Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 5 février 2018

 What Really Happened with the Clinton Foundation and Haiti?

By David Love -

January 24, 2018

Atlanta Black Star

The Clinton Foundation faces accusations it mishandled funds intended for Haiti earthquake relief, as the Justice Department investigates whether the Clintons gave or promised policy-related favors to foundation donors.

As a result of the recent comments by President Donald Trump — in which he called Haiti and African nations “shithole countries” and said, “Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out” — the issue Haiti’s plight has resurfaced, but within a different context. The Clinton Foundation has been accused of corruption and misuse of funds, including allegations the foundation committed fraud in Haiti.

As The Hill reported this month, the Justice Department is conducting an investigation in Little Rock, Ark., into whether the Clinton Foundation engaged in “pay to play” politics while Hillary Clinton served as Secretary of State under Obama. Specifically, the FBI is investigating whether the Clintons promised or fulfilled any policy-related favors to foundation donors, or if donors gave to the charity for the purpose of receiving access to Clinton or particular outcomes from the government. Trump, whose campaign and supporters adopted the phrase “Lock her up!” has called for investigations into his former political rival. When he was on the campaign trail supporting Trump, now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions accused Hillary Clinton of using her position leading the Obama State Department to extort foreign governments to benefit the Clinton Foundation.

A November 2, 2016, report from the BBC immediately before the election noted that Trump has criticized the Clintons’ work in Haiti. “I was in Little Haiti the other day in Florida. And I want to tell you, they hate the Clintons because what’s happened in Haiti with the Clinton Foundation is a disgrace,” Trump said in the final presidential debate with Clinton. In the 1980s, Haiti accused former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier of laundering money he stole from Haiti by purchasing an apartment in Trump Tower. Trump sold the Trump Tower apartment to Duvalier through a Panamanian shell corporation in 1983, a practice which hides the finances and identities of buyers.

The January 2010 earthquake in Haiti killed an estimated 220,000 people. International donors pledged an estimated $13.3 billion in aid to the Caribbean nation in the wake of the devastation. Along with Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, former President Bill Clinton, who was UN Special Envoy to Haiti, became co-chairman of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC). From January 2010 through June 2012, $9.04 billion in international funding was raised — $3.04 billion from individuals and companies, and $6.04 billion from bilateral and multilateral donors. Of the $6.04 billion, 9.6 percent, or $580 million went to the Haitian government, while 0.6 percent or $36.2 million went to local Haitian organizations. The lion’s share, 89.8 percent of $5.4 billion went to non-Haitian organizations, including private contractors, international NGOs, and military and civilian agencies of donor countries, including the Pentagon, which charged the State Department hundreds of millions of dollars.

Critics have pointed at the Clinton Foundation, alleging the charity had control over the billions of dollars in aid to Haiti. During the 2016 presidential campaign, the Clintons’ involvement in Haiti translated into mixed feelings in the Haitian-American community about Hillary Clinton, ranging from low enthusiasm to disappointment and anger. As secretary of state, Clinton supported the presidency of Michel Martelly, intruding into Haitian electoral politics by flying to Haiti in 2011 to pressure President René Préval to allow Martelly to participate in a two-person runoff. Martelly won. As president, Martelly selected Special Envoy Bill Clinton’s chief of staff as prime minister, and gave important positions to people with criminal backgrounds, and was known for corruption and violent government repression, and attempting to install his successor. Mrs. Clinton’s brother, Tony Rodham, became a member of an advisory board of a mining company that owns a gold mine in Haiti and was introduced to the company through the Clinton Global Initiative arm of the Clinton Foundation. All of this fueled speculation that the United States and the Clintons were installing a puppet government and engaging in profiteering and drew the ire of Haitians and Haitian-Americans.

Reflecting the anger against the Clintons among the Haitian-American community, on January 12, the Committee to Mobilize Against Dictatorship in Haiti (Komokoda) held a protest outside the Clinton Foundation headquarters in New York City. Speaking at the protest was Dahoud Andre, president of Komokoda and a radio host.

