Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 5 février 2016

Minister Joan Raton denies rumors regarding the Triumph Movie Theater

In a note, Dithny Joan Raton, Minister of Culture, has denied that the Ministry signed a partnership agreement with "Haitian American Association of Filmmakers", or with any other entity regarding the use of the Triumph Movie Theater, as certain rumors are suggesting.

"The Ministry of Culture is aware of the importance of the Triumph Movie Theater for all those who dedicate their talents to this art form and who put a lot into this magnificent collective adventure that is the movies. In this respect, the Ministry reminds the Haitian cultural world, that it is in negotiations with the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), owner of the building, to establish together a rational and efficient method of managing this space dedicated to the promotion of the Haitian culture under all its forms.”

Sandra Honoré denies that the international Community is trying to Influence the situation in Haiti

Sandra Honoré, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, denied that the International Community is trying to influence the electoral process in Haiti." I reject this idea that the International Community is trying to influence the electoral process... These negotiations are taking place between the various Haitian political actors. The United Nations does not participate in the negotiations. It reflects the will of the UN Security Council, which indicates that an agreement on an action plan must be defined and managed by Haitians. It is thus about a Haitian and Haitian process to reach a consensus which is acceptable by those who have most at stake as what is better for the Haitian people."

Editorial: CARICOM Must Help Haiti

Haiti is in danger of sliding into a new round of political and constitutional instability without, it seems, its partners in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) seriously exerting themselves to avert, or at least contain, this potentially long-term crisis. It is not in CARICOM's, and certainly not Jamaica's interest that this should happen.

The current problem in Haiti is that President Michel Martelly's five-year term is hurtling to an end, but with no one to replace him when he leaves office on February 7. A new leader has not been elected.

There was, in fact, a first round of the presidential vote last October 25 when Juvenile Moise of Mr Martelly's Tet Kale party, was reported by the electoral authorities to be the leading candidate with just under 33 per cent of the votes. But no candidate got the 50 per cent to avoid a run-off. At the same time, the second-placed candidate, Jude Celestin, and others, claimed widespread fraud in favour of Mr Moise.

A CARICOM election observer mission agreed that there were "too many anomalies" in the voting process. They were, however, unable to conclude whether these were "accidental" or other causes, including poor training of electoral staff. There have been opposition demonstrations, and some violence, in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, and other cities.

The run-off election has been postponed and with Mr Martelly soon to step down, there is a suggestion that an interim government should run the country until his successor is eventually elected. Another proposal is for Mr Martelly to remain in office until May, the date of his ceremonial inauguration, thus keeping his government in place and presiding over the run-off.

CARICOM appears to be little involved in these discussions , seemingly content to leave the role of influencing matters to the so-called Core Group - USA, Canada, Brazil, France, Spain - of countries that emerged to help guide Haiti's return to democracy after the 2004 coup against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

There is, perhaps, a view that these developments are merely Haiti's political process playing true to form. CARICOM, which ought to be an invested partner, might even claim Haiti-fatigue. That response would be unfortunate.

TWO OBSERVATIONS

We make, in this regard, two observations. First, the development of democracy, in which Haiti has not had much practice, can be a winding tortuous process. Second, the Anglophone Caribbean, the majority of whose citizens share a common ancestry with those of Haiti, owe much, to the Haitians for their psychological liberation.

Further, instability in Haiti, which worsens its already weak economy, won't be contained in that country. It will ultimately affect its neighbours, including their security. In the case of Jamaica, for instance, it could worsen the so-called drug-for-guns trade, in which narcotics from Jamaica are traded for small arms sourced in Haiti. There are also legitimate business interests at stake. Jamaican firms, including the poultry company, Jamaica Broilers, have invested in Haiti.

In 2004, in the lead up to Mr Aristide's ouster, CARICOM, led by Jamaica, asserted itself as a player, with a principled stance against the effort by the triumvirate of United States, Canada and France against the putsch. Jamaica insisted on the maintenance of constitutional processes. CARICOM, unfortunately, has not remained sufficiently invested. It needs to recapture that moment.

