Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 8 novembre 2016

 Dozens of clandestine Haitians were discovered in St. Martin

Members of the Police for French Borders (PAF), which suspected migrants trafficking in the bay of Marigot (the French side on the Island of St. Martin), discovered 52 illegal migrants, most of whom were Haitian (28 men, 17 women and 7 children) during a control operation. The migrants were piled up aboard a catamaran whose capacity was 12 people, and was anchored in the Bay.

The three crew members, two Dutch, a man and a woman as well as a man from St. Lucia, all three of whom lived on the island, were arrested and admitted to have participated in human trafficking for money.

According to the migrants’ testimonies, the crew was to lead them to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and some were supposed to stay in St. Martin. The price of the trip varied between 1,000 and 7,000 US dollars a person. The illegal migrants were ordered to leave the French territory, but no deportation procedure have been undertaken according to the assistant prosecutor.

Kuwait will finance a hospital in Haiti

Last week, the Fund for Economic and Social Assistance (FAES), received a delegation from Kuwait (Mohammad Alhadidi and Mohammad I.A Alomani) to evaluate the constructions financed by the Kuwaiti Government for an Urgent Care Center in the West, a high school in Petit-Trou-de-Nippes and two national schools, for a total amount of 9 million dollars.

Last Wednesday, Lucien Francoeur, the Managing director of the FAES, Daphnée B. Delsoin, Minister for Health and representatives of the Kuwaiti Development Fund, Mohammad Alhadidi and Mohammad Alumni signed an agreement for the construction of a new hospital in the metropolitan zone.

The Kuwaiti delegation left Haiti last Thursday after having completed their evaluations, following the passage of the hurricane Matthew.

More than a dozen people were injured following the collapse of an old soda plant building at the Rue du Magasin de l’Etat in downtown Port-au-Prince

Last Wednesday, in the center of Port-au-Prince, a former soda production plant that was strongly damaged by the 2010 earthquake partially collapsed causing 8 victims and panic among local residents.

"Four bodies were removed from some rubble and we transported four other people who were seriously hurt to the general hospital of Port-au-Prince," confirmed the coordinator of the civil protection.

The Mayor of Port-au-Prince, Youri Chevry, reached the scene of the accident, where rescue teams searched in the rubble for possible survivors. He indicated that all the victims were inside the building at the time of the accident, in search of materials, especially steel bars that they could resell.

Mayor Chevry expressed sadness in the face of this incident. In order to avoid a repeat of such a tragedy, he announced that a demolition campaign will be underway in the capital to bring down all of the buildings that were severely damaged by the 2010 earthquake.

According to Guillaume Albert Moléon, the Interior Ministry spokesman, no one knows exactly how many people could have been in the building at the time of the accident. This former soda factory was one of the buildings in the capital on the list for demolition.

Haitians kill a Dominican military officer

Last Friday in Los Rieles of Copey, a municipality of Manzanillo (Province of Monte Cristi), a group of Haitians entered the Dominican territory illegally through the border, and refused to obey a Dominican military patrol officer. Instead, they attacked Captain Manuel Belliard Felipe, age 49, stabbing him several times and killing him. They also hurt his colleague Quartermaster Sergeant, Jeremías Mateo Espinal, 34, and stole a rifle and other goods. Captain Felipe was transported to a private hospital in Monte Cristi, but did not survive his wounds.

The Dominican Ministry of Defense indicated that authorities had arrested three of the five illegal Haitians, identified as being responsible for Captain Felipe’s murder. They were handed over to the Monte Crisiti prosecutor for legal proceedings.

Haiti - Port-Salut: rehabilitation of the main water supply system

Thanks to financing from the Government of Norway and with the technical support of the UN Environment (ONUE), some local organization have proceeded toward the rehabilitation of a portion of the water supply system feeding the central part of Port-Salut, more specifically the network fed by the Grand Kay and Manzè Anne (Trouillac) water sources. This system which serves 10,000 people, had been severely damaged, following the Matthew's passage in Southern Haiti.

"Our work consisted of the removing tree trunks, which fell on the line of adduction on a distance of about three kilometers, and to replace certain pipes and joins", explained Joël Samedy, the engineer of PADI, a local fisherman’s organizations, in charge of the work. "After an evaluation of the damages, we proceeded with cleaning out of the harnessing and the galvanized steel conducts, as well as the reservoirs".

