'Extreme' US worry about Zika impact in Haiti
BRASÍLIA (AFP),
19 February 2016 - 21H05 - A top US health official expressed "extreme concern" Friday over the potential for Zika to expand throughout Haiti and said the United States is helping the deeply impoverished Caribbean nation prepare.
There was "extreme concern of Haiti in terms of impact that dengue has there, and of course, the vulnerable population is a challenge," said Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the US Centers for Disease Control.
Schuchat spoke while in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia studying an outbreak of the Zika virus, which is widely believed to cause microcephaly, a serious birth defect, in babies born to infected women.
The virus is transmitted by the same mosquito responsible for carrying dengue, a far more common disease.
The US expert said that with the northern hemisphere summer approaching, a rise in mosquito numbers is expected and Haiti, which confirmed its first cases of Zika in January, needs to prepare.
The "CDC has a very strong partnership in Haiti and we are already working on how to help them be ready for this," she told AFP.
"We are concerned about many countries. Certainly in Colombia they have seen a rapid increase in Zika cases," she said. "In the US we are working very closely with Puerto Rico and we are very concerned about the months ahead."
Most people who get Zika suffer no serious symptoms, but pregnant women are considered to be at risk and have been advised by numerous governments not to travel to Zika-prone countries.
Brazil said this week that it has registered 508 cases of microcephaly since October, a huge increase on the average annual number of 150.
© 2016 AFP
Gina Dupervil died on Thursday morning in New Jersey
Gina Dupervil, the daughter of the famous singer Gerard Dupervil, died last week in a New Jersey hospital due to respiratory complications. The singer of the famous hit LANMOU NOU PRAN DIFE, who made many people dance, experienced great success before leaving the country to settle down permanently in the USA. Another Haitian star has passed on. All our condolences to friends and relatives.
Jazz vocal album winner Cécile McLorin Salvant at the Grammys
By: Chris BartonContact
The Grammy Awards like nothing more than to be seen as getting younger, but that idea did not extend to 12-year-old piano phenome Joey Alexander in this year's jazz category.
Seen as something of a favorite in the wake of earning multiple nominations for music on his debut album "My Favorite Things" as well as a performance slot at the Grammys pre-show and broadcast, Alexander was shut out by Grammy voters, who instead opted for more familiar faces.
Alexander can take a measure of comfort in this year's win by 26-year-old jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, who lost out in the jazz vocal category in her first nomination in 2014 but came back to earn honors this year for her lauded album "For One to Love." Salvant beat out albums by Lorraine Feather, Karrin Allyson, Denise Donatelli and Jamison Ross.
Haiti’s interim president meeting with possible candidate for PM
Jamaica Observer - Friday, February 19, 2016
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — Interim president Jocelerme Privert has been holding talks with possible candidates for the position of prime minister with the 2010 presidential candidate Mirlande Manigat emerging as a strong nominee to replace Paul Evans.
Privert, who was elected by the Parliament on Sunday to lead the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country, Tuesday met with Moïse Jean-Charles, the presidential candidate of the Pitit Dassalin party as well as André Michel, presidential candidate for the JISTIS and Manigat, who is also general secretary of the Rally of Progressive National Democrats.
Under the agreement reached to end the political crisis that followed the departure of President Michel Martelly from office on February 7, the interim president chosen by parliament will serve for up to 120 days. The agreement proposes a new presidential election on April 24, with a new president installed on May 14.
Following the meeting, Michel told reporters he had proposed to President Privert the candidacy of Manigat to head the transitional government.
February 15, 2016
No. 2016/12
U.S. Response to the Drought in Haiti
The US Government is actively intervening to mitigate the impact of the ongoing drought induced by a prolonged El Niño event, and, in fact, has been working since the Haitian Government’s CNSA issued an alert and appeal in October 2015. At stake is food security and nutrition for an estimated 1.5 million Haitians.
Our early response has involved:
- Working to assess and mitigate the impact and improve early warning and analysis capacities through the USAID funded Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET).
- USAID has already awarded $11.6 million in emergency assistance to World Vision, Action Contre le Faim (ACF), and CARE to address acute food and nutritional deficiencies for over 135,000 people in the upper northwest, La Gonave, the central plateau and southwest areas hard hit by the drought due to the ongoing El Nino. This assistance will address immediate emergency food needs as well as assist the most vulnerable in their early recovery and build resilience to future shocks.
- Providing food and support valued at $500,000 for 10,000 children in 32 orphanages and 19 schools in the West, Centre, Artibonite, South East and South departments.
- Continuing USAID support to our four-year non-emergency food and nutrition social safety net Kore Lavi program, implemented through CARE and its partners ACF, World Vision, and the World Food Programme, to support 239,000 extremely vulnerable people in La Gonave in the West and South East, North West, Centre and L'Artibonite departments.
- In the South East Department, one of the hardest hit by drought, as well as migration from the Dominican Republic, and cholera, we are working with partners to provide emergency water for drinking, hygiene and sanitation for 13,000 in communities where returned migrants place additional strain on already limited water resources.
Through the US Feed the Future Initiative, our ongoing agricultural development programs are working on mid to longer term solutions with farmers to distribute pumps, clean irrigation canals to increase access to dwindling water supply, use less water-intensive seed for rice, and other solutions for water conservation.
Ambassador Peter Mulrean expressed his concern and solidarity for those whose livelihoods and food security have been threatened and noted: “In this time of distress, the United States stands with Haiti as a true partner, contributing to international and Haitian efforts to provide relief now and for however long it is needed. At the same time, we continue our work on building Haiti’s capacity to withstand such future shocks and protect those most vulnerable and in need, especially mothers, infants and children in rural communities across the country where livelihoods, livestock, and, with no response, lives are at risk”.