After canceling its presidential election, Haiti heads toward chaos

Washington Post – Before he went into politics, Haitian President Michel Martelly was a nationally renowned pop star whose stage antics included mooning his adoring fans. As president, Mr. Martelly, whose five years in office are drawing to a close, has treated his constituents, Haiti’s 10 million citizens, with no more dignity or respect.

Mr. Martelly is largely to blame for having led the country into electoral and political chaos, with no prospect of electing a successor to replace him by Feb. 7, as the Haitian constitution requires. Having governed as a virtual autocrat for much of his term, as a consequence of failing to hold timely elections to replace term-limited local officials and members of parliament, Mr. Martelly was instrumental in creating the conditions for a shambolic first round of presidential elections, in October.

That ballot’s polling-place shenanigans and eyebrow-raising outcome hardly inspired confidence. The first-place finisher, a heretofore obscure agricultural promoter named Jovenel Moise, known as the “Banana Man,” was Mr. Martelly’s hand-picked successor. The only question involved the extent of the fraud — whether it was massive and systemic or merely widespread.

Despite good-faith efforts by international diplomats to salvage a presidential runoff, originally scheduled forDec. 27, the damage was done. After having been postponed to Sunday, the runoff was undone by the toxicity that surrounds Mr. Martelly’s presidency and the distrust engendered by the Provisional Electoral Council. With street violence intensifying and the Banana Man’s chief rival, No. 2 finisher Jude Celestin, having withdrawn from the proceedings, leaving a one-man race, the electoral council announced Friday that the elections were canceled.

What happens next is a mystery. A transitional government might avert a power vacuum and anarchy, but the constitution, which limits Mr. Martelly to a single five-year term, contains no such provision. As throngs of street protesters demand that Mr. Martelly leave office as scheduled, elites from the private sector and civil society, along with U.S. and other diplomats, are trying to broker a solution.

Mr. Martelly is hardly the first terrible leader to afflict Haiti and leave ruination in his wake. Still, he may be chiefly remembered for having squandered more goodwill and opportunity than many of his corrupt, self-serving, pocket-lining predecessors.

He took office just a year after the cataclysmic 2010 earthquake shattered the nation, with billions of dollars of foreign aid pouring in. And he had the advantage of being the only democratically elected Haitian president to take power from a democratically elected predecessor. It’s fair to wonder now when that will next take place.

The United States, whose influence in Haitian politics is considerable, dumped more than $33 million into the presidential elections, to no good effect. Although some Haitians distrust Washington’s intentions, it’s likely that without a stronger U.S. diplomatic role, the country’s pandemonium will only deepen.

Haiti edges toward interim government after election collapse

‹By Frank Jack Daniel

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - President Michel Martelly is determined to leave office on the first day of Haiti's carnival in two weeks even though he has no replacement, the prime minister said on Monday, making it likely an interim government will guide the country to elections.

Haiti was due to choose Martelly's replacement last Sunday, but the two-man race was postponed indefinitely after opposition candidate Jude Celestin refused to participate over alleged fraud that sparked protests and violence.

"It is clear that we won't have elections before the departure of President Michel Martelly scheduled for Feb. 7," Prime Minister Evans Paul said.

The United States' Haiti Special Coordinator Kenneth Merten said Washington wanted to see new elections quickly and opposed a long transitional period, but acknowledged Martelly was unlikely to place the presidential sash on his successor.

"Realistically speaking," Merten told Reuters, "We may be looking at some sort of temporary solution until there is a handover to a new elected president. Our fear is that we go into a situation that is open ended.

"In our analysis that is a dangerous place to go," Merten said.

Opposition parties want Martelly to leave on Feb. 7, as mandated by the constitution, although some in his party would like him to remain in office to oversee the elections until his five-year term ends in May.

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"There are people who are for, and people who are against, but he is determined to leave," said Paul, a former opposition member who joined Martelly's government in 2014.

