Haiti Tops Index of Nations Worst-hit by Extreme Weather in 2016
BONN, GERMANY —
REUTERS, 9 Nov. 2017 - Haiti, which was hit last year by its strongest hurricane in 50 years, has been ranked the country worst-affected by extreme weather in 2016, in an index published on Thursday.
Zimbabwe, which suffered severe drought followed by floods, came second. Fiji, recovering from the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded in the island nation, was ranked third in the Climate Risk Index published annually by research group Germanwatch.
Fiji is president of this year's U.N. climate talks, where small island states are pushing for urgent action to curb planet-warming emissions, which are expected to bring worse storms, floods, droughts and rising sea levels.
"When Tropical Cyclone Winston hit Fiji, more than half our population was displaced and disturbed," said Joshua Wycliffe, Fiji's permanent secretary for local government, housing and environment.
"And there's not been a day when we've gone to work not knowing when another cyclone is happening," he said on the sidelines of the November 6-17 Bonn talks.
When a storm can severely impact the economy and health of a relatively large island state like Fiji, "you can imagine the devastation it can do to a smaller island nation", he added.
Between 1997 and 2016, more than 520,000 people died in over 11,000 extreme weather events including storms, floods and heat waves worldwide, the index said. The economic damages amounted to about $3.16 trillion, according to Germanwatch.
Nine of the ten worst-affected nations in that period were developing countries, with Honduras, Haiti and Myanmar suffering most, the index showed.
"But industrialized nations must also do more to address climate impacts that they are beginning to feel at home," said David Eckstein of Germanwatch, one of the authors of the index.
The United States, for example, ranks 10th in the index for 2016, with 267 deaths and $47.7 billion in damages caused by extreme weather, he said.
The index does not take into account slow-onset climate risks such as rising sea levels or melting glaciers.
Some countries like Haiti, India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are repeatedly hit by extreme weather and have no time to recover fully, Germanwatch noted.
"Especially in smaller states, the consequences are hardly bearable," said Eckstein. Those losses underline how important it is to help poor countries adapt to climate change and deal with the damage caused by extreme weather, he said.
"Especially at a climate summit under Fijian presidency, these issues have to receive the highest priority," he added.
CBC Again Urges DHS to Fully Extend TPS for Haitian Beneficiaries
CBC Again Urges DHS to Fully Extend TPS for Haitian Beneficiaries
Today, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) released a letter it sent to the Department of Homeland Security on Friday urging the Administration to fully extend Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for eighteen months by the November 23 deadline. The letter was signed by all 49 members of the bicameral, bipartisan CBC. Full text of the letter is attached and online.
From Congressman Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA-02), CBC Chairman, and Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY-09), CBC Member-At-Large and Chairwoman of the CBC Immigration Working Group:
“In 16 days, the Administration may decide to force 50,000 hardworking Haitian Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries to return to a country that is facing a food insecurity crisis and cholera epidemic as it continues to rebuild in the aftermath of the catastrophic 2010 earthquake and Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
“Haiti is in no condition to absorb the cost of reintegrating thousands of Haitian TPS beneficiaries all at once and reintegrating them will mean that Haiti will lose remittances that these beneficiaries currently send back to the country.
“The people of Haiti have faced enormous challenges over the past seven years that are not of their making, and we should do everything in our power to help them rebuild and recover. Sending 50,000 Haitian TPS beneficiaries back to a country where they have no place to live or work will make a bad situation worse.”
ECONOMY WILL SUFFER IF TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DEPORTS IMMIGRANTS FLEEING CRISES, ADVOCATES SAY
BY NICOLE RODRIGUEZON 11/9/17 AT 12:34 PM
The U.S. economy would take a huge hit if the Trump administration decides to stop offering Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to thousands of immigrants who have fled natural disasters, political persecution and pandemics, immigration advocacy groups and lawmakers said.
More than 300,000 immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras and Haiti have been granted TPS, and its elimination would result in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) taking a $164 billion hit over the next decade, according to the Center for American Progress. It would also result in a $6.9 billion reduction to Social Security and Medicare contributions over a decade, the Immigrant Legal Resource Centersaid.
More than 80 percent of TPS holders from El Salvador, Honduras and Haiti are believed to be employed, and if they could no longer perform their jobs, American employers would have to spend $967 million in hiring and training new employees, ILRC estimated.
“TPS holders are essential contributors to the U.S. economy and society, and provide critical financial support to assist recovery and stability in their home countries—both things the Trump administration should consider as it decides the future of TPS,” the Center for American Progress said.