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 23 novembre 2016

 Thousands of Haitians immigrants to be released for lack of detention space

Published November 18, 2016Fox News LatinoFederal officials say they are releasing Haitian immigrants who have been entering the country by the thousands since last year, backtracking on a pledge to jail them before they are deported.

A U.S. government official told The Associated Press that the decision to free Haitians arriving in Arizona and California is in response to a lack of jail space.

Between October of 2015 and late September, about 5,000 Haitians have arrived at San Diego's San Ysidro port of entry, overwhelming border inspectors. Another 40,000 are on their way, officials have said.

They arrive at the U.S. border with Mexico, many after traveling 7,000 miles by foot, taxi and bus from Brazil through eight nations.

The decision to release Haitians will likely add to the growing backlog of more than half-a-million cases already pending in immigration court. That backlog has effectively meant that immigrants routinely wait years for a judge to decide if they should be kicked out of the country.

The official said releasing immigrants with orders to report later to immigration court is a tactic used when detention space is scarce, under certain humanitarian conditions or as part of efforts to keep families together.

Before the Haitians are released, they will be subjected to a criminal background and national security check. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and insisted on speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Department of Homeland Security last week said there were about 41,000 people in immigration detention facilities, compared to a typical population of 31,000 to 34,000.

It was unclear how many Haitians have been released since the change, although ICE says it has deported 203 Haitians to their home country and that about 4,400 remain detained.

The influx of migrants and lack of jail space on the border will be one of the most immediate immigration challenges for Trump.

Among the issues Trump will face is growing opposition to conditions at Border Patrol holding cells and ICE detention centers.

For example, the Border Patrol in Arizona faces a lawsuit from immigrants who say its holding cells are overcrowded, dirty and extremely cold. A federal judge in Tucson on Tuesday said he was inclined to direct the Border Patrol to improve sleeping conditions, although he hasn't issued a directive yet.

Immigrants who enter through Texas also report that Border Patrol holding facilities – known as "hieleras" – the Spanish word for "freezers," are difficult to sleep in. CBP has said it is "committed to the safety, security and welfare of those in our custody, especially those who are most vulnerable."

Includes reporting by the Associated Press.

NOVEMBER 20^TH, 2016: ELECTION DAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

The following are some reflections from our reporters who were on the ground:

• There were delay at several polling stations, at the beginning of the day.

However, there were no major difficulties in the voting process, in spite of some lines.

• People who were going to vote were mostly between ages of 18 and 25 years old.
• We did not notice any ramps to facilitate the access of people with disabilities to the polling stations.
• Marketplaces were open, but there weren’t many vendors. People were at church and it was after church services that they went to vote.
• The national police force was everywhere.  The Minister of Justice informed that about ten drones flew over the territory on Sunday to record any breaches related to the elections. "I guarantee that the police will respond immediately to any emergency call during electoral day,” said the Minister.

IRREGULARITIES

The Institute of Justice and Democracy in Haiti has reported several irregularities in Pétion-Ville, including campaign signs posted too close to polling station; a lack of identification documents for representatives of political parties; inconsistent use of the marking ink on voters’ fingers, and observers' from different political parties exchanging money outside the polling stations.

In Cap-Haïtien, the election took place under the rain. Heavy Downpours were reported in the area of Paillant, where people did not mobilize to go to vote. Was it because of the fog which covered the city?

Voter turnout was also light in Barradères and in Grand Boukan which also received heavy rains.  

Jude Célestin, the candidate of LAPEH, voted at the Lycée of Pétion Ville, one of the most important polling stations of Pétion-Ville, which experienced large crowds, since early in the morning. There as well, we were struck to see that the majority of people going to vote were very young (about 19 years old).

Jovenel Moïse voted in the municipality of Trou du Nord, his native place, in the Northeast Department.

The President of the Republic accompanied by his wife, went to a polling station, in Petit Trou de Nippes to carry out his duty as a citizen.

President Jocelerme Privert presented the November 20^th election in Haiti as a last attempt to restore stability in the country.

There seems to have been a heavy voter turnout in certain provincial towns.

According to our correspondents in various provincial towns, there was a strong police presence in Cap-Haïtien, as in well as in Jérémie, in the Grade Anse, which was deeply affected by Hurricane Mathew. Similarly, in Mirebalais in the lower part of the Plateau Central, a strong voter participation was observed early in the morning at the opening of the polling stations.