Martelly, a former pop-star known as Sweet Micky, had a dream to sing on a carnival float on the day he leaves office, Paul told Venezuelan TV station Telesur.

The government and opposition leaders are discussing what kind of interim administration will govern until a new president is elected. One option is that the prime minister take over.

Some in the opposition have called for an unelected transitional government to take Martelly's place for a longer period, harking back to a violent two-year period after a coup in 2004.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, has been unable to build a stable democracy since the overthrow of the 1957-1986 dictatorship of the Duvalier family and ensuing coups and election fraud.

HEALTH: the Zika virus is detected in all 10 Departments in Haiti

During a press conference last Wednesday, Dr. Florence Duperval Guillaume, Minister of Public Health, provided an overview of the evolution of the Zika virus in Haiti. According to Dr. Paul Adrien who heads the Epidemiology department of the research laboratory (DELR), 125 cases were detected throughout the country’s 10 departments. The West (35 %) and the North (32 %) have the highest number of cases. However, he also specified that these data do not necessarily reflect the inevitable reality, because generally subjects affected by the fever of Zika do not always go to a health center to be diagnosed and/or treated).

Regarding the risks of transmission of the Zika virus from mother to child during pregnancy with a threat of microcephaly to the fetus, Dr. Adrien indicated that none of the cases that have been brought were pregnant women. He recommended that pregnant women use collective and individual prevention measures, such as sleeping under mosquito nets and using anti-mosquitoes creams to avoid being bitten by an infected mosquito.

In addition to individual protection, the fight against the disease includes the prevention of the proliferation of mosquitoes, that is by the reduction of all the potential sources of larvae breeding grounds established by sitting waters, and eliminating any containers able to retain rainwater such as flowerpots, worn tires, badly maintained roof gutters, etc) and by the application of larvicides when the elimination of these containers is not possible.

On a positive note, the National Laboratory of Public Health (LNSP) is now endowed with necessary technical capacities to confirm the cases of fever of Zika in Haiti. Thus, specimens will no longer be sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to be diagnosed.

The Ministry continues to strengthen its infrastructures in order to definitively bring an end to the presence of this virus on the national territory.

More information about the Zika virus:

The Zika virus is transmitted to people by the sting of an infected mosquito. The clinical syndrome is known under the name of the Zika fever. The infection is symptomatic only in 18 % of the cases, and when it is, the diagnosis can be difficult to reach.  The symptoms can be confused with other diseases, such as those of the dengue or the chikungunya. After an incubation period from 3 to 12 days, the presence of the virus in the blood is generally observed within 2 to 5 days. The Zika fever is spontaneously resolved, the symptoms lasting from 4 to 7 days. There is antiviral medicine against the Zika virus and the treatment rests solely on managing the symptoms.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 12 février 2016

 Provisional government to be installed while Martelly leaves office

Associated Press

Saturday 6 February 2016 

Top Haitian leaders have reached an agreement to install a provisional government less than a day before the President, Michel Martelly, is scheduled to step down, an official with the Organization of American States (OAS) told the Associated Press.

Special mission leader Ronald Sanders said the interim president will be elected by parliament for a term of 120 days. He said the prime minister, Evans Paul, will remain in his position until lawmakers confirm a replacement in upcoming days.

The interim government will continue an electoral process that began last year. It will hold a second round of presidential and legislative elections on April 24. A new president is scheduled to be installed on May 14 and will rule Haiti for the next five years.

“The country now has an opportunity for a fresh start,” Sanders said, adding that parliament would invite nominations for an interim president soon.

The deal, if it holds, will prevent an institutional vacuum when Martelly leaves office on Sunday, and creates a roadmap for an elected leader to replace him in a few months. But there appeared to be no break in opposition protests in the capital on Saturday and recent violence suggests discord is likely to continue.

Sanders said the deal was signed overnight following “very animated” negotiations on Friday between Martelly, the two leaders of Haiti’s bicameral legislature, and numerous lawmakers. Sanders, an Antiguan diplomat, is mission leader and chairman of the 35-nation OAS’ permanent council.

