here in Washington, D.C. So I wanted to thank you for taking some time out of your schedules to engage with us on this particularly important day for the Haitian community.

Haiti’s rich history and culture testify to its great strength and limitless potential. Understanding this gives those of us who care deeply about Haiti the inspiration to continue persevering in our work to support Haiti as it struggles to move beyond this long and difficult period of multidimensional crises.

Most of us are familiar with the proverb, “Many hands make light work.” As we consider how Haiti’s splintered political environment has paralyzed the country and threatened the well-being of average citizens, these words seem apt. A shared effort is urgently required. Political and civil society leaders must bridge their divisions to accomplish the higher goal of restoring democracy and stability. The more Haitian leaders from diverse sectors of society participate, the easier this task will be.

Every few years, the world anxiously waits to see whether Haiti can overcome its internal divisions to schedule, organize and hold timely elections that lead to a transition of power between one democratically-elected leader and another democratically-elected leader. It should not be this way. In a representative democracy, the people—the people– possess the right to select the leaders who will legislate and govern on their behalf.

This proposition only works if the people can do so on a regularly recurring basis. In this way, electoral democracy forms the foundation of a stable and prosperous state. Countries around the world, and countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean – countries dealing with security and infrastructure challenges – regularly succeed in doing this despite the problems they face. Countries with serious political divisions overcome their differences to do this – and Haiti can also. Haiti’s history makes it a beacon of freedom and its democracy should not be an exception; it should be an example.

Legislative elections that should have been held in 2019 are long overdue. And, what has been the result of this delay? An unchecked executive power since January 2020, as the lower house no longer exists, and there are too few Senators to reach a quorum. There is no separation of powers and no way for the branches of government to hold one another accountable. This situation calls into question the core precepts of Haiti’s democracy.

More than that, this period of one-man rule by decree has already led to the announcement of a problematic national intelligence agency, the introduction of dubious definitions of terrorism, the reduced role of key institutions like the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes, and the removal and replacement of three Supreme Court judges. The decision to hold a referendum to amend the constitution of 1987 further adds to the controversy, especially without an inclusive and credible consultative process that fully incorporates civil society. Likeminded international partners have joined local voices in expressing these concerns. BINUH tweeted on April 13 that the constitutional consultation process was “not sufficiently inclusive, participatory, or transparent” and called for the Consultative Committee to engage with a wider range of political and societal actors, including women’s and religious groups, across the country. An April 26 Core Group statement by the Ambassadors to Haiti from Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, the United States, France, the European Union, the Special Representative of the Organization of American States, and the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations all echoed BINUH’s assessment of the consultative process. Haiti’s democracy cannot continue like this.

We believe legislative elections are the democratic way to end Haiti’s prolonged rule by decree, and presidential elections are necessary to transfer power peacefully from one democratically-elected leader to another.

Anyone who follows developments in Haiti can see that there are challenges. I personally observed these challenges during my visit to Haiti in 2019, and I urged President Moise to build a government that could tackle issues such as insecurity, corruption, and a lagging economy. Haiti needs a government with functioning legislative, executive, and judicial branches working to move Haiti forward. This is why we call upon all of Haiti’s political stakeholders to come together and agree upon the necessary mechanisms to hold free and fair elections in 2021 that are credible and reflect the will of the Haitian people.

There are many voices who disagree that the way to fully restore Haiti’s democracy is through free and fair elections, who assert Haiti needs a transitional government to put it back on the democratic path. This may be a tempting notion. But who would those people be? How would they be chosen? To which constituents would they be accountable? As an extraconstitutional governing body, which law would determine their mandate? Would a transitional government prevent further chaos? Would it restore timeliness to Haiti’s electoral calendar?

We have seen this before, and learned there are no shortcuts when building a resilient and lasting democracy.

The needs of the Haitian people are far too pressing for elections to be delayed further. You do not hold elections when it’s convenient; you hold them when they are due. In the United States, even during the most divisive and contentious junctures in our history – economic downturns, protests, natural disasters, a bloody civil war – elections were consistently held so that our republic could continue to progress.