NEW DELAY FOR CLIFFORD BRANDT'S TRIAL
After a two-week delay on January 28th for Clifford Brandt's trial and his presumed accomplices, a second 24 hours postponement was put in place on Monday, February 15th because the accused were absent. The judge in charge of the case, Jean Wilner Morin, explained there was a logistic problem with the room put at the disposal of the magistrate. He announced on Tuesday, February 16th, that the trial would be rescheduled for February 23rd. This session should take place at the Judicial Palace where a room will be outfitted for that purpose.
Last Tuesday, 6 of the accused,including Clifford H. Brandt, Sawadienne Jean, Evens Larrieux, Saint strong Carlo Bendel, Carline Richemard and Pierreval Ricot, out of the 19 identified linked to this case were , although a jury was not present. The other suspects are still fugitives.
The judge in charge of the case ordered 10 days for the missing suspects to report to justice. Otherwise the court indicated that they will be declared escapes and judged in absentia (in their absences), their properties will be seized and individuals will be detained to indicate where they are.
Haiti interim president vows to hold former leaders accountable
Port-au-Prince (AFP) - Haiti's interim president Jocelerme Privert vowed Friday to do "everything in his power" to hold the previous administration accountable for its actions, amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
Privert said he has met with leaders from civil society and political parties, as well as everyday citizens, who are demanding that the previous government of Michel Martelly be called to account for its less than stellar record of governance.
"I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that the institutions (of government) meet their responsibilities," he told a news conference.
He added that he "has not ruled out convening a task force" to look into the matter, including a unit focusing on financial mismanagement under Martelly.
Privert took power earlier this month following the February 7 departure of Martelly, after a vote to choose his successor was postponed over fears of violence.
Opposition leaders have criticized Martelly, charging him with overusing his executive powers. They also accuse his wife and eldest son of embezzling public funds.
The deeply impoverished Caribbean nation has been paralyzed by an electoral crisis and continues to struggle to get back on its feet after being hobbled by the devastating 2010 earthquake.
Black History Month Celebration at the Harold Courlander Space
The Black History Month's celebration at the Harold Courlander Space of the American Corner of the Monique Calixte Library will include two big activities this month. The first already took place and consisted of a panel discussion last Friday. The second conference is planned for Wednesday, February 24th at 5 p.m. at Fokal.
According to information available on FOKAL’s website, last week’s panel was in English and included five diplomats of the American Embassy who studied at historically black colleges and universities in the U. S.
These participants from various fields of knowledge spoke about the importance of these types of schools in the history of the United States, and talked about their college experience with participants. This activity was aimed largely at students and members of the Club English Conversation of the American Corner.
Wednesday’s conference, on the other hand, will consist of a presentation by history and communication professor, and sports and political commentator, Patrice Dumont. The library’s American Corner holds a conference annually to mark the stories of African-Americans. It is designed to allow the public to follow the contribution of blacks in the evolution of American society. This year’s theme is on “The participation of the soldiers of Santo Domingo in the battle of Savannah in 1779 in Georgia."
Professor Dumont will make a historic presentation of the facts relative to this battle and will place the participation and the effort of the soldiers of Santo Domingo in a diplomatic context where friendly links were weaved between both countries from their foundation to full nation.
Patrice Dumont is a well-versed individual who collaborated in the two publications: “The French Revolution and Haiti / text: Révolution française - Révolution haïtienne, autonomie, influences et similitudes” (1989) and "The price of Jean-claudisme / Text: “Le jean-claudisme ou l’ideologie du paraitre (2014)." The star sports broadcaster of the show "Sportissibo" on Radio Ibo also published “Haiti in Munich, 20 years later (1994)" and "Francois Duvalier and Haitian soccer, a totalitarian control (2015)."
Culture: the tourist wealth of the North of Haiti, detailed in a catalog
A catalog of places and products, which represent the tourism wealth of the department of the North of Haiti, is now on available, according to the on-line agency AlterPresse.
This catalog is the fruit of the Project of Tourist Development aid of the North (Padtn), as a tourist destination, by the Inter-American Development Bank (Bid), the Center (Canadian) of Study and of the International Cooperation (CECI) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the North (CCIN).
Grouping places of interest – such as beaches, hotels and culinary and artistic potentialities - this catalog, one of the expected results within the framework of the implementation of Padtn, establishes a guide for local and foreign visitors willing to explore the department of the North of Haiti.
Colombia: 3,177 Pregnant Women With Zika; No Microcephaly
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos said Saturday that there's no evidence Zika has caused any cases of the birth defect known as microcephaly in his country, though it has diagnosed 3,177 pregnant women with the virus. Santos also announced that a U.S. medical-scientific team will arrive in Colombia to help investigate the mosquito-borne virus. Brazilian officials say they suspect Zika is behind a seemingly unusual number of microcephaly cases, in which children are born with unusually small heads. The link is not confirmed, but it has helped prompt the World Health Organization to declare an emergency over the virus. Santos says Zika apparently has affected more than 25,600 Colombians overall. Colombian officials said Friday that three people had died of the paralyzing Guillain-Barre syndrome they attributed to cases of Zika. To date, the mosquito-borne virus has spread to more than 20 countries in the Americas.
With global concern over the Zika virus growing, health officials are warning pregnant women to be careful about who they kiss and calling on men to use condoms with pregnant partners if they have visited countries where the virus is present.
The flurry of recommendations began in Brazil, where a top health official said that scientists have found live virus in saliva and urine samples, and the possibility it could be spread by the two body fluids requires further study.