A senior member of Haiti’s ruling party, who was not authorized to talk to the media, told the Associated Press that lawmakers will meet on Sunday to start the process to elect an interim president.

The OAS mission had been observing negotiations to resolve a standoff over a disputed round of voting in August and October that led officials to suspend a runoff election that had been scheduled for 24 January.

Opposition leaders have repeatedly said Martelly could not be part of the process, but Sanders, who stressed he was a witness and not a participant in the talks, said the deal was reached by elected officials who have the authority to do so.

“I don’t think that anybody could say that it was a cooked-up agreement because it was done by people who didn’t have the right or the authority to do it,” Sanders said. “Indeed, there are no other two sets of entities in this country that could have signed a legitimate agreement.”

When asked if a commission would be set up to verify results of the contested 25 October vote, Sanders said: “I would not discount the idea that there would be some form of verification.”

Haiti’s provisional electoral council [which no longer exists and a new one, preferably an independent one, will have to be created by the new president] has repeatedly rejected opposition demands for an independent review of the election results, fuelling suspicions of vote-rigging.

OAS officials have held more than 25 meetings since they arrived last Sunday, but never met with Jude Célestin, a candidate who had been boycotting the presidential runoff, despite numerous invitations to him.

The OAS, however, did meet with other members of the opposition alliance, which includes Célestin.

That alliance has been critical of the OAS mission, saying it would interfere in efforts to resolve the political crisis. The group had been seeking a transitional government led by a Supreme Court leader to ensure a commission verifies the disputed election results. Célestin was boycotting despite official returns that showed him coming in second and winning a spot in the runoff against Martelly’s preferred successor, Jovenel Moïse.

Shortly after the deal was reached, an anti-government protest broke out in downtown Port-au-Prince, and a radio station reported that more than a dozen men in the green uniforms of Haiti’s disbanded military [originally disbanded years ago under President Aristide but recently reinstated by President Martelly] burned down a police station on a road leading to the coastal town of Arcahaie, north of the capital. The station said they also robbed a small bank, burned cars and fired guns into the air [without any interference whatsoever by the national police]. Calls to officials to ask about the reports went unanswered.

It was not clear if the incidents were related to the new agreement. AP

Inauguration of the new Ministry of the Interior

Last Thursday President Michel Martelly, went to the Champ de Mars for the inauguration of a building that will house the Ministry of the Interior, and other government offices.

Among the officials present were: Lener Renauld, Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs and Ardouin Zephirin, Minister of the Interior, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as VIPs form the private sector.

This construction is situated at the corner of Paul VI and Lord Guilloux Streets, formerly the location of the General Tax Office (DGI), which was destroyed during the earthquake of 2010. It is part of the Administrative City project.

"This new realization shows once more the efforts achieved by my administration for the reconstruction of the country," declared President Martelly, satisfied to have laid the foundations for the reconstruction of the City Center still called "the Administrative Center."

This 5-story building was financed by the Treasury and PetroCaribe funds. It will  includes offices, meeting rooms, an infirmary, a cafeteria, a parking area with a capacity of 120 vehicles, and an underground parking lot for about thirty vehicles. The building will also include three elevators and two fire escapes. "All measures were taken to make sure that the construction of this building met modern standards," reassured the Engineer Clément Bélizaire, Executive director of the UCLBP.

US MARINES OFF SHORE – READY TO INTERVENE AT THE FIRST SUGGESTION OF VIOLENCE

Secretary of State John Kerry deployed Ambassador Kenneth Merten to Haiti last night, for a meeting with outgoing President Martelly – to ensure his safe departure is guaranteed on Sunday, Feb 7th. As a precautionary measure, SOUTHCOM has ordered the mobilization of a Strategic Amphibious Platoon, of the United States Marine Corp, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. A unit of this type is made up of 300 officers and men.

This is a precautionary measure in case of civil unrest in Haiti, where over 25,000 United States Citizens reside. SOUTHCOM is planning this contingency to protect American lives against any violent acts.