The organization says it continues to protest the Clintons because “there is still no justice despite the billions they have stolen through Bill Clinton’s position (as) UN Special Envoy to Haiti in March of 2009 in the aftermath of 4 major storms which devastated parts of our country; through the post 2010 earthquake Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission; through foreign governments and corporations funneling hundreds of millions (most of them undisclosed) for favors from then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the Clinton Foundation under the guise of helping Haiti; and through the Clinton-Bush Fund,” Komokoda said in a press statement. In light of the announcement by the Justice Department, the group says it remains vigilant and demands a serious investigation, and that any crimes are fully prosecuted and punished. “It is itself a crime that this Justice Department prosecuted and got a conviction against Corrine Brown, Florida’s first African-American Congressperson since Reconstruction for corruption related to $800,000 from her ‘One Door for Education’ charity and yet it took them this long to even start an investigation of the Clintons,” the statement added.

Komokoda’s claims of the Justice Department’s tardiness in looking at the Clintons notwithstanding, Bill and Hillary Clinton have together and separately weathered multiple federal and congressional investigations ranging from Whitewater in the 1990s through the probe into Hillary Clinton’s use of private email servers as secretary of state that wrapped up in 2016 during her campaign for president. The latest probe, a renewal of an investigation that began under the Obama administration, has found the Clintons prepared to respond.

The Clinton Foundation told Atlanta Black Star that it raised $30 million for the Haiti earthquake relief efforts, and did not have control over the bulk of the $9 billion raised for Haiti. “Overall, we’d point out that many of the claims about the Clinton Foundation and Haiti have been found to be flat-out false,” the Clinton Foundation press office said in a statement. “All funding collected by the Clinton Foundation for Haiti was distributed in full to aid groups on the ground, and we have documented which groups received this funding and what it was for. The Clinton Foundation did not take a penny in overhead for our work.”

The foundation also pointed to various refuted claims, including Trump’s assertion that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did favors for Clinton Foundation donors, and that “Hillary Clinton set aside environmental and labor rules to help a South Korean company with a record of violating workers’ rights set up what amounts to a sweatshop in Haiti.” Politifact depicted his claim as “mostly false.” BBC reported that the foundation and the State Department arranged with the Haitian government for a $300 million, 600-acre factory to produce clothing for retail giants such as Target, Walmart and Old Navy. Several hundred farmers were evicted to clear the land, and the South Korean textile company Sae-A Trading Co. later donated between $50,000 and $100,000 to the foundation. While Clinton said the facility would produce 100,000 jobs, only 8,000 were created.

While there is disagreement over the role of the Clinton Foundation in Haiti, it is certain that billions of dollars were raised for Haiti. The American Red Cross raised $500 million for Haiti, spent one-quarter of the funds on internal expenses and only built six houses. The people of Haiti, the first Black republic, have suffered and continue to suffer. Everyone has failed Haiti.

Official - Sweet Micky excluded from the Carnival of Gonaïves

The carnival committee wants a parade without violence and without obscene words. Sweet Micky will thus be replaced by Roody Rood Boy.

Gonaives, on Wednesday, January 24^th, 2018 ((rezonodwes.com)) - The group
“Sweet Micky” led by the singer Michel Joseph Martelly, lost its spot to participate in the three days carnival in Gonaives.

This decision was taken by the municipal committee of the 2018 carnival following a meeting with the group "Les Indépendants" which had demanded the banishment of the group because of its insults against women and the obscene words usually uttered by former President Martelly during his performances.

The president of the Gonaives Carnival Committee, Réginald Jean Baptiste, who confirmed the news to journalists, also revealed that Sweet Micky’s sponsor decided to no longer support him. He believes that the Haitian family must be protected.

Réginald Jean Baptiste declared that the authorities want to organize a carnival without violence and without bad language. He indicated that the preparations are progressing well to realize this second edition of the carnival." All the groups already have their contract. The building of stands is well underway, and approximately two hundred police officers will come to reinforce the PNH troops, based in the municipality.

In Jacmel, where the former president encountered the same difficulties, Mayor Marky Kessa met with members of the private sector, and promised to make a decision very soon.

With Rolguy Docteur

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 14 février 2018

 Haitian president: Trump's 's---hole countries' comments not good for tourism

BY REBECCA SAVRANSKY - 02/06/18

© Getty Images

Haitian President Jovenel Moïse said President Trump's reported "shithole countries" comments have not been good for his country's tourism industry.