The United States and Haiti are the oldest republics in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti is one of our nation’s oldest friends. We share over $2 billion in annual trade. Remittances to Haiti, the majority of which come from the U.S., are equivalent to a third of Haiti’s GDP. The mutual influence of American and Haitian customs and achievements are evident, and fewer than a thousand miles separate our borders.

One major commonality between the people in the United States and Haiti is our devotion to the idea of freedom. Citizens in both countries look back with pride at our forebearers who valued freedom above all else and risked everything to secure this inalienable right. Haitians and Americans fought and died for freedom and set out to design new visions for our respective republics that had never been achieved before.

Centuries later, the Haitian people are still fighting to see a free Haiti – a Haiti that is free from corruption, free from lawlessness, free from kidnappings, free from poverty, and free from unilateral governance.

We hear the demands of the Haitian people for the security, education, healthcare, jobs, transparency, and opportunity they deserve. My colleagues and I have taken the time to listen intently to the thoughts and fears of Haitians in Haiti as well as in the United States. Will a single election be the magic charm that cures all of Haiti’s problems? Absolutely not. And make no mistake – we know how fragile our democracies are. But this does not diminish the fact that Haiti is in dire need of democratic consistency and institutions that serve the people.

When I was in Haiti, I met with inspirational young leaders who each demonstrated an ingenuity, determination, and resilience that should be encouraged and nurtured. The youth are the hope and promise of Haiti, and the opportunities that they are afforded today will impact Haiti’s development for years to come. Prosperity simply cannot be achieved when the fundamental rules of democracy are manipulated or ignored. The creation and preservation of strong, democratic processes and structures are long-term institutional defenses against dictatorship, partisanship, and greed. Without stability and rule of law, Haiti will struggle to attract foreign direct investments and retain its brightest minds.

This is why we choose to invest in Haiti’s people and institutions over individual leaders and personalities. U.S. assistance in Haiti improves access to basic services, including health, water, education, nutrition, and security. In the last decade, the U.S. government has directly contributed billions of U.S. dollars toward the most immediate economic, nutrition, natural disaster, and COVID-19 response needs. In January, we announced an additional $75.5 million toward issues like democratic governance and agricultural development. But our investment in Haiti’s people will only be successful if Haitians also invest in their own democratic governance.

As living bridges between the United States and Haiti, you also have an important role to play in raising your voices to improve and strengthen Haiti’s democracy and economy. You can speak against violence. You can speak against corruption and impunity. You can speak against abuses of power and of civil and human rights. We also hope you will encourage Haiti’s political and civil society leaders to negotiate in good faith to find solutions toward a government that works for all Haitians.

The United States, too, will continue to raise our voice and join like-minded partners and international organizations to revive democracy in Haiti and around the world. We will unapologetically denounce authoritarianism, impunity, human rights violations, and corruption, and we will act against those responsible, as we did by sanctioning three former Haitian government officials in December 2020 under the Global Magnitsky Act. Haiti faces many obstacles on the long and arduous path to lasting stability and prosperity, but by joining together, we collectively make the work lighter and we come closer to reaching our shared goals. Thank you.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 27 mai 2021

 HAITIAN RECEIVED TPS for 18 more month

New Designation Allows Eligible Haitians to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced a new 18-month designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This new TPS designation enables Haitian nationals (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Haiti) currently residing in the United States as of May 21, 2021 to file initial applications for TPS, so long as they meet eligibility requirements.

“Haiti is currently experiencing serious security concerns, social unrest, an increase in human rights abuses, crippling poverty, and lack of basic resources, which are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “After careful consideration, we determined that we must do what we can to support Haitian nationals in the United States until conditions in Haiti improve so they may safely return home.”

