What's Up Little Haiti

HAITIAN MUSIC

Carimi trio reflects on healing process after breakup and pressure of upcoming concert

The death of Michael “Mikaben” Benjamin on stage still haunts the trio, causing the members to ask themselves if they are ready to share the stage again

by Onz Chéry Dec. 20, 2024

THE HAITIAN TIMES

Ahead of their mega reunion concert, Carimi members have revealed that they are still working things out after their breakup in 2016. The group is also hesitant to share the stage again after fellow singer Michael Benjamin, known mostly as Mikaben to fans or Mika to friends and families, died during their last reunion concert in Paris, France. Nevertheless, the trio assures the audience that they will put on a show at the UBS Arena in New York for the ages.

CAP-HAÏTIEN — Carlo Vieux knew his decision to move from New York to Miami in the mid-2010s would have added another layer of problems to what his band, Carimi, was already facing. But he chose to put his family first and made the move with his wife, son and daughter.

“That’s not one of the reasons why we broke up, but that added some pepper,” Vieux, 47, said. “They didn’t agree with it. ‘Why did you move? You know the business is in New York and that’s where we live together. Now you moved and made it harder for us to rehearse.’”

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Vieux also disagreed with some of the dates Carimi was performing, such as during the Christmas holiday, a time he thought he should have been with the family he was creating. 

The two other members of the band, Richard Cavé and Mickael Guirand, had to make some decisions in favor of their families, too. It all added up, and the band eventually broke up in 2016. On good terms, Vieux insisted. 

“We didn’t burn any bridges,” he said.

 “People can’t just think while we’re talking everything is going well. We’re growing gradually. We’re healing. Tomorrow will probably be better than today.”

Mickael Guirand, Carimi singer
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Indeed, years after the breakup, even though Vieux was no longer in the music industry, he wanted to perform with his “brothers” again. He talked about it with late fellow singer Michael “Mikaben” Benjamin. However, he never brought it up to Cavé and Guirand because he didn’t know how they would react, especially since they were part of other bands, Kaï and Vayb, respectively.

“It takes time for things to come back to how they’re supposed to be,” Guirand, 49, said. “Today, I’m not going to say people said sorry; I think time did its job. Everyone acknowledged what they did that was wrong.”

“It’s like riding a bike,” Cavé, 48, said. “Even though you haven’t rode a bike in a while, it’s just going to take a short time to get used to it again.”

Indeed, Carimi wowed the crowd at the 20,000-cap Accor Arena, but during the concert, the most tragic thing happened. Benjamin, whom the trio considers the unofficial fourth member of the band, died on stage. Just about 30 seconds before Benjamin died, he shared a hug with Guirand. 

The Carimi trio posing for a picture with their unofficial fourth member, Michael Benjamin, during the video shoot of a carnival song in January 2016. From left to right: Photo via Carimi Nation Facebook account 

The Trio was hesitant to perform after Benjamin’s death 

After the painful memories of Paris, Guirand was reluctant to perform with Carimi again, despite multiple promoters reaching out to the group. He finally pushed himself to say yes to a concert at UBS Arena in New York on Dec. 27.

“I’m not ready,” Guirand said. “Reliving the last moments, reliving everything that happened, thinking of something we could have done differently. I’m asking myself a lot of questions. We’re not ready.”

Guirand added that the group feels pressured “from the fans, the public, everyone saying [they] have to team up to do certain things.”

The death of Benjamin on stage is also traumatizing Cavé and Vieux.

“You’re always going to get a little fear, a little doubt,” Cavé said. “Sometimes you might ask yourself if this concert is a good idea… But life goes on. I think someone like Mika would want us to keep making music.” 

The upcoming concert will be the first time a Haitian band headlines a U.S. arena. The members of this historic band are grateful to be the ones who opened that door in the Haitian music industry (HMI). 

Port-au-Prince, Haiti — The acrid smell of burning debris lingers in the air as Georges walks through the ruins of his neighborhood in Solino, a place he once called home. His bullet-riddled house and the smoldering remains of his car stand as silent witnesses to the gang violence engulfing much of Haiti’s capital.