“I must be clear with you,” Moïse said in interview with Local 10 News, an ABC affiliate.

“These comments haven't helped our image or tourism industry. But to the rest of the world, I say Haiti is a beautiful place, an amazing place to visit.”

Moïse said during the interview that Haitian people are "proud, and aspire for a better future."

"I see it as a call to arms," he said.

Trump during a White House meeting last month reportedly referred to Haiti, El Salvador and African nations as "shithole countries."

The president faced widespread backlash and accusations of racism for the remarks.

Trump has since pushed back against the reports and denied he is racist.

Last month, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti was temporarily closed after demonstrators took to the streets in Port-au-Prince to protest Trump.

 Moïse said during the interview that Haiti is hoping to revive its tourism industry. He also said Haiti is looking to create jobs and build new health centers, among other goals.

"We really want to take this momentum to show Haiti is not all that negative on the news," he said.

Haiti - Politics: Moïses on a visit to the Urban Park of Martissant makes promises

Last Friday, President Jovenel Moïse, accompanied by among others Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant and Fritz Caillot, the Secretary of Public works, visited the National Urban Park of Martissant (Habitation Leclerc), where he was welcomed by Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis, President of "Fondasyon Konesans ak Libète" (FOKAL). It should be noted that Patrick Gaspard, adviser to former president Obama and current President of "Open Society Foundation", the main sponsor of FOKAL, also participated in this visit.

Pierre Louis reminded that in 2007 Habitation Leclerc, a 17 hectare property, received the government’s approval under President René Préval to be managed by FOKAL. The park, which is a part of the protected areas since 2017, includes among other things gardens of healing plants, a library, a cultural center and play areas for children.

This visit was an occasion for the Head of State to advocate for a public – private partnership to better serve the population. Determined to channel international assistance according to the priorities of the population, Moïses presented the Park of Martissant as a successful model thanks to effective help from international sponsors. "The National Urban Park of Martissant is one ‘Success Story.’ We are going to take advantage of it to set up jobs with a high need for manual labor, particularly in the area surrounding Martissant. Within this framework, the government is committed to supporting the operating budget of this park. I am impressed by all that I saw and I encourage the sponsors to make their contribution to support FOKAL."

Besides repeating his desire to improve the conditions in the country and to offer a living environment pleasant to all Haitians, Moïses introduced the new "Jere Pye bwa w," program which along with other existing initiatives is designed to improve the country’s environmental image. He explained that the "Jere Pye bwa w" program will allow every citizen involved to benefit from an allowance for fruit trees placed under his or her protection during the required time, so that they may reach maturity.

Fake story ties dead Haitian official to Clinton Foundation allegations

"Haiti official getting ready to testify against Clinton Foundation corruption next week found dead with gunshot to the head."

By Amy Sherman on Friday, January 26th, 2018 at 3:53 p.m.

A Miami Herald article about a former Haitian government official who committed suicide in July became the inspiration for fake news websites to make unsubstantiated claims tying the official to allegations about the Clinton Foundation.

"Haiti official getting ready to testify against Clinton Foundation corruption next week found dead with ‘gunshot to the head,’ " stated a Jan. 14 headline on US Political News.

Facebook users flagged the post as being potentially fabricated, as part of the social network’s efforts to combat fake news. We found that the story offers no evidence to tie the former Haitian official, Klaus Eberwein, to criticisms of the Clinton Foundation and largely repeats information from a fake news story last year.  

In July, the Miami Herald reported that Eberwein, a former Haitian government official, was found dead in a South Florida motel room. Eberwein, who had worked as an Uber driver in South Florida, had fallen on hard times.

Eberwein served as director general of the government’s economic development agency, Fonds d’assistance économique et social (FAES), from May 2012 until February 2015 when he was replaced. The Herald reported that Eberwein had faced allegations of fraud and corruption on how FAES administered funds.

Eberwein shot himself in the head the day he was supposed to appear before the Haitian Senate’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. The commission was investigating the management of PetroCaribe funds, the money Haiti receives from Venezuela’s discounted oil program.

