UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon apologises for role in 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti
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December 2, 2016 08:40 GMT |
'We apologise to the Haitian people. We did not do enough with regard to the cholera outbreak,' the UN chief said. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has apologised for the deadly cholera outbreak in Haiti that claimed around 9,300 lives and infected over 800,000 people in 2010. He admitted that peacekeepers from Nepal were responsible for bringing the disease into the nation, which was previously cholera-free.
In a report published on Thursday (1 December), the UN secretary-general said: "The preponderance of the evidence and the weight of the circumstantial evidence does lead to the conclusion that personnel associated with the Mirebalais United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti facility were the most likely source of introduction of cholera into Haiti."
The report was presented at a special meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York, where UN chief directly addressed the people of Haiti in three languages and said, "We apologise to the Haitian people. We simply did not do enough with regard to the cholera outbreak and spread in Haiti. We are profoundly sorry for our role.
"As a father and grandfather, I felt tremendous heartache at the pain so many families have had to endure. I will never forget it," he added.
Acknowledging his apology, special rapporteur Philip Alston said "the secretary-general has finally acted, albeit in his last month in office, after years of stonewalling", but added that his confession was a "half-apology".
"The determination not to accept legal responsibility entrenches a scandalous legal maneuver designed to sidestep the UN's legal obligations. It renders a meaningful apology impossible, as is made clear by the half-apology of the secretary-general today: he apologizes that the UN has not done more to eradicate cholera, but not for causing the disease in the first place," Alston said.
According to experts, cholera was introduced in Haiti by infected Nepalese UN peacekeepers who were part of a UN peacekeeping force established in 2004 after former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide was thrown out of office by an armed rebellion.
The number of the peacekeepers was increased after the 2010 earthquake and the outbreak was blamed on a leak in sewage pipes at a UN base.
Haiti presidential election winner vows anti-graft, food security push
By Joseph Guyler Delva and Makini Brice| PORT-AU-PRINCE
The winner of Haiti's presidential election, Jovenel Moise, vowed on Thursday to reform the constitution and tackle corruption when he takes office next year.
The electoral council said Moise won a majority of votes and prevailed by more than 25 percentage points, according to preliminary results for the Nov. 20 vote that Haitians hoped would put the country on sounder political and economic footing.
Turnout for the election was only about 20 percent in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. If the results are not successfully challenged, there will be no second round and Moise will become the Caribbean country's next president.
Final results are due to be announced on Dec. 29.
Moise will take over from a transitional government in power since his predecessor and political benefactor, Michel Martelly, left office in February, and his victory sparked protests by political opponents that the election was rigged.
He will have no shortage of challenges, facing galloping inflation and high unemployment.
In an interview, Moise said he won rightfully and would use the mandate to implement constitutional and institutional reforms intended to boost stability and reduce corruption.
"The constitution represents a blockage," said Moise. "We are in a phase of democratization. We are constructing a democracy. We cannot construct a democracy with irritants."
He argued that Haiti should not stage multiple local, parliamentary and presidential elections during a five-year presidential term and suggested holding them at the same time.
Anti-corruption judges would need to be vetted better, while institutions already in place to combat the "plague" of corruption would have to be reinforced and reorganized, he said.
"Corruption is the main brake (to development) in poor countries," said Moise. "At the highest level of the government, we have to set the tone and preach by example."
Moise also said he would include people of other political stripes in his administration, noting that political instability had led to a dependence on international aid.
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"You cannot develop a country on donations," he said.
Moise also pledged to overhaul the economy, making particular mention of agriculture, tourism and construction.
"I can't say in five years I will make Haiti 100 percent self-sufficient (in food)," said Moise, an agricultural entrepreneur known on the campaign trail as the "Banana Man."
"I think that if Haiti is not self-sufficient in food, it is because we have stopped working," he added.
(Reporting by Joseph Guyler Delva and Makini Brice; Editing by Peter Cooney)
CONATEL calls to order
In a note, the General Direction of the Executive Body of the National Council of Telecommunications (CONATEL) notes that at the end of the election day of 20 November 2016, some broadcasting stations in violation of the provisions of the Penal Code , Telecommunications laws and regulations, systematically disseminate information likely to disturb public order, incite the population to violence and undermine the integrity of many citizens.
CONATEL recalls that, according to the provisions of Article 6 of the Decree of 12 October 1977 granting the Haitian State the monopoly of telecommunications services, "telecommunications likely to disturb public order, national security, international relations , morality and good morals or the normal life of the society and its institutions are not conveyed," and the penalties incurred in such cases are provided for in article 139 of the aforementioned decree :
"...When the offense is committed through a broadcasting service, the penalty affects the concessionaire, the staff involved or those who operate it on a regular or occasional basis, as appropriate, the penalty may be progressive and extend to the cancellation of the concession for the holder, to the suspension for two years in respect of staff and a fine imposed on participants in accordance with the law and the regulations."
CONATEL, as the regulatory body in the telecommunications sector, associate itself with the competent authorities with a view to the application of measures which they deem necessary in order to avoid endangering the public peace and the integrity of the citizens.
Also, it urges the broadcasting stations concerned to put an immediate end to these irresponsible abuses and practices, while urging everyone to show serenity and tolerance at this decisive crossroads of national life.