“I thought we were safe,” Georges confesses during a Zoom meeting with supporters and donors, his voice trembling. “But safety here is now just an illusion.”

Georges is one of the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Haiti, forced to flee their homes as gangs tighten their grip on neighborhoods, turning once lively communities into war zones within months. His story reflects that of a nation teetering on the edge, where resilience is no longer an option but a necessity.

Today, Georges and his children find temporary refuge through community leader Raymond, in an improvised shelter: an apartment complex owned by Raymond’s brother and managed by Operasyon Men Nan Men (Operation Hand in Hand). This grassroots initiative supports the displaced, funded by donations from a small number of local and international donors and sustained by the tireless efforts of a dozen volunteers. It has become a beacon of hope for those who have lost everything.

A Community in Crisis

Haiti’s security crisis has worsened dramatically in recent months, with gang violence displacing over 700,000 people nationwide, according to humanitarian organizations. In some areas, gangs act as de facto authorities, controlling access to basic services and imposing brutal laws, including attacks on and burning of schools, hospitals, and even churches.

Georges recalls the night he fled: “It was chaos. They came in the night, shooting everywhere. We escaped with only the clothes on our backs.”

At Operasyon Men Nan Men, Georges and a few others have begun the arduous work of reclaiming their lives.

Taking Responsibility Amid Chaos

Rather than waiting for international aid or government intervention—often seen as hopelessly slow—Georges and other displaced individuals are taking matters into their own hands.

With the support of Operasyon Men Nan Men, the group has launched a pilot project to establish “model communities” for displaced families. These communities aim to provide more than just shelter; they offer a chance for stability through sustainable agriculture, educational programs, and vocational training. The ultimate goal is to relocate willing individuals and families out of Port-au-Prince to provinces where land has been secured.

“Our goal is not just to survive,” says Mireille, a community organizer involved in the initiative. “We want to thrive. We want to prove that, even amid this chaos, Haitians can rebuild.”

A Glimmer of Hope

In the first model community established in Delmas, families are planting trees, cleaning streets with their own hands, and attending workshops on starting small businesses. Georges, for his part, has found purpose in helping install solar panels for the new shelter.

“When I work, I feel alive again,” he says. “It’s not just about fixing wires. It’s about fixing what’s broken inside me.”

But the challenges are immense. Gangs often target aid convoys, and resources are limited. While international organizations have praised the model communities as innovative, they warn that without broader security improvements, their sustainability remains uncertain. Located less than a kilometer from the no-man’s-land, the small community mobilizes the entire neighborhood, forming vigilance brigades to prepare for any eventuality. On the night of December 18-19 their neighbourhood was attacked by armed men for the first time. " The police repelled them with force. It’s not just armed resistance that matters. Non-armed resistance is just as important," says one leader, whose name remains secret. "I was awake since 2:30 AM to organize the resistance."

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How to Help:

To support Operasyon Men Nan Men and their efforts, visit https://operasyonmennanmen.org/  or donate directly through https://operasyonmennanmen.org/donate-fr .

Don’t miss “Mountains” this holiday season at Brooklyn College

Post-screening discussion with Ibi Zoboi and cast dives into the film’s cultural and familial themes.

by The Haitian Times Dec. 19, 2024

Overview:

Monica Sorelle’s acclaimed film, Mountains, will be screened at Brooklyn College on December 27, 2024. The event includes a conversation with Ibi Zoboi and lead actors about the film’s central themes.

If you missed Monica Sorelle’s critically acclaimed film Mountains at the Tribeca Film Festival or BAM Film 2024, here’s your chance to experience it this holiday season. The Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College will host a free screening on Friday, Dec. 27, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Poster for a free screening of the film Mountains at Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College on Friday, Dec. 27, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Monica Sorelle, a Haitian American filmmaker and artist, has garnered significant attention for her ability to bring the Haitian experience to the forefront of her work. Raised in Miami’s Little Haiti, Sorelle’s upbringing influences her focus on themes of alienation, displacement, and cultural preservation. Her directorial debut, Mountains, has been celebrated for its authentic storytelling, which portrays the challenges of gentrification, cultural identity, and familial conflict.