The Herald story made no mention of the Clinton Foundation or the Clintons. But a couple of days later, YourNewsWire, a website that posts fake news, made a series of inflammatory and unsubstantiated statements tying Eberwein to criticism of the Clinton Foundation.

Your News Wire wrote that Eberwein was "widely expected to testify that the Clinton Foundation misappropriated Haiti earthquake donations from international donors."

"The Clinton Foundation, they are criminals, they are thieves, they are liars, they are a disgrace," YourNewsWire quoted Eberwein as saying at a Clinton Foundation protest.

But the website offered no evidence that Eberwein planned to testify against the Clinton Foundation or made any such statements.

US Political News used many portions of the YourNewsWire article and then added some additional information, including a clip of actual statements by another former Haitian official about the Clintons.

US Political News included a video of the former Senate President of Haiti, Bernard Sansaricq, at a 2016 Donald Trump campaign event in Little Haiti in South Florida. Sansaricq criticized the record of the Clintons in Haiti.

The Clintons have a long and complicated history with Haiti, but there is no evidence that Eberwein was "getting ready to ready to testify against Clinton Foundation corruption." He was getting ready to testify about something unrelated: money Haiti received from a Venezuela oil program.

Finally, the timeline of the fake story makes no sense: Eberwein committed suicide in July 2017 while the January 2018 headline says he was getting ready to testify "next week."

We rate this headline Pants on Fire.

Stephanie Denizard, a Revelation During Haiti Fashion Week 2018

Although she has enjoyed her career for less than a year, Stephanie Denizard is already making a name for herself in the fashion world. This newcomer, already noted for her size and her spirit, had a memorable presence at the Queen Bikini Ayiti as the Ambassadress of Thomonde - her hometown.

Stéphanie, 19-year-old, is the oldest of three children. She is seriously committed to modelling and prioritizes only her studies before her chosen career.

This model, who is more than two meters tall in high heels, seems to be completely comfortable under heavy lights, or on footbridges lined with curious passersby. However, she is a “Just Come” who began her career in the summer of 2017 with the Caramel agency which decided to sign her on, without wasting any time. A rather advantageous decision for Denizard and also the fashion world which now has a new face filled with promise.

Since the Queen Bikini Ayiti Competition, she has distinguished herself with her enthusiasm and her passion, in spite of the fact that she is a latecomer when compared to others in the field. Quite recently, during Fashion Week in El Rancho in January, she was spotted parading for almost all the designers at the event, by having been the first face of several collections, by opening the show on the third day, along with a strong stage presence during all four days. She would be a goose that lays the golden eggs, if there was really a fashion industry in Haiti which would sign contracts with claws or with big fashion houses worldwide. But for us at the level of Mag Haiti, she is a real REVELATION.

When questioned about the secret of her adaptation to the requirements and the pressure of this field, the novice stated she had enough preparation by taking notes from Naomie Campbell and by following the recommendations of her instructor and agent. To make the biggest stage of the country is a record, however her work is not finished, she continued, pointing out that several other objectives remain to be reached, such as runway shows abroad, modeling contracts, commercials and more, without forgetting her priority project- to build a multi-purpose modeling center in her home town.

Let us welcome Stephanie Denizard to this universe, as unpredictable as it is challenging. We wish her continued success, hoping she will keep her big smile and her overflowing passion for fashion which suits her marvelously.

Brana, Help and Conan O' Brien united to bring more advanced training in Haiti

Published in the Nouvelliste

The national Brewery of Haiti (Brana) is going to allocate $100,000 dollars to the Haiti and Leadership Program (HELP). This information was communicated by Régine René Laboursse, public relations manager for the company. According to her, the initiative was taken after the recent visit of the American comedian, Conan O'Brien, to Haiti.

“He came to the country to do a show, following the words of Donald Trump on Haiti. He showcased the positive side of Haiti. During his stay, he visited Brana. He amused us and we had him sample our beer, Prestige. He liked it so much that he decided to shoot a video promotion for the beer. This promotion was not requested.

Our company agreed with him to strengthen a program in Haiti and not pay the expenses for advertising. We suggested assigning $ 50,000 dollars to the program Help. O' Brien decided to do the same thing," she explained. Help will benefit from $100,000.