Similarly, in Jacmel in the Southeast of the country, and to Port-de-Paix in the Northwest and in Miragoâne in the Nippes, as well as in the Cayes in the South.

The Observers of the OAS deployed throughout the country

The electoral observation mission of the OAS (Organization of American States) in Haiti was deployed throughout the country. The international observers were in diverse polling stations. It was the Uruguayan Senator Juan Raoul Ferreira who managed the team of 130 experts and observers from 24 different countries. This mission observed the progress of the November 20^th election in 10 departments.

Among the members of the mission, were several specialists who were asked to analyze certain aspects of the electoral process including its organization, technology, fairness, and its electoral registry, as well as the participation of women. THE OAS was to observe the process from the opening of polling stations up until the counting of the votes. A team of Observers will remain in the country until the end of the election period.

"We have observed improvements in the process, in spite of difficult conditions,” asserted the head of the mission.

Briefing and Exhibit: Hurricane Matthew Recovery Efforts in Haiti

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

2261 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515

Exhibit: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm | Briefing: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson invites you to a briefing and photo exhibit on USAID-led efforts to help Haiti recover from Hurricane Matthew. The event will feature agency leaders on the frontline of the recovery efforts, members of Congress who recently traveled to Haiti, and other workers and experts in the fields of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance. Staff from USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs (DCHA) will be on hand from 11:00 am-12:00 pm to answer questions on the Hurricane Matthew response.  Key Facts

• Hurricane Matthew made initial landfall in southwestern Haiti on October 4 as a powerful Category 4 storm.
• The Government of Haiti reports that 546 people were killed as a result of the storm and an estimated 1.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.  
• USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is the agency responsible for leading the U.S. government’s response to international disasters.  
• In anticipation of the storm, USAID activated a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) with staff in Haiti, Jamaica, and The Bahamas on October 3. The team continues to work with the Government of Haiti and USAID’s partners to deliver humanitarian assistance to communities in need. 
• The United States is the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance for Hurricane Matthew relief efforts. Total U.S. government assistance now stands at more than $53 million. This includes nearly $40 million from USAID and more than $13 million from the U.S. Department of Defense.
• International aid must help Haiti sustain itself
• The Miami Herald KATE SCHECTER Miami Herald 13 November 2016 780 words
• English MHLD (c) Copyright 2016, The Miami Herald. All Rights Reserved.
• Hurricane Matthew devastated much of Haiti. The storm killed more than 800 people and leveled entire communities. Those who have visited have described scenes reminiscent of when the earthquake hit the island in 2010. There are food shortages, and a cholera epidemic has reached an alarming level. The World Health Organization has sent 1 million doses of cholera vaccine in response. The Haitian Ministry of Health was to begin a mass vaccination program last week.
• It will take time to recover from this latest disaster. Then Haitians and the international community will once again embark on a rebuilding program.
• After the 2010 earthquake destroyed much of Haiti's urban society, the international community committed more than $1 billion to a rebuilding effort that was intended to set Haiti on the path toward sustainable development.
• The international community once again will spend millions, or even billions, in Haiti. Government officials and humanitarian groups will return to the island to implement programs. Foreign investors will arrive to assess opportunities.
• But this time, the focus can and should be more effective. There are important lessons from the post­earthquake effort. These lessons are reinforced by what governments and aid groups are learning about sustainable and integrated development in communities around the world.
• Based on our decades' long work in developing communities, including in Haiti, we have concluded sustainable development is guided by three concrete principles.
• First, build on what already exists. Development projects are especially effective when they help people improve what they already do or what they already have in place.
• In Haiti, this primarily means agriculture. Sustainability requires direct work with farmers, as well as infrastructure­based investments that expand market access and overcome constraints along the value chain. Smart and targeted infrastructure investment ­­ roads, bridges, and the electrical grid ­­ can yield impressive results for the development of market­driven economic activities of all kinds, including agriculture.
• Second, development organizations must work with and through communities. Sustainable economic and social development only succeeds if it identifies with and engages local power structures by leveraging the knowledge and capabilities of local leaders and groups.

CULTURE: The Miami Book Fair

The Miami Book Fair took place from November 13^th to 20^th with a significant participation by Haitian authors (Gary Victor, Yanick Lahens, Robert Large, Claude Pierre) but also by Haitian authors living in the diaspora (Edwige Danticat, Jean Mapou, Schiller Marcelin, Iléus Papillon, Kiki Wainwright …)

During its last weekend several Haitian authors livened up conferences in French and in Creole. Translators were present on the site, to provide simultaneous translation for the many foreigners who participated in Miami Book Fair.