After consultation with interagency partners, Secretary Mayorkas decided to designate Haiti for TPS due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti that prevent nationals from returning safely, specifically, a political crisis and human rights abuses; serious security concerns; and the COVID-19 pandemic’s exacerbation of a dire economic situation and lack of access to food, water, and healthcare. The persistent effects of the 2010 earthquake have also exacerbated the severity of the extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti currently. The designation of Haiti for TPS also is not contrary to the national interest of the United States. A country may be designated for TPS based upon one or more of the three statutory grounds for designation: ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary and temporary conditions.

It is important to note that TPS will apply only to those individuals who are already residing in the United States as of May 21, 2021 and meet all other requirements. Those who attempt to travel to the United States after this announcement will not be eligible for TPS and may be repatriated. Haiti’s 18-month designation will go into effect on the publication date of the Federal Register notice to come shortly. The Federal Register notice will provide instructions for applying for TPS and employment authorization documentation.

Individuals eligible for TPS under Haiti’s new designation must file an application for TPS with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within the registration period that will begin upon publication of the Federal Register notice. This includes current beneficiaries under Haiti’s TPS designation, who will need to file a new application to register for TPS to ensure they do not lose TPS or experience a gap in coverage. Individuals filing for TPS may also request an Employment Authorization Document and travel authorization. All individuals applying for TPS undergo security and background checks as part of determining eligibility.

Former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano initially designated Haiti for TPS in January 2010 based on extraordinary and temporary conditions within the country, specifically the effects of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake. In 2011, Haiti’s designation was extended, and the country was also redesignated for TPS at the same time. Haiti’s designation was subsequently extended again for 18 months in 2013 and 2015, and for an additional six months in 2017.

In January 2018, a Federal Register notice announced termination of Haiti’s TPS designation effective July 22, 2019. Four separate lawsuits challenged that termination. Due to court injunctions and other rulings, TPS for Haiti remains in effect pending case outcomes. Existing TPS Haiti beneficiaries retain their TPS and TPS-related documents through October 4, 2021, and DHS will continue to extend the benefit and documents if required to comply with court orders. These beneficiaries are also eligible to apply under the new designation of Haiti to receive TPS for the entire 18-month period that will be described in the soon-to-be published Federal Register notice.

Family Action Network Movement (FANM) Applauds The Biden Administration’s Redesignation of TPS For Haitians 

May 22, 2021

MIAMI, FL- Today, the Biden Administration announced it would redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible Haitians currently residing in the United States. This could allow over 100,000 Haitians to remain in the United States with legal standing. Eligible immigrants have 180 days to apply for TPS and must prove they entered the United States before May 22, 2021. Once granted, their TPS status would last for up to 18 months. FANM applauds this decision and stands ready to assist members with the application process.

A redesignation will benefit Haitians who came to the U.S. after the earthquake. Close to 2000 Haitian refugees/immigrants, including hundreds of children, have been deported on thirty-four flights to Haiti since the beginning of February 2021. In recent months, Haitians have been the victims of violent killings, skyrocketing kidnappings, rape/gender-based violence, and heavy repression from state-aligned forces reminiscent of the Duvalier and other dictatorships in Haiti.

Marleine Bastien, Executive Director of Family Action Network Movement (FANM), stated, "We applaud and commend the Biden Administration's decision to redesignate TPS for Haiti. During a recent march in Washington on May 18th and a meeting with White House and DHS officials Thursday evening, I sent a strong message to President Biden that given the deteriorating political situation in Haïti including state sponsored massacres, kidnapping/killing of political opponents , widespread raping of women and girls , it was time to redesignate Haiti for TPS and that “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied.”””

Steve Forester, Immigration Policy Coordinator for the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), said, “Haiti’s redesignation for TPS recognizes that extraordinary conditions of political and social crisis and insecurity make deportations to Haiti unsafe and redesignation appropriate. We applaud the administration, which since February 1 has expelled about 2,000 Haitians on 34 flights, for this long overdue and entirely appropriate action.”