Troops can be launched off a Tarawa Class assault vessel, probably holding off the coast of Haiti, at this time.

Haiti leader departs as he came: amid uncertainty, disorder

 By DAVID McFADDEN

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Michel Martelly came to office promising a stronger Haiti following a messy election that provoked widespread skepticism. He left power this Sunday at the close of his five-year term with few accomplishments and a legacy clouded by a new political crisis.

The singer-turned-politician had urged Haitians to set aside deep divisions at his May 2011 inauguration. But his hostile relations with Parliament resulted in gridlock.

Many Haitians say Martelly squandered a golden opportunity to turn impoverished Haiti around as international aid poured into the country following a devastating 2010 earthquake that flattened much of the capital and surrounding areas. The disaster killed an estimated 300,000 people.

"He said he'd help the population and I hoped it was true. But here we are still struggling, same as ever," said fruit vendor Nadine Suzie, selling oranges on a street corner by piles of smoldering garbage. Haiti has long been one of the poorest and most unequal countries in the world.

Some who worked with him closely see Martelly as a charismatic but flawed leader who doomed his presidency by surrounding himself with an entourage of unsavory cronies, including a number from his previous career as "Sweet Micky," the self-proclaimed "bad boy" of Haitian pop music.

"It hurts me to say this because I still like him as a person, but the Martelly years were a big zero. There were people around him who were very corrupt and money had a way of disappearing," said Georges Sassine, a prominent industrialist who was tasked with overseeing the country's industrial parks until he was abruptly replaced in 2013.

Martelly's former prime minister, Laurent Lamothe, who was forced to resign under pressure in late 2014 after some 2 ½ years in office, is distancing himself from the president during his shambolic last days. He asserts Haiti made clear gains during their partnership but political feuding over the last year has rolled them back.

Lamothe told The Associated Press that the endless infighting between the president and Parliament "brought Haiti back to its old days of gridlock and self-serving policies that collapsed the economy and destroyed any progress that was achieved."

The dysfunction deepened last year when the mandates of the entire lower house and a third of the Senate expired in the absence of elections, leaving Martelly to rule by decree.

Martelly came to office after winning an election process marred by allegations of fraud, and only international pressure got him in the runoff. He leaves on Sunday, less than a day after he and Haitian lawmakers reached an agreement to form a short-term provisional government under an interim president who will serve until a newly elected leader can take power May 14.

Violent opposition protests and deep suspicions of electoral fraud favoring his chosen candidate, Jovenel Moise, derailed a scheduled runoff last month.

Martelly, through a party official, declined to be interviewed for this article. But at a Saturday ceremony with legislative leaders, the president somberly said: "Even though I didn't accomplish everything I hoped to get done for Haiti, we did our best."

While he's unpopular with some of those in the political class and many struggling to raise families, the forceful, self-confident leader still has many admirers among the young.

"This is the first government in my lifetime that's worked to build up basic infrastructure," said 25-year-old student Pierre Richardson Olson in Haiti's crowded capital. "That's worth something, isn't it?"

Martelly's most ardent supporters insist he's been Haiti's best leader, while hardline critics often characterize him as a dictator who enriched himself illegally. His legacy is more complicated than either of those extremes.

Kenneth Merten, the U.S. State Department's special coordinator for Haiti, said it's easy to lose sight of accomplishments made during the Martelly years amid the current disorder.

"I think we would have all hoped to see that more was accomplished. But I think it's important for people who don't really know Haiti to understand that there has been progress made," said Merten, attributing gains in large part to partnerships with the U.S. and other foreign powers that supported the pro-business president.

Haiti has more paved roads, more children in school, a stronger police force and less extreme poverty. The World Bank said that the local economy had its best performance in decades, with a real growth rate averaging 3.3 percent yearly from 2011 to 2014. Parts of the capital have seen new construction, including major hotel chains, and the number of people in dismal tent camps has dropped from 1.5 million after the quake to about 60,000 now.