Deadlines to renew TPS for immigrants from El Salvador and Haiti are looming. At least 60 days before TPS is set to expire, the Homeland Security secretary must review the conditions for the TPS designation and decide if protection is still warranted.
Acting Secretary Elaine Duke this month ended TPS for 2,500 recipients displaced from Nicaragua after Hurricane Mitch in 1999. The formerly protected immigrants have about a year to leave the U.S.
Duke is weighing the status for 57,000 Hondurans, having extended the expiration date by six months (it had been January 5). According to The Washington Post, White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly pressured Duke to expel the Hondurans, but she refused.
A decision for 50,000 Haitians, whose TPS is set to expire January 22, is expected around Thanksgiving. TPS for 195,000 recipients from El Salvador expires March 9.
Haitians received TPS in 2010 after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake shook the island, killing 220,000 people. Salvadorans received TPS in 2001 after a series of earthquakes left tens of thousands homeless.
The Homeland Security secretary can designate countries for temporary TPS in cases of war, famine, epidemics or natural disasters. TPS currently is granted to recipients from 13 foreign countries.
The majority of both Salvadoran and Honduran TPS holders have lived in the United States for at least 20 years, and at least 16 percent of Haitian TPS holders have lived in the U.S. for at least two decades. TPS holders from the three countries have 273,000 American-born children, according to the American Immigration Council.
Losing TPS would be devastating to those children, immigrant advocacy groups say.
“They would either face separation from their parents or be forced to relocate to a country foreign to them,” the Center for American Progress said. “Even the fear of family separation or deportation of parents has been found to have detrimental effects on children’s cognitive and psychological well-being.”
Job sectors anticipated to suffer the most from elimination of TPS are the construction, restaurant and food services, landscaping, child care, hospitality and grocery industries—all of which employ high rates of TPS holders.
Florida lawmakers have been particularly vocal in demanding Congress grant permanent residency to TPS holders from the three countries. The state stands to lose an estimated 72,000 TPS holders if protection is revoked.
Four Florida lawmakers late last month introduced bipartisan legislation to grant legal permanent resident status to more than 300,000 qualified Nicaraguan, Honduran, Salvadoran and Haitian migrants.
“The continued short-term extensions of TPS have created anxiety and uncertainty not only for these migrants and their families, but also for their employers and neighbors whose prosperity also depends on them,” Republican U.S. Representative Carlos Curbelo said in an October 31 statement. “While I will continue to support extensions for Temporary Protected Status, this bipartisan legislation would give these migrants the peace of mind to continue giving back to their communities, contributing to our economy and supporting their families.”
Nearly a quarter of million Haitians were deported from DR in 28 months
In October 2017, the Dominican Republic deported or refused entry to 10,945 foreigners of 8 different nationalities most of whom were of Haitian origin.
The Executive Management Migrations (DGM) specified that 4,931 of these people tried to enter the country mainly by ground, but some also arrived by air traffic.
About 6,000 Haitian in irregular migratory situation on the Dominican territory were stopped during migratory controls and deported to Haiti. Some nationals of the other countries were also deported to their country of origin including: Germany, China, Colombia, Cuba, Italy, South Africa and Venezuela.
From June, 2015 till October, 2017, about 245,000 Haitian who lived in irregular migratory situation on the Dominican territory, returned voluntarily or were deported to Haiti by Dominican authorities.
The First International Piano Festival in Haiti
Launched in Jacmel on November 8th at Vital Hall, a piano festival took place in the southern city over the course of four days.
The Jacmélien public was there… comprised of adults and many children, who participated in workshops and two concerts.
The first, on Friday, November 10th was with the young pianist David Bontemps founder of Quintet Macaya who amazed his audience by playing pieces by Haitian composers such as Justin Elie, and Ludovic Lamothe, as well as some of his own work. The next day on Saturday it was the trio of French musicians who took the public through compositions of Russian composers. Prokokiev, Tchaikosky Rachmaninof, Chostakovitch.
The festival packed its bags on Sunday, November 12th to head to Port-au-Prince. There, three concert were planned: two at the Centre D’art, and the third at the Habitation Leclerc.
There again everything was free of charge. This festival was made possible by the Embassy of France, the French Institute, The French Aliance, the European Union and Fokal.
Edwidge Danticat wins the 2018 Neustadt International Prize for Literature
NORMAN — Haitian-American writer Edwidge Danticat has been named the winner of the 2018 Neustadt International Prize for Literature, officials announced Thursday evening.
Danticat's award includes $50,000, a silver replica of an eagle feather and a certificate.
The announcement was made at a reception at the University of Oklahoma, home to World Literature Today, the university's award-winning magazine of international literature and culture. The Neustadt International Prize for Literature is awarded in alternating years with the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature.