Over the past 4 years, FANM and its partners have built an extensive and sustainable campaign around TPS redesignation for Haïti . Consequently, over 100,000 families and their children will finally have a good night's sleep tonight and this is priceless. We have targeted elected officials, rallied in front of ICE buildings , held press conferences, provided educational resources, launched petitions/ social media campaigns but most importantly, organized members of our community who would directly benefit from TPS. 

Ynnocent, an undocumented immigrant from Haiti said, “ I came to the U.S. in 2012 because I was facing political persecution. I’m unable to work to care for my U.S. born daughter because I’m undocumented. I applaud the Biden Administration decision to grant TPS to Haiti because now I and the 100,000 undocumented Haitians will be able to provide for our families.

Contact: 

Rhenie Dalger, Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser., 786-280-9062

Mariangela Cordero, Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser., 786-537-3518

Family Action Network Movement (FANM) formerly known as Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami, Inc)/ Haitian Women of Miami is a private not-for-profit organization dedicated to the social, economic, financial and political empowerment of low to moderate-income families.

###

Brooklyn Doctor Pleads Guilty to Illegal Distribution of Narcotics

Defendant Prescribed Narcotics to Patients Without a Legitimate Medical Purpose in Exchange for Cash Payments

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Kesler Dalmacy, a medical doctor, pleaded guilty to illegal distribution of controlled substances.  Dalmacy, who operated his medical practice out of an office in East Flatbush, prescribed narcotics to patients outside the course of his professional practice that lacked a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash payments.  The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly. 

Mark J. Lesko, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ray Donovan, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), and Kevin P. Bruen, Acting Superintendent, New York State Police (NYSP), announced the guilty plea.

“The defendant, a medical doctor who swore an oath to do no harm, spread the scourge of addiction in our communities by writing bogus prescriptions for personal profit,” stated Acting United States Attorney Lesko.  “This Office, in partnership with the DEA, HSI, NYPD and NYSP, will spare no effort in combatting the illegal distribution of addictive drugs, and in holding medical professionals like the defendant accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”  Mr. Lesko also thanked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement for their assistance during the investigation.

 “Another day, another doctor disguised as a drug dealer. The defendant not only prescribed highly addictive controlled substances without a legitimate medical need, but also went out of his way to attempt to evade law enforcement. Today’s plea demonstrates that the defendant is taking responsibility for betraying the trust of his patients, his community, and his oath,” stated DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Donovan.  “I commend the New York Division, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force, Tactical Diversion Squad, the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, and our many law enforcement partners for their dedication, hard-work, and attention to the investigation and prosecution of this defendant.”  

“The opioid epidemic our country continues to battle is exacerbated when unscrupulous individuals seek to profit from those struggling with addiction,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Fitzhugh.  “The defendant exploited the weaknesses of fellow human beings in order to line his own pockets. HSI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our pursuit to safeguard the public and hold individuals like Dr. Dalmacy accountable.”

“The primary work of a medical practitioner is to help patients. The work of this doctor did nothing but harm his victims, with no regard for their health. By taking payment for prescriptions, Dr. Dalmacy put his patients and the community he served at risk. I thank our law enforcement partners involved in this investigation, and together we will work to keep drugs off our streets, prevent prescription drug abuse and senseless deaths,” stated NYSP Acting Superintendent Bruen.

As set forth in the criminal complaint and court filings, between January 2014 and February 2020, Dr. Dalmacy illegally prescribed to patients thousands of pills of highly addictive controlled substances, including Adderall and Vicodin, in exchange for cash payments.  Dr. Dalmacy wrote these prescriptions outside the course of his professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.  To conceal the unauthorized prescriptions from law enforcement and oversight agencies, Dr. Dalmacy postdated prescriptions and provided multiple prescriptions to the same individual under different or fictitious names. 

