DEATH OF JOE TROUILLOT AT THE AGE OF 93
The famous singer of the Haitian band Issa El Saieh, of the 1940’s and 1950’s, died last Thursday in Montreal (Canada), at the age of 93, learned HPN.
The band was first lead by the Maestro Issa El Saieh, who later left his role to the maestro Ernest Lamy. Joe Trouillot succeeded the latter, while the group had for its name "Ensemble Cabanne Choucoune." Joe Trouillot often found himself singing with Guy Durosier under the supervision of Maestro Issa.
"I tell goodbye to Joe Trouillot, this outstandingly talented man who accompanied us, rocked and charmed us for more than half a century. In the name of the fellow countrymen of Chicago, the Midwest, the American West, and in the name of the Haitian family, I present my deep sympathies to his widow Pauline, to her children and to all his close friends and relatives," said Lesly Condé, General Consul of Haiti in Chicago.
MORE THAN 90 MILLION GOURDES TO BE GIVEN TO SECRETARIES AND SECRETARIES OF STATE LEAVING THIS GOVERNMENT
According to Presidential Order 193, published in the official publication The Monitor, based on privileges to certain Haitian officials, a severance package of 2.5 million gourdes was given to each of the 25 Secretaries of the government of Evans Paul, and 2 million gourdes to each of 15 Secretaries of State.
According to the calculations of the agency Haiti Press Network, the current government includes a Prime Minister, 21 Secretaries and 3 General Secretaries who rank as Secretary. If each of these officials receive 2.5 million Gourdes, it will add up to 62.5 million gourdes total. (That is about 1.2 million US dollars).
Secretaries of State, who are 15 altogether, will receive 2 million Gourdes. This will total 30 million gourdes (or about 560,000 US dollars).
All in all, the Haitian State will have to pay 92.5 million Gourds in severance packages. (That is 1.7 million US dollars) to its former dignitaries.
Senator Steven Benoit, candidate for the presidency, went on the record to denounce this presidential order published on October 8th, 2015 in the Monitor, modifying the order from November 23rd, 2005 which addressed the severance packages of former dignitaries of State.
Haitians Mark Voodoo Day of the Dead
Associated Press - PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Revelers streamed into cemeteries across Haiti on Sunday bearing beeswax candles, food offerings and bottles of rum infused with hot peppers to mark the country's annual Voodoo festival of the dead.
At Port-au-Prince's sprawling national cemetery, Voodoo priests and priestesses gathered around a blackened monument that is believed to be the oldest grave. There, they lit candles and stoked small fires as they evoked the spirit Baron Samedi, the guardian of the dead who is typically depicted with a dark top hat and a white skull face.
Some filled their mouths with fiery rum and sprayed it over the tomb's cross. As if in a trance, one young man wrapped in a paisley print sheet chewed up bits of a broken glass bottle, but onlookers who scrambled on burial vaults to get a better look didn't buy his performance. "Thief!" they shouted, as he spat out blood.
Minutes later, the crowd perched atop the tombs gave respect to a priestess with a purple scarf wrapped around her head as she danced in a spastic manner and made a keening lament.
Other Haitians gathered among the tombs to quietly remember dead relatives and ask spirits to grant favors or provide guidance. One man paid a soothsayer for advice on how to increase his chances at winning bets at Haitian outlets that play on New York State Lottery numbers.
Vendors who set up shop in the cemeteries did a brisk business selling pictures of Catholic saints alongside candles, rum, and rosary beads.
Voodoo, or Vodou as preferred by Haitians, evolved in the 17th century when colonists brought slaves to Haiti from West Africa. Slaves forced to practice Catholicism adopted saints to coincide with personalities in the African religions. Voodoo was sanctioned as an official religion in 2003 and it is practiced widely across the country of 10 million inhabitants.
This year' two-day celebration comes shortly before Haitian officials are expected to announce the top two finishers in a presidential first-round vote. Electoral authorities say they plan to release the preliminary results of the presidential vote on Tuesday, after the Voodoo festival concludes.
Voodoo priest Pierre Saint Ange cracked a rope whip on a crumbling tomb and told onlookers not to "fight with guns or burn tires" in coming days.
"We are asking for peace," he cried, standing near three women with their faces smeared in white paint.
THE HAITIAN AMERICAN POET DANIELLE GEORGES WAS TOURING THE COUNTRY
Within the framework of cultural exchanges to promote the mutual understanding between Haiti and the United States through poetry, the Office of Public Affairs of the U.S. Embassy in Haiti informed the public, poets and amateur poets in particular, that the Haitian-American poet Danielle Georges was touring Haiti last week.
During her stay, Mrs. Georges managed poetry workshops for high school students, university students and comedians, at the Pyepoudre Cultural Center, the Anne Marie Morisset Cultural Center, and for members of the Reading Club of the Documentation Center at the American Embassy. She also conducted workshops for members of the English Conversation Club of the "American Corner" located in FOKAL, as well as for students of advanced reading classes at the Haitian-American Institute.
Representative Campbell, District 108, Calls on Congress to support efforts in Annually Recognizing Haitian Holidays throughout the State of Florida.