It is the first time, can one say that Haitian literature had such a prominent place at the Miami Book Fair, the biggest literary event in the United States.

Members of the Creole Academy were on site leading a Round Table under the theme "Kreyol Pale, Kreyol Kompran." The authors who participated in this conference were Madam Jocelyne Trouillot of the Akademi Kreyòl, accompanied by: Gérard Férère, Michel Ange Hyppolide, Claude Pierre, Jean Robert Placide..

There was also another conference on Haitian Literature with writers EdwidgDanticat, Yanick Lahens and Gary Victor. This conference, which was a conversation on contemporary Haitian literature, took place under the animation of Michèle Duvivier Pierre Louis's.

This year’s strong Haitian participation, was an initiative of Sosyete Koukouy nan Miami.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 30 novembre 2016

 Fidel Castro and the Media

Fidel Castro dies at the age of 90 years and the press all over the world presents the man who for 25 years occupied a first row seat not only in his country, but also in many Third World countries; the one who made of his country, one on whom all the looks have converged.

The following are a few excerpts from various newspapers following the death of the “Marxist Leader.”

Melodie FM and Haiti en Marche

Fidel and Haiti!

PORT-AU-PRINCE, November 26^th - The man was a legend. But not a Living God, as was considered Papa Doc. The same with Balaguer, successor of the Dominican dictator Trujillo. Nevertheless, his influence covered several continents.

We were fortunate enough to have met Fidel Castro thanks to an invitation by President René Préval (1996-2001) as a journalistic group that accompanied him during an official visit to Cuba.

The highlight of the visit was the reception held at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana.

The protocol was at its highest. The honor guard had a parade within the building. It was a military-civilian government like any revolutionary government desires.

Both heads of state made their speeches. To our surprise, the Marxist leader did not only know the history of Haiti, he knew it better we did. This was due to the fact that he was a history buff, a crazy admirer. For him, the history of Haiti and of Cuba are closely linked. This goes back to Hatuey in Cuba and the Cacique Henry for us, both Indian chiefs who unequivocally refused to submit themselves to the Conquistadors, just like the heroes of the War for Independence in Haiti.

After the victory of the former slaves against the French in November, 1803, many colonists from Santo Domingo took refuge in Cuba where they reproduced the sugar industry which had made Haiti “The Pearl of the Antilles” under colonialism.

Fidel considered that Cuba held a large debt to Haiti because it alone implanted the seed for a real revolution in the New World, while the United States continued to practice slavery for several more decades.

The Guardian, 26 November 2016 by Richard Gott

“Fidel Castro, who died at the age of 90, was one of the more extraordinary political figures of the 20^th century. After leading a successful revolution on a Caribbean island in 1959, he became a player on the global stage, dealing on equal terms with successive leaders of the two nuclear superpowers during the cold war. A charismatic figure from the developing world, his influence was felt far beyond the shores of Cuba. Known as Fidel to friends and enemies alike, his life story is inevitably that of his people and their revolution. Even in old age, he still exercised a magnetic attraction wherever he went, his audience as fascinated by the dinosaur from history as they had once been by the revolutionary firebrand of earlier times.

The Russians were beguiled by him (Nikita Khrushchev and Anastas Mikoyan in particular), European intellectuals took him to their hearts (notably Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir), African revolutionaries welcomed his assistance and advice, and the leaders of Latin American peasant movements were inspired by his revolution. In the 21st century, he acquired fresh relevance as the mentor of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and Evo Morales in Bolivia, the leaders of two unusual revolutions that threatened the hegemony of the US. Only the US itself, which viewed Castro as public enemy No 1 (until they found an “axis of evil” further afield), and the Chinese in the Mao era, who found his political behavior essentially irresponsible, refused to fall for his charm. It took until Barack Obama’s presidency for US restrictions to be eased – but by then an intestinal illness had compelled Castro’s resignation as president in favor of his brother Raúl, who saw in the historic normalizing of relations between the two countries. Nonetheless, Fidel maintained his antagonism until the end, declaring in a letter on his 90th birthday this year that “we don’t need the empire to give us anything.”

Fidel Castro "torments" multiple American presidents

AFP Washington

The American media drew an unforgiving portrait of the Cuban ex-leader Fidel Castro, who died on Friday at the age 90. "Repressive leader" for some, "agony" of about ten presidents of the United States, wrote others.