The Core Group takes note of preliminary results and reiterates its call to act in accordance with the Electoral Decree
Port-au-Prince, 30 November 2016 - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the other members of the "Core Group" (the Ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, the United States of America and the European Union, and the Special Representative of the Organization of American States) take note of the preliminary results of the 20 November 2016 Presidential elections as a crucial step towards the completion of the electoral cycle. The “Core Group” commends the national authorities for their leadership of this process. Its members reiterate their call on all to act in accordance with the Electoral Decree.
Miami: ART BASEL five days of excitement in Miami’s diverse districts
This big cultural celebration brought together thousands of visitors, art lovers, and curious onlookers to Miami from November 30th till December 4th. They gathered in Miami’s diverse art districts, although it was impossible to see it all. We went to Las Olas in Fort-Lauderdale where visitors were able to admire the works of two painters: Philippe Dodard and Carlos Salas. The exhibit Cross Looks / Miradas Transversales attracted a large crowd. In Miami, there was Afrotopia, in the Wynwood District. This was an opportunity for several painters of African descent to show the role that artists can play in resistance movements to fight oppression. The hustle and bustle of the Wynwood District did not stop, not until the very last minute. Each person admiring the numerous paintings which were on display. However, it was the Wynwood Walls that drew most of the attention, especially in little spots where people could slow down and take a break.
As for the Little Haiti District, the one which the Haitian community continues to fight to keep its identity, it remained busy around the Caribbean Market Place and around the Little Haiti Cultural Center. This center presented a wonderful exhibit of the Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance with Edouard Duval Carrie, Tomas Esson, Jose Bedia, Ada Lalcacer, Firelei Baez, Ebony Paterson, Sinone Vega, London Tsai and Onajide Shabaka.
The theme of this exhibition was the Caribbean without borders. It is 8th edition of this exhibit and it can be said that it is the most significant exhibit dedicated to the Caribbean. It too happened in the within the framework of Art BaseL Miami Beach.
This was also an opportunity for exchange and dialogue between Caribbean artists living in their countries, and those living in the Diaspora. All these artists who gathered around the Magic Garden gave the public a chance to admire not only the works built from magical plants from the Caribbean, but also to present in bottles and vials products with different virtues from throughout the Caribbean.
A key point of Art Basel in Little Haiti was a meeting of the community with visitors rushing to the Caribbean Market Place to admire paintings from Haiti, thanks to an initiative by the Haitian Ministry of Culture and Communication, especially since the painters were also on site to answer questions from visitors. Another highlight were the five chefs who gathered to offer samples of culinary specialties from home: Soup Joumou, Tchaka, Rum Cake among others. There was enough for everybody and the rum punch in did not stop flowing. To dive into the Haitian gastronomy, what could be better! Art Basel 2016 will remain engraved in our memories!
Minustah: Minustah condemns attacks and intimidations against citizens as well as journalists
In a press release forwarded to the media, the special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Haiti, Sandra Honoré, says he despises and condemns attacks and intimidations tactics against citizens as well as against journalists exercising their duties.
The chief of the MINUSTAH calls upon everyone to refuse any incitement or recourse to violence, to cause defamation, or intimidations of any kinds. In brief the MINUSTAH calls everyone to abstain from any act which could contribute to disturbing the peace and the stability of the country.
The special Representative greets the actions undertaken to end these practices and reminds everyone that national authorities are responsible for intervening so that the people guilty of illegal acts are pursued and judged by virtue of the electoral decree and the other applicable legal rules.
Insecurity: a powerful gang leader was arrested
Agents of the Haitian National Police Force arrested the powerful leader of the gang of Grand Ravine known as Tèt Kale, on December 3rd at the Toussaint L’ouverture International Airport, as he was getting ready to leave the country.
Tèt Kale, whose real name is Junior Décimus, had in his possession a Haitian passport with an American visa valid for 5 years, when the agents of the PNH stopped him.
Junior Décimus is blamed for the death of another gang leader from the same area, who was killed last July.
The area of Grand Ravine is well-known for being controlled armed gangs. It is widely-believed that there are many political sectors which use the services of these various gang leaders, to reach their goals.
Ségolène Royal pays homage to Fidel Castro, but this does not please everyone
“France does not have to give of lesson" to Cuba on human rights, declared the French Minister of Ecology, the only French politician to have gone on site to pay tribute to the recently deceased Cuban leader
French Minister of Ecology Ségolène Royal, was in Santiago de Cuba last Saturday to pay her respects to the memory of Fidel Castro, "He is a historical monument", she said of Castro, rejecting charges of human rights violations. “This is also a symbol of a very deep friendship between Cuba and France," she declared to French journalists shortly after her arrival in Cuba. She was scheduled to attend an evening ceremony Saturday night to pay tribute to the "Comandante." Then, on Sunday, she was to attend the funeral, which was more restricted.
The candidate of the socialist Party in France’s 2007 presidential elections was one of the only members of a European government, along with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, to have made the trip to Cuba. There were there to participate in a week of national mourning dedicated to the former Cuban president, who died on November 25th at the age of 90.
"Thanks to Fidel Castro, the Cubans got back their territory, their life, their fate. They were inspired by the French Revolution without knowing the terror which there was during the French Revolution", Royal said.