Gary Délice, national director of Help, was grateful of the gesture of these two entities. "To find funds for this program is a daily task. We have to make sure we can sponsor the student during all of his or her academic studies. That's why we are grateful to Brana who thought of us. We want to support 50 students every year. But basic problems force us to frequently revise this figure downwards. It is always sad to refuse to help a young person. These funds come just at the right time. They will allow us to support more young people," he declared, adding that each student costs the program $10,000 a year.

According to Régine René Labrousse, Brana has supported the Help program since 2013. This support is part of a strategy to help the youth have a real impact on the future of the country.

“Through our production, we want to have a positive socioeconomic impact on the country. When the brasserie works well, this impact increases. Heineken invested more than $250 million in the national brewery. After the first slice of investment, we noticed that there was no basic problem of funds or of equipment in the company. There was rather a deficiency of skills to manage the equipment. That's why the second slice of the investment is being used to hire executives and leaders in the company. It is the same strategy which we pursue outside of the brewery. We help Help to develop the skills. We cannot think of the long-term impact of this investment without investing in the youth ", she estimated.

Several sponsors of the program also offer an internship in their company. Régine René Labrousse says they are very satisfied with the contribution of these young people to her institution.

"Every time we welcome a student from Help, the contribution of this individual have been remarkable. I remember an intern whom we had hired at the end of his internship. Two years later, he was promoted to manager for his performance," she explained.

Gary Délice, for his part, praises this aspect of the partnership with this company. "It is praiseworthy to give to these young people opportunities so that they can showcase their potential," he noted, adding that three former students from the program now work at the brewery.

John Garçon receives the Leonardo da Vinci Award in Italy

It is in Italy, under the dome of the Palace Borghese, in Florence, that the Haitian painter John Garçon received the international Leonardo da Vinci Award last month.

(An extract of an interview by Claude Bernard Seran)

Having received this distinction, one of the most prestigious in the world of the arts, what’s next?

J.G.: To receive such a prize makes you grow and brings you serenity and humility about your work, which has to stand on its own. I am going to continue to work as before with the perseverance to continue to speak about Haiti in other forums of contemporary art. And then, I intend to exhibit more often in Haiti to promote my collection.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 21 février 2018

 A Haitian author swipes "Nobel" of litterature in the USA

The American-Haitian writer Edwidge Danticat was named winner of the 2018 Neustadt International Prize for Literature, considered as the Nobel of literature in the USA. The announcement was made in November during a reception at the University of Oklahoma, according to NewsOk.

Highly respected within the literary community for its recognition of excellence, the Neustadt Prize is often referenced as the “American Nobel” for its reputation as a lead-up to the Swedish Academy’s annual selection. Any living author writing from anywhere in the world is eligible for the Neustadt prize. The jury is comprised of acclaimed international authors, and that fact helps to keep external pressure from booksellers, publishers, and others who may have interest in influencing the outcome.

Winners are awarded $50,000, a replica of an eagle feather cast in silver and a certificate. A generous endowment from the Neustadt family of Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Watertown, Massachusetts; ensures the award in perpetuity.

Born in Port-au-Prince in 1969, Edwige Danticat immigrated to the United States at the age of 12 to join her parents who were i in Brooklyn. She is an author of stories, essays, travel documentaries, movie scripts, and novels. Among her publications we can quote: “Breath, Eyes, Memory,” “Krik? Krak!” and “Brother, I’m Dying.”

Her work was honored several times with prestigious awards. Among them are the Pushcart Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the BOCAS Prize for Caribbean Literature, and the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in fiction. Edwige Danticat was also named a MacArthur Fellow in 2009, and she holds two honorary degrees.

Missionary Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse in Haiti

Federal authorities say a self-proclaimed Christian missionary from Virginia has pleaded guilty to traveling to Haiti and engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — Federal authorities say a self-proclaimed Christian missionary from Virginia has pleaded guilty to traveling to Haiti and engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Prosecutors say 40-year-old James Daniel Arbaugh pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of traveling in foreign commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a person under 18. Sentencing is set for June 13.

Officials say Arbaugh admitted that, in 2016, he engaged in illicit sexual contact with a minor under the age of 12 by touching the child's genitals.