"Danticat is the author of stories, essays, travel commentary, film scripts, YA novels and four novels," according to a news release. "In addition to a Pushcart Prize, a National Book Critics Circle Award, the BOCAS Prize, and the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, Danticat won a MacArthur Fellowship and holds two honorary degrees."
Her first novel, 1994's "Breath, Eyes, Memory," was included in Oprah's Book Club in 1998.
"Danticat experiments with form and structure and frequently references the literary history of Haiti and the Caribbean" the release notes. "She paints scenes of immigrant life in New York and Miami with fresh details and palpable familiarity."
Robert Con Davis-Undiano, World Literature Today's executive director, said in the release that Danticat is a “master writer whose newest work promises even greater heights.”
The Neustadt Prize is the first international literary award of its scope to originate in the U.S., the release states, and is one of the only international prizes available to poets, novelists and playwrights. Any living author writing from anywhere in the world is eligible for the prestigious award. The jury is comprised of acclaimed international authors.
Funeral of Papa Pyè
Following an evening of tributes organized at the Museum of the National Pantheon (MUPANAH) in Haiti last Thursday, to honor Jean Claude Joseph, the beloved Haitian comedian "Papa Pyè," his final burial took place on Saturday in Silver Spring, Maryland. Limond Toussaint, Haiti’s Minister of Culture headed a delegation comprised of officials from the ministry and Haitian theater. He also represented President Moses at the funeral of the star of “Lavi nan Bouk”, who died on October 18th in Orlando
The ceremony, celebrated by Reverend Father Mike Homme, took place in the Riderwood Village Chapel in Silver Spring, Maryland in the presence of relatives, friends and colleagues of the deceased, as well as Haitian officials among whom were the President of the Haitian Parliament’s Commission of Culture and Communication, Caleb Desrameux and officials from the Haitian Embassy in Washington, in particular Weibert Arthus, who is an advisor to the minister.
Jean Claude Joseph, was the founder of the troop "Papa Pyè" and the creator of the series: "Lavi nan Bouk", "Papa Pyè's adventures", "Cric-Crac” etc.... Having left Haiti in 1985, Jean Claude Joseph obtained roles in three full-length films: "Fly People", "Djab Baba" and "The Green Card."
France honors the famous Haitian pianist Micheline Laudun Denis
During a ceremony at her residence last week, French Ambassadress Elisabeth Beton Delègue handed the Knight's Badge of Order for the Arts and Letters to the pianist Micheline Laudun Denis, in the presence of Denis’ family, her close friends and other personalities in the art world.
An alumnus of the Higher National Conservatory for Music and Dance of Paris, Laudun Denis is among the most talented pianists of Haiti. Her career led her to main stages of Haiti and to the National Palace, as well as concert halls in Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean and Africa.
An outstanding interpreter of classical music, Laudun Denis also became famous throughout her brilliant career as a talented instructor, and well as a significant contributor to recitals of classical music in Haiti.
By distinguishing Laudun, France wished to pay tribute to the remarkable talent and the magnificent career of this illustrious musician, but also to reward her commitment without failing in favor of learning classical music in Haiti and transmitting Haiti’s musical heritage.
Taiwan is ready to grant a 150 million dollar loan Haiti within the framework of the construction of a national electricity network
Returning from Taiwan at the head of a delegation of 6 senators, the president of the Senate Yourie Latortue lifted the veil on a project that is within the framework of the president’s vision to bring electricity to the country.
Youri Latortue confided that Taiwanese are in our walls, to study the feasibility of a national electricity network.
A Catalog of on-line exportable Haitian products - A new era in Haitian business
By: Laurent Eugène
The Center of Facilitation of Investments (CFI) in association with the Chamber of Commerce and industry of Haiti (CCIH) and the Inter-American Development Bank (BID) and of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) officially launched a catalog of Haitian products available on-line.
"This catalog of on-line exportable Haitian products, is a new opportunity for the producers and the Haitian exporters," declared Yvone Hell, Director of the Development program of the United Nations. She added that this platform will allow Haitian storekeepers to easily sell their products worldwide.
For her part, the representative of the Inter-American Development bank, Koldo Echebarria, believes that this initiative will favor the exchange between local and international producers, and will contribute to the strengthening of national production. She hopes that the country takes full advantage of it.
The individuals in charge of this platform invite all Haitian storekeepers to register their company on their Web site to share in this experience. It should be noted that this Web site offers a services in three languages: French, English, and Spanish.
The directors of this project hope that this platform is the beginning of a new era in the Haitian world of commerce.