MIAMI, FL- Representative Daphne Campbell, represents one of the largest populated Haitian districts in Miami Dade County.
In October 2015, Rep. Campbell formally draft a bill calling on the Congress of the United States to annually recognize January 1st as Haitian Independence Day, as well as annually recognizing May 18thas Haitian Flag day, and marking the month of May as Haitian Heritage Month throughout the State of Florida.
The Great Republic of Haiti is ½ of Hispaniola, which is one if not the largest islands in the West Indies. The island nation of Haiti declared its independence from French colonial rule on January 1, 1804, after a slave revolt under leadership of Generals Toussaint L' Ouverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and Alexandre Petion. Haiti then became the first and only state created from a successful slave rebellion, and the first post-colonial independent nation led by blacks in the world.
Haitian Independence Day is globally acknowledged and annually celebrated as an affirmation of equality, freedom, and the abolition of slavery, which in part makes January 1st so significant to the Haitian community.
The Haitian flag is a definitive symbol of pride, and in the melting pot of South Florida, the flag is constantly revered not only by Haitian Americans and, foreign-born Haitians but also, other cultures throughout Florida. The Haitian flag known today is an adaptation of the first flag of the republic. The Haitian flag is embellished with the country's coat of arms, and accented with the colors red and blue.
Blue representing the former African Slaves brought to Haiti by colonial powers, and the red, which symbolizes a people of mixed ancestry. The Haitian flag was adopted from the flag of France the country from which Haiti gained its independence.
With Haiti's vast culture and immense history. Rep. Campbell believes it is important the State of Florida embrace the month of May as Haitian Heritage Month. The State of Florida in its entirety holds the biggest population of Haitians, and in particularly South Florida.
THE NAHP WILL HAVE ITS FOURTH CONFERENCE IN FLORIDA
Last Thursday, a second planning meeting took place at the Ministry of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE), to coordinate the 4th International Conference of the National Association of Haitian Professionals (NAHP), which will take place at Florida International University from November 12 to November 14th, 2015
Representatives from several partnering institutions, including the National Office of Identification, the National Archives of Haiti, the Bank of the Republic of Haiti, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of the Communication, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were all present at this meeting.
This 4th Edition of the NAHP will address questions on: the direct investment of the Diaspora and foreigners in Haiti; the success of the Haitian entrepreneurs; a stronger education system, and the current state of the business in the country. These topics will be at the center of discussion and will be the object of panels and workshops.
It should be noted that several VIP’s are expected to attend, among whom are: the Governor of the Central Bank, Charles Castel; the Ambassador of Haiti in the United States, Paul Altidor; Dr Edouardo A . Gamarra, professor at FIU; the economist Kesner Pharel, President of the Group Croissance; and Alain Lafalaise, Administrative Director of the Rum Barbancourt company are expected at this event.
Event organizers hope other personalities will participate to ensure the full success of the conference, but their presence will depend on their availability according to their schedules. They include: Prime Minister Evans Paul; former heads of government Laurent Lamothe, Garry Conille and Jean Max Bellerive; current Minister of Trade Wilson Laleau; Ambassador Danielle Saint-Lot, member of the NAHP; Jean Monestime, President of the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners; and Secretary Robert Labrousse (MHAVE).
On its Website the NAHP confirmed that three former Haitian prime ministers, Laurent Lamothe, Garry Conille and Jean-Max Bellerive will be present and will participate in a panel discussion about the changes, the development and the future of Haiti.
SEIZURE OF MORE THAN A TON OF NARCOTICS
A total of 1,300 kg of cocaine, worth about 45 million dollars, was seized in two operations led by units of the United States Coast Guard based in San Juan (Puerto Rico).
Last Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard announced in a press release that the first operation was carried out on October 19th, 2015, when a suspicious ship was detected approximately 70 kilometers southeast of Haiti. The boat was intercepted and a cargo of cocaine of about 1,100 kg was recovered. It had been thrown overboard by the crew before they were stopped by the Coast Guard.
In a second operation led on October 21st, 2015, 3 people traveling on a suspicious speedboat were stopped. A Coast Guard ship followed the speedboat to the island Saona (Dominican Republic), where the occupants were stopped with 8 packages containing 200 kg of cocaine.
REOPENING OF THE OFFICIAL BORDER POINTS
According to a press release from GARR, peace has returned to the official Haitian-Dominican border points. The traffic of vehicles transporting goods and passengers was noticed to have returned to its normal level since prior to October 19th, 2015, contrary to last week when ongoing tension had completely paralyzed commercial activities.
At the border point of Dajabón Ouanaminthe, the commercial activities which had been suspended at the Dominican-Haitian market on October 12th and 16th, 2015, started again shyly, on Monday, October 19th, 2015.
The decision to reopen the aforementioned market followed a meeting held on Sunday, October 18th between Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrés Navarro, Minister of Industry and the Trade, José del Castillo Saviñó, the local authorities of Dajabón and the Dominican Consul all came to Haiti. Dominican merchants and commercial drivers who led this suspension also participated in this meeting.