In their electronic online editions, these media dedicated a wide part of their spaces to the "revolutionary leader who challenged" the United States, as wrote The New York Times.

"He brought the Cold war to the western hemisphere, tormented 11 presidents and brought the world at the edge of the nuclear war," recalls the Times. It also notes "the importance" in the twentieth century of this "international figure," who only managed a quite small island in the Caribbean with 11 million inhabitants.

For the Los Angeles Times, Fidel Castro was "a revolutionary icon whose influence was well felt far beyond Cuba." This point of view shared by Miami Herald, for whom his "shadow" propagated during almost fifty years through Latin America and world.

For his critics he was a "repressive leader who transformed his country into a Gulag,” asserts the Washington Post.

It remains to be seen whether his death will bring significant changes in Cuba. For Peter Schechter, expert at the Think Tank Atlantic Council based in Washington D.C., stability must prevail.

A Very Good Day for Haiti

by Focus On Haiti Initiative Team

If ever a country and its people needed a good day, it was Haiti and the Haitian people.  Over the past two months, they have been battered by a monstrous hurricane and, more recently, by widespread flooding and mudslides.  Over the past year, they have been subject to fraudulent elections and, when the country’s political, social, civic and economic leaders sought to rectify them, resistance and pressure to accept the election results status quo from external forces who ironically often present themselves as Haiti’s ‘friends.’  And, in the five years prior to those denigrating elections, the country and its people were subject to a government more known for organizing carnivals, engaging enthusiastically in debt-inducing political patronage and shady dealings, and disrespecting democratic process and practice than for leading the country to a stronger, more prosperous future.

It is through this lens that Sunday, November 20, 2016 was a very good day for Haiti.  On that day, the bruised country held an election and determined citizens went to polling places around the country in what has been described by the head of the elections council as “a successful day… that unfolded in calm, serenity… and, in general… without violence.” Voters went to cast ballots for president, and in certain constituencies, for senators and lower chamber deputies engaged in a run-off election.  Should no single candidate for the presidency receive more than 50% of Sunday’s votes, a presidential run-off between the two top vote getters is scheduled for January 29, 2017.

In view of the tepid and rather late support of Sunday’s reformed balloting by international actors (including the U.S.), Haitians who have chaffed for years over the dominant role outsiders have played in their political process must have a sense of vindication over Sunday’s ‘calm, serene’ outcome.  Joining the interim government and its Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) in relishing this absolution is the multitude of civil society, church, and business leaders who supported the push toward Haitian assertion of ‘ownership’ of its presidential election.  Without doubt, Haitian ownership contributed significantly in the positive outcome on November 20th. Haitians all along the country’s socio-economic spectrum now had something to prove with this election.  With determination and dignity they demonstrated that they can lead their own political process, and conduct – and pay for - their own elections.  They must now be accorded all due respect for this important step in strengthening Haiti’s democratic process.  After all, it must be asked, what truly democratic country does not ‘own’ its own elections?

Kudos are thereby accorded to the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) that organized the election and to the workers it engaged nationwide to organize and guide the electoral process; to the Provisional government that stood against pressure to accept electoral fraud and that successfully found the $55 million needed to finance their election; to both the Haitian National Police (HNP) who provided unflinching security for the process and the United Nations peacekeepers and police trainers who worked alongside them; to the Haitian election monitoring organizations that exposed the prior fraud and remained engaged as watchdogs to assiduously monitor the election on November 20; and to the citizens of Haiti who voted in calm and serenity, and by doing so showed their commitment to this manifestation of democratic process.

That process improved significantly in large part because the CEP implemented much-needed reforms in arrangements for electoral observation by political party operatives.  Their number was reduced; they were given photo IDs; and they were permitted only one vote, at their home polling station.  A year earlier, the jaw-dropping number of close to one million of these ‘mandataires’ were empowered with generic ID badges that infused the process with fraud, repeated voting in multiple polling places, and the crowding of polling sites which certainly intimidated ‘ordinary’ voters.

The ballot also improved because of the determination of the CEP and Haitian security officials to clearly disseminate the rules of the electoral process and to take quick, appropriate action against those who sought to break them either leading up to the election or on Election Day itself.  Early reports indicate that some 43 arrests were made on Election Day of individuals seeking to disrupt voting transparency.  Happily, violence feared for Election Day – heightened by the HNP’s interception of several illicit deliveries of weapons during the run-up to elections – did not occur.