The arrest of Dr. Dalmacy is the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the DEA.  The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

This case is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York as part of the Prescription Drug Initiative.  In January 2012, this Office and the DEA, in conjunction with the five District Attorneys in this district, the Nassau and Suffolk County Police Departments, the NYPD and the New York State Police, along with other key federal, state and local government partners, launched the Initiative to mount a comprehensive response to what the HHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called an epidemic increase in the abuse of so-called opioid analgesics.  To date, the Initiative has brought over 160 federal and local criminal prosecutions, including the prosecution of 20 health care professionals; taken civil enforcement actions against a hospital, a pharmacy and pharmacy chain; removed prescription authority from numerous rogue doctors; and expanded information-sharing among enforcement agencies to better target and pursue drug traffickers.  The Initiative also is involved in an extensive community outreach program to address the abuse of pharmaceuticals.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julia Nestor and Dylan A. Stern.

The Defendant:

DR. KESLER DALMACY
Age:  70
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-258 (AMD)

John Marzulli United States Attorney’s Office (718) 254-6323

Haiti authorizes use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as deaths, infections rise

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May 19, 2021 02:39 PM,

Haiti has authorized the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine as COVID-19 cases surge following months of delays in getting shots to protect against the virus in the troubled Caribbean nation.

Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, assistant director of World Health Organization’s Americas branch, told journalists Wednesday that the president of Haiti informed them that the country will accept the AstraZeneca vaccine. The government had previously expressed concerns about the shot’s safety following reports of clotting and had banned it from being used, despite being offered free doses.

“Yesterday, we received the confirmation from the minister of health that Haiti is sending a letter to Gavi...confirming that they will receive the 130,000 doses that are available to Haiti,” he said.

Gavi is the vaccine alliance that co-runs the COVAX Facility, a United Nations-backed platform created to get COVID-19 vaccines to middle- and low-income countries. Haiti is among 10 countries in the Americas that qualify to receive free vaccines for 20% of its population, but its government, expressing concern about the AstraZeneca shots, was delayed in fulfilling the necessary steps to allow for its import and distribution.

Haiti’s total allocation under COVAX for its 11.5 million population is 756,000 doses. 

The reversal of the Haitian government’s decision comes as the reported number of COVID-19 cases rise there and in several other countries throughout the region, a surge that is leading to panic. 

“Three out of the five countries with the highest numbers of new infections are in the Americas,” said Dr. Carissa Etienne, director of the Pan American Health Organization. “And many Caribbean islands — like the Bahamas, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago — are seeing COVID deaths double in the last week.”

The country has reported a total of 13,598 confirmed cases and 276 deaths as of May 15, according to the Ministry of Health’s latest report. The numbers, however, are believed to be an undercount, and anecdotally Haitians are reporting an increase in people experiencing fevers. One of the few hospitals treating COVID-19 cases confirmed a spike in hospitalization. Last year, some hospitals shuttered their virus wards because of low demand. 

Barbosa confirmed that Haiti is not currently using any COVID-19 vaccines, making it the last country in Latin America and the Caribbean to eventually begin administering shots. While Cuba is working on the creation of its own vaccine and is not part of COVAX, and hasn’t distributed vaccines to the larger population, it is providing shots as part of its initial trial. 

Barbosa said that after receiving written confirmation of the approval, his office will start negotiations with the producer to “have this vaccine deployed as soon as possible to the country.”

Haiti’s vaccines were supposed to be manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, which was ordered by the Indian government to halt exports of AstraZeneca amid India’s alarming surge in cases. For weeks, representatives of the World Health Organization and others have been in talks with the India government, hoping to allow the pharmaceutical giant to fulfill its manufacturing commitment to COVAX.

On Monday, the head of the World Health Organization, recognizing the surge in cases in India and other hot spots, said there is a shortfall in vaccine supplies and COVAX “is dependent on countries and manufacturers honoring their commitments.”

“Once the devastating outbreak in India recedes, we also need the Serum Institute of India to get back on track and catch up on its delivery commitments to COVAX,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.