Arbaugh was arrested last year after allegedly telling a counselor in Virginia that he had sexual contact with minors in Haiti.

The counselor reported Arbaugh to authorities, who claim he later told investigators that he groomed or had sexual contact with at least 21 boys.

Sexual scandal at Oxfam

Desmond Tutu resigns from his role as ambassador.

The South African Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu gave up his role with the NGO (NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION), after revelations of a sexual scandal involving staffs of Oxfam in Haiti.

The shock wave of the Oxfam scandal hasn’t stopped spreading. Desmond Tutu, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his pacifist fight against apartheid in South Africa, decided to give up his ambassador's status of the NGO which has been tainted by a sexual scandal.

The Oxfam abuse scandal in Haiti shines light on a dark side of the international aid industry

TE NATIONAL

Reputations can take decades to build but be destroyed in hours. More scrutiny and transparency in the aid sector is long overdue

February 15, 2018

Updated: February 15, 2018 09:36 PM

     https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/the-oxfam-abuse-scandal-in-haiti-shines-light-on-a-dark-side-of-the-international-aid-industry-1.704866">  

A woman walks past an Oxfam sign in Corail, a camp for displaced people of the 2010 earthquake, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti / Reuters

Few people in the aid sector will be greatly surprised by the allegations surrounding the conduct of Oxfam staff in Haiti.

But what has shocked and angered many is the fact that the charity apparently concealed the findings of a 2011 inquiry into the behaviour of their senior aid workers.

This issue is not about to evaporate any day soon, nor should it. It will shine a glaring flashlight into the darkest corners of not only Oxfam but the multi-billion dollar aid industry and its practices, historic and current.

The allegations are certainly not unique to the aid sector but they throw up many pressing questions as to the very nature of development and how such large organisations are governed.

The Haitian ambassador to Britain, Bocchit Edmond, said the handling of the case was “an insult” to his country – and he is right to be indignant.

I worked for a similar sized NGO to Oxfam – Plan International – for five years. I completed two deployments to Haiti, including one as part of an emergency response team a day after the devastating earthquake in 2010.

We were among the first international support teams to get in and start emergency aid on the ground. Many, many other organisations followed, leading Haiti to be sardonically dubbed "the Republic of NGOs". But the reality (as with all disasters) is that it is the local people who are first on the scene, the first to drag their loved ones, alive, maimed and dead from the rubble, often hours or days before any foreign aid arrives.

The Haitian earthquake was unexpected. The country does not experience regular earthquakes and it came at a time when it was trying to pull itself up from its knees and shake off a reputation as the "basket-case" of the region, a failed state rocked by political instability, poor trade and endemic poverty.

It was a seismic kick in the teeth. The situation on the ground was horrific. An estimated 220,000 killed, several hundred thousand were injured and some 1.5 million were left homeless. It is as vicious a demonstration of cruel fate inflicted upon a people as I have witnessed.

The 7.0 magnitude quake was indiscriminate, wiping out senior members of both the UN mission, national government and security forces. It broke open the prison in Port-au-Prince, spilling hardened criminals onto the capital’s streets in a time of chaos and insecurity.

The international aid response to Haiti was as heartfelt as it was unwieldy. The streets cleared to cut paths through the canyons of rubble in the capital were quickly clogged up with the 4x4s of NGOs. Demands for undamaged buildings pushed rents through the roof. It’s the same thing that happens in cities where the international aid community descends en masse, from Juba in South Sudan to Kabul in Afghanistan.

Aid is a messy, complex business. It operates in countries which are often dangerous, insecure and corrupt. Money (both publicly donated and grants) goes missing, misappropriated by militant groups, mafia or through staff fraud. Money can also be wasted. It is an accepted norm that a percentage of aid is written off in this way. All organisations aim to keep this to a minimum as much as possible, obviously.

And, like any sector with hundreds of thousands of workers, you will always have a few "bad apples". What you don’t expect is that they will be at the top of the tree – and are kept there with impunity.

Dealing daily with victims of major disasters (especially those involving children) is traumatic and exhausting. Western aid workers are lucky. We are there by choice; we can leave. Years after the earthquake, tens of thousands of people are still living in makeshift tented camps, vulnerable to hurricanes, diseases and other threats.