One good day, however, does not make a successful election outcome.  Much work remains in the aftermath of the actual voting.  Ballots must be secured and counted – unfortunately still a painfully long process in Haiti.  Results must be released fully and with the transparency needed to instill greater confidence in them among both Haitian citizens who have become apathetic toward and distrustful of elections,  and the international actors who have become accustomed to accepting controversial and flawed election results, sending a message that Haitians must be satisfied with a ‘second class’ democracy.

Beyond doubt, when those results are released, losing candidates will cry ‘foul,’ accusing the process of fraud and of bias against them.  This has become standard practice in Haitian elections… sometimes, as was seen in the 2015 so-called elections, with cause.  It will be up to Haitian election authorities to respond quickly, clearly and fairly to contestations, as it will be the responsibility of losing candidates to accept transparent and honest results. Spoilers – with or without guns - still lurk in the shadows seeking to undermine a process or an outcome that does not satisfy their goal of gaining power and protecting their privilege.  Vigilance is called for to monitor them and thwart any even tentative moves they make toward disruption.    And, as the country moves toward a probable presidential run-off election on January 2017, flaws in the reformed process, including those that created confusion among certain voters as to where they could actually vote, must be corrected.

As always, many challenges remain ahead, as reflected in the oft-cited Haitian proverb ‘dèyè mòn, gen mòn,’or, ‘beyond mountains there are more mountains.’  Nevertheless, Sunday, November 20, 2016 was a very good day for Haiti’s besieged and fragile democracy, and a very good day for Haiti.  Haiti’s true friends hold fervent hope for many more very good days to come.

Robert “Bob” Maguire, Ph.D.Director, Focus On Haiti InitiativeElliott School of International AffairsThe George Washington University, Washington DCNovember 21, 2016

Fidel Castro: A Global Revolutionary

The original source of this article is Granma (Cuba)

Copyright © Sergio Alejandro Gómez, Granma, 2016

The Cuban Revolution and Fidel’s ideas have inspired all those searching for a different world; looking to overcome the contradictions which world powers try to present as inevitable.

At a time when it seemed as though all was lost following the fall of the Socialist camp in Eastern Europe; the light that had been lit in 1959, began to shine even brighter. Defending socialism in order to resolve humanity’s problems, even during the most difficult times in the country’s history, placed Fidel on the short list of revolutionaries who have known how to interpret “the significance of the historic moment.”

Such conviction was never tied to dogmas. In the same way that Cuban weapons and resources supported guerillas fighting against dictatorships across our continent, Fidel – the fighter from the Sierra – knew how to recognize when the time for armed struggle had ended, and that of political transformation had begun.

He has had the privilege of seeing various generations of Latin American revolutionaries come and go, individuals who have had the good fortune of benefiting from his support: from Salvador Allende to Hugo Chávez, to name just two of the many brave regional leaders.

“To me Fidel is a father, a comrade, a master of impeccable strategy,” stated Chávez during an interview with Granma in 2005. The two leaders first met in 1994, where Fidel received the recently freed lieutenant colonel at the foot of his plane’s stairway, on arrival in Havana.

Chávez’s 1999 presidential electoral victory marked the beginning of a new era for Latin America and the Caribbean which, as has been noted by protagonists of this process, from Evo Morales to Rafael Correa, would have been impossible without Fidel’s leadership.

Although a counter-offensive is currently underway by right wing forces, attempting to destroy all the gains made over the last decade, there exist concrete examples of the fulfillment of over 200 years of integration efforts, such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, founded in 2010.

Much earlier however, in a meeting during the 1993 Sao Paulo Forum in Havana, the Cuban leader had told leftist forces: “What more can we do, what more can the Latin American left do than create a consciousness promoting unity? This should be inscribed on the flags of the left. With socialism or without socialism.”

In addition to his tireless revolutionary work, Fidel’s humanist ideas have alerted many to the major problems facing humanity, from climate change to the possibility of global destruction by nuclear weapons.

No one can look back over 20^th and 21^st century history, without studying the work and ideas of this Cuban who wrote a small Caribbean island into the pages of “true global history,” as told by the people.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 7 décembre 2016

 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon apologises for role in 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti

 '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 30^th till December 4^th. 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 8^th 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 3^rd 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 25^th 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.