But these gains, spurred by international aid, are fragile. Haiti's chronic problems of widespread poverty, lack of opportunity and exclusion remain entrenched.

Martelly's government relied so heavily on Venezuela's Petrocaribe trade initiative, which provided subsidized oil to allied nations, that Haiti's debt to Caracas is nearly $2 billion. His government used savings from the program to fund building and social programs.

One of Martelly's final acts in office was releasing a Carnival song under his stage name, aiming sexually suggestive lyrics at a respected female journalist amid the political crisis. Some former insiders see this as a sign that he was never all that serious about improving Haiti.

"I think he saw power as an excuse to party," said Chantal Elie, a foreign affairs adviser to Martelly who quit after a year because she was fed up with various tensions, including, allegedly, frequent sexist comments by the president and officials close to him.

VICKY JEUDY WINS A SAG AWARD IN LOS ANGELES

The Haitian-American actress Vicky Jeudy took home her second SAG Award for her performance on the Netflix series "Orange is the New Black" last weekend at the 22^nd Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles. During her red carpet entrance, while posing with the actor Léonardo Dicaprio, the star accidentally let her right breast show, a moment which photographers did not miss to immortalize.

Rodney Joseph, best "Chief Petty Officer" of the USA

Chief Rodne Joseph, a native of Gonaïves, has served in U.S.  Navy for 17 years.

As "Division Leading Chief Petty Officer" he manages 30 sailors at 5 recruiting stations, bringing to the U.S. Navy candidates of the highest quality.

Joseph was chosen as "Navy Recruiting Command Division Leading Chief Petty Officer" of the year. He received this honor in a national competition, making him the best "Division Leading Chief Petty Officer" in the country.

"I cannot take all the credit for this honor," declared Joseph. "I owe it to a phenomenal team of recruiters, and it was a privilege to guide them towards their full potential."

Note that "Navy Recruiting Command" consists of 26 recuitment districts divided into Divisions.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 16 février 2016

 Jocelerme Privert takes the oath as temporary president of the Republic

On February 14th, the Parliament elected one of its own, 62 year-old Jocelerme Privert, as temporary president of Haiti, to fill the void created by the departure of former head of state Michel Martelly, who left on February 7^th, according to his mandate. Privert’s election was quickly followed by his swearing-in and the handover of the presidential banner.

Haiti now has a new temporary president of the republic. Privert received 77 votes among which 64 came from the chamber of deputies and 13 came from the senate. The senator from Nippes who has had a career of 35 years in public service, promises to properly lead the electoral process and to form a government of consensus to improve the living conditions of the population. He is committed to meeting all of the vital sectors of the nation in order to bring a wide consensus.

HUNGER AFFECTS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE HAITIAN POPULATION

The World food program (PAM), the agency of the United Nations, indicated that the number of people in severe food insecurity doubled in 6 months in Haiti, because of drought conditions and of El Niño.

3.6 million people go hungry, among whom 1.5 millions are experiencing severe food insecurity, according to a new study carried out by the PAM, the United Nations Organization for the Food and Agriculture (FAO) and the National Coordination of the Food safety in Haiti (CNSA).

In the spring, farmers lost as much as 70 % of their harvest in certain regions. These losses had a direct influence on the price of basic food products, some of which doubled. In a country where 75 % of the population lives with less than 2 dollars a day and when 50 % of the population depends on agriculture, a drought can bring disastrous consequences on the food safety of numerous families.

"If it doesn’t rain before the harvest of 2016, it will mean that numerous farmers will lose their third consecutive harvest and will not be able to meet the needs for their families," declared Wendy Bigham, Deputy Director of the PAM in Haiti. " We have to help them cover their immediate needs while helping them build their strength. "

The phenomenon El Nino which began at the beginning of 2015 is one of the strongest ever recorded, and has affected the food safety of the most vulnerable people all over the world.

In certain regions until 70 % of the population is experiencing food insecurity and according to a new study by the UNICEF, the rates of malnutrition above warning levels were observed in several municipalities, some testifying of an emergency situation.