Haitians have good reason to be mistrustful of international aid and the United Nations.

The UN’s peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) lowered its blue flag in October after 13 years. Its legacy is mixed. Although credited with improving stability and security, it also eventually admitted – under great duress – to one of its bases being the source of a cholera outbreak which killed more than 9,000 people after the earthquake.

In addition, international UN peacekeepers (from countries such as Pakistan, Brazil, Sri Lanka and Nepal) were implicated in sexual abuse scandals in Haiti after arriving. This included an organised child-sex ring and young women and girls coerced into "transitional sex" in exchange for food and money.

This wasn’t an anomaly; we have seen the same violations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic and Chad, where Oxfam’s former country director in Haiti, Roland van Hauwermeiren, had previously been posted and was similarly alleged to have been involved in procuring prostitutes there too – possibly minors.

This brings us to the question of such country directors. Many NGOs have tried to move away from their old models of foreign aid workers being drafted in, preferring sustainable models of building capacity and skills with local staff and working with major corporate employers.

While I never personally witnessed or heard any allegations of wrongdoing while working in Haiti – and it was high on my radar –Van Hauwermeiren was typical of a certain kind of senior figure often seen in the field. While NGOs more commonly employ local staff, usually senior hires such as country directors are brought in above them. Ironically, the reason often cited is to avoid local corruption or political pressure. However, they are often middle-aged white men who are veteran aid workers. They live in secure villas, sometimes with domestic staff and drivers. After their contract ends, they often move on to another country directorship and live a transient life. The inherent risk is that the by-product is a neo-colonial network of well-remunerated men who are removed from the communities which they are there to serve and who are answerable to very few.

Does that excuse the behaviour of Van Hauwermeiren? Never.

The one thing everyone in aid is acutely aware of is that people in conflict and post-disaster situations are extremely vulnerable. Children and women are particularly at risk of exploitation, trafficking and violence.

The duty of care you have towards them is paramount, which is why Van Hauwermeiren’s behaviour is a double betrayal of the trust put in him.

While working in Haiti, I heard concerns about petty pilfering of aid or contract squabbles – but nothing like the allegations Van Hauwermeiren is now facing.

The vast majority of aid workers I was proud to work alongside were selfless, professional and immensely conscientious. They don’t choose the work because it’s well-paid, glamorous or are seeking a healthy work-life balance. They do it because they want to help people and improve lives.

Most of their ideas of rest and relaxation was being able to get to a beach for a day or finding somewhere with proper running water for a shower and a decent bed for a night.

Aid is not perfect. Writers such as Dambisa Moyo and Linda Polman are right to question its worth and methods. It will be – and should be – subject to more scrutiny and more transparency. That is long overdue.

Only the senior leadership of Oxfam know why they chose not to properly report the abuses and potential crimes; why they chose the protection of their brand over the rights of Haitian women and girls.

The organisation has a great heritage and does some fantastic work but as is often cited, reputations take decades to build but can be destroyed in hours.

I only hope that positive lessons can be salvaged from this dark chapter.

Stuart Coles is a public relations advisor and former head of media of the NGO Plan International

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 6 mars 2018

 Haitian and Salvadoran TPS holders sue Trump administration

BY JACQUELINE CHARLES

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February 22, 2018

Updated February 22, 2018

Eight Haitian and Salvadoran immigrants living in the United States with temporary protection from deportation have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that its decision to end their Temporary Protected Status was based on racism and discrimination that violates their constitutional rights.

Also joining the lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Boston is Centro Presente, a community organization that advocates for TPS beneficiaries in Massachusetts. The suit was filed by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice, which previously challenged the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting sanctuary cities.

This is the second TPS-related lawsuit filed in recent weeks. Last month, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in a suit asked a federal judge in the U.S. District Court of Maryland to reverse the decision to end the humanitarian protections for nearly 60,000 Haitian immigrants. That suit argues that Acting Homeland Secretary Elaine Duke’s November decision to end TPS for Haiti as of July 2019 is “irrational and discriminatory” and influenced by President Trump’s “public hostility toward immigrants of color.”