The film tells the story of Xavier (Atibon Nazaire), a demolition worker who dreams of buying a home for his family while grappling with the erasure of his Little Haiti neighborhood. His wife Esperance (Sheila Anozier) works tirelessly to support the household, while their American-born son Junior (Chris Renois) struggles to reconcile his Haitian heritage with his American identity. The multilingual film, featuring Haitian Creole, English, and Spanish, has received accolades at Tribeca, TIFF, and other festivals for its vivid storytelling and cultural authenticity.

Following the screening, there will be a dynamic discussion featuring New York Times best-selling author Ibi Zoboi and lead actors Atibon Nazaire and Sheila Anozier. Zoboi, a Haitian American author and National Book Award finalist is known for her young adult novels that explore themes of identity and social issues. One of her most well-known works is American Street, about a teenage girl who migrates from Haiti to Detroit, 

Don’t miss this powerful film and the chance to engage in an enriching dialogue with its creators and stars. The event is free and open to the public at Brooklyn College, 2920 Campus Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11210.

RSVP here. 

American Airlines suspends flights to Haiti indefinitely

MIAMI – American Airlines is no longer resuming its daily service out of Miami into Port-au-Prince's Toussaint Louverture International Airport.

Our news partners at The Miami Herald were the first to report the news.

American had initially suspended flights through February 12. The suspension is now indefinite.

A spokesperson for the U.S.-based carrier said that it will evaluate a possible resumption in late 2025 of the only daily service out of Miami International Airport into Haiti by a major U.S. airline.

This comes after The Federal Aviation Administration prohibited U.S. airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days after gangs shot three planes. Further, the United Nations temporarily suspended flights to Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, limiting humanitarian aid coming into the country.

The American Airlines statement read in part: "American has made the difficult decision to suspend daily service between Miami (MIA) and Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP)," the spokesperson said. "We are proud of our more than 50-year-commitment to Haiti and we will continue to monitor the situation, assessing safety, security, and customer demand, in evaluating a return of service. We will proactively reach out to impacted customers to offer a full refund of their travel itinerary."

Multiple airlines avoiding potential violence

Last month, several air carriers — including American Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines — announced the suspension of daily flights into Haiti after confirmation their planes were hit by gunfire while in Haitian airspace in early November.

Neither Spirit nor JetBlue has said if and when they will resume Haiti flights.

JetBlue Airways operates flights both out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport into Port-au-Prince.

Spirit Airlines, which was approaching Toussaint Louverture International Airport with passengers when the bullets struck, also suspended its service between Fort Lauderdale and Cap-Haïtien in the north of the country.

No passengers were injured.

What does this mean for Haitians in the U.S. and Haiti?

The ban on commercial and cargo flights has created severe problems for Haitians. The roads in and out of the capital are controlled by armed gangs, and mudslides last week buried two major roads connecting Cap-Haïtien and the capital.

Those making it out of the capital have either had to beg for a ride on a government-leased helicopter meant for the purpose of moving security forces to hot zones or pay $2,500 for a ride on a privately leased helicopter with a 20-pound weight limit.

The FAA initially placed all of Haiti under the flight ban. It later amended its decision to exclude airports outside of the capital.

The only other airport that can receive commercial international flights, Hugo Chavez International Airport, is in the northern city of Cap-Haïtien.

Today, the small airport serves as the only air bridge in and out of the country. The airspace between Haiti and the Dominican Republic is still closed. The Bahamas suspended flights into the country. The only direct service to the U.S. currently is via Haiti-owned Sunrise Airways.

Despite that, it has not stopped the United States from deporting Haitians back to the country. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security flew 70 deportees into Cap-Haïtien despite days of heavy rains that had left the city flooded and all access out of the city to other parts of Haiti blocked.

First published on December 8, 2024 / 12:31 PM EST

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