On the basis of these new studies, PAM is going to intensify its emergency operation to answer the immediate needs for 1 million people in situation of severe food insecurity by making transfers of money as well as by distributing rations of food.

These immediate distributions will be completed by programs of "Money fort Work" where 200,000 people will receive some money in exchange for their work on projects of water management or land preservation to favor the long-term development. PAM has already implemented the projects of "Money for Work" for more than 30,000 people in zones the most affected by drought conditions.

In coordination with the government, PAM also distributed rations of food since November to 120,000 people affected by the drought. A ration of two months can feed a family of 5 people and includes basic food items such as rice, legumes, oil, sugar and salt.

Furthermore, PAM’s program of school canteens brings crucial assistance to about 500,000 children by assuring that they will be able to eat at least a daily meal, among them many are in regions affected by the drought.

It is essential that PAM continues to bring emergency aid so that families can meet their needs until the next harvest which will not take place before July, 2016. PAM, which is only financed by voluntary contributions, needs to raise 84 million dollars in order to cover the food basic needs for 1 million Haitians.

Rubio Comments On Newly Announced Haiti Transition Plan

Washington, D.C.Feb 08 2016

– U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today issued the following statement regarding the Haitian government’s new announcement of a plan to transition power:
 
“I welcome Haiti’s announcement of a transition to an interim government, followed by elections in the very near future. It is my hope that this updated schedule will allow the people of Haiti to have the opportunity to freely elect new leadership, and also for allegations of corruption and fraud in the previous election round to be addressed.
 
“The United States along with the Organization of American States should assist Haiti's transitional government during the coming months to help ensure that the presidential election occurs as scheduled and is free and fair. I urge all political factions to unite behind the interim government, work together to implement this new transition and election schedule, and put their differences aside in the interest of a better future for the Haitian people.
 
“Anyone who is promoting violence or undermining Haiti’s stability during this period should be held accountable, including through punitive actions by the U.S. government such as visa bans. It is in America's interest to continue supporting the people of Haiti during this key time.”

OAS urges D.R. to restore nationality to Haitian descendants

EFE - Washington9 Feb 2016

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a body of the Organization of American States, on Tuesday asked the Dominican Republic to restore nationality to thousands of people of Haitian descent affected by a controversial decision by the Dominican Constitutional Tribunal.

"The criteria adopted by the Constitutional Tribunal disproportionally affected persons of Haitian descent and retroactively deprived them of nationality, relegating them to the status of stateless persons," the commission said.

Based on a visit to the country, the commission's "Report on the Human Rights Situation in Dominican Republic" repudiates that persons born in Dominican territory who, according to Dominican legislation, are entitled to Dominican nationality, should be treated as foreigners.

The commission, an autonomous agency of the OAS, also urges the Dominican government to end "the practices of denying Dominican nationality to persons born in the territory based on the origin of their parents or ancestors, or the migratory status of their parents."

"The situation of statelessness generated by (Constitutional Tribunal) judgment 168/13 has not yet been completely corrected after the measures adopted by the Dominican State, is of a magnitude never before seen in the Americas," the rapporteur on the rights of migrants, Commissioner Enrique Gil Botero, said.

"This situation takes place in a context of historical discrimination that, in different spheres, face Dominicans of Haitian descent," said the rapporteur on the rights of Afro-Descendants, Commissioner Margarette May Macaulay.

"This historical discrimination has been evident in policies, laws, judgments and practices that tend to deprive them of their right to Dominican nationality on the basis of criteria such as the colour of their skin, the national origin of their parents or grandparents, their last names or their linguistic ability to speak Spanish," she said.

Many people born in the Dominican Republic to Haitian parents faced immense obstacles when trying to obtain the right documentation to register for the National Regularization Plan and only around 240,000 applications were received ahead of a June 17, 2015, deadline.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 1 mars 2016

 '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

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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:

1. 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). 
2. 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. 
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.