Ambassador's 'Diplomacy By Design' Fashion Event Aims to Change Haiti Narrative

February 27, 2018 6:00 PM

• Sandra Lemaire

WASHINGTON — 

Haiti’s ambassador to Washington, Paul Altidor, has been on a mission to show his native country’s best and brightest side since mid-January, in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s reported disparaging remarks about Haitian immigrants.

Trump's reported use of a vulgar term to describe Haiti and African nations angered the Haitian-American community, sparking rallies in Port-au-Prince, New York, Palm Beach and Boston to denounce racism. Altidor said the comments about Haiti "hurt the country."

“So for those who think Haiti is a sh**hole country, let me tell you, my country is a beautiful country,” Altidor exclaimed to applause and cheers in his opening remarks to the large crowd of Washington locals, Haitian-American celebrities, dignitaries and fashionistas at a recent "Diplomacy by Design" event at the Haitian embassy.

The runway show, held during DC Fashion Week, featured the collections of four of Haiti’s top designers — Victor Glemaud, Prajje Oscar, Azede Jean-Pierre and Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss.

“The eyes and ears of the world have been focused on Haiti during the last few weeks,” Altidor noted. “Most of the world has a singular view of our country that we are looking to reshape.”

Haitian flare

Veteran designer Victor Glemaud’s colorful knitwear line in eye popping reds, blues, orange, yellows and fuschia, mixed with black and white separates, were up first. Female and male models turned heads as they strutted down the embassy’s long, winding, red carpeted staircase and into the various rooms where seated guests responded with oohs and aahs.

Glemaud, a Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) graduate who moved to the United States at age 3, began his love affair with knitwear after cutting up his father's old sweaters.

He was one of the 2017 finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, an annual competition hosted by the non-profit Council of Fashion Designers of America with the goal of cultivating "the next generation of emerging American design talent."

Glemaud worked for Paco Rabanne, Versace, Marc Jacobs and Helmut Lang before starting his own line.

Women’s wear designer Azede Jean-Pierre, whose fashions were worn by former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, did not present a runway show but had a few outfits on display in a special room set up by the embassy for guests to see.

"I’m thrilled to be here at the embassy to participate in this event and to show a different Haiti," Azede told VOA Creole. "I know everyone’s talking about Haiti these days, but we want to show that we have a beautiful country and that there are people who are doing great things."

Azede, who emigrated to the United States at age 5, said in the fashion world, designers who are unique are sought out, and being Haitian gives her an advantage.

We asked how she came to dress Michelle Obama.

“I sent her a few messages, and then she accepted for me to make her something. I had 10 days to do it," she said cryptically. "And I completed the outfit, and she liked it. And then she invited us to the White House to talk to children. And I had a second opportunity to dress her, and it was a great experience.”

Showstopper

The night’s showstopper was women’s wear designer Prajje Oscar,who wowed the audience with his Ezili collection. Elegant hand-beaded floor-length gowns, sexy pantsuits, jumpsuits and knee-length skirts in reds, pinks, whites and turquoise were presented, as traditional Haitian rara music filled the room.

Prajje, who was adopted by a French couple when he was 12 years old and reared in the U.S., has been described as one of Boston's "most promising young designers." The Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduate, who holds a degree in fashion design, said he always remained connected to his Haitian roots and wanted to honor that with this collection, which bears the name of the voodoo priestess of art, romance, love and sex.

When Altidor heard about Prajje's concept for the collection, he said, “You have to make it happen,” the designer recalls.

“This is a way to show that Haiti is not what Donald Trump called us. Perhaps Haiti doesn’t have a Bill Gates - I mean, not people who will say openly they are [as rich as] Bill Gates - but we know there are a lot of rich people in Haiti."

Prajje said he was in Haiti when the ambassador asked him to participate in the fashion event.

“He asked me, 'Do you want to [participate]?' And I said yes. Whatever you’re doing, I support you, Mr. Ambassador. I’ll be there.”

Haitian-American NFL star player Pierre Garcon was one of the ambassador's celebrity guests. The former Washington Redskin, who currently plays for the San Francisco 49ers, said he was happy to attend the fashion show.

“I was in Miami when I got the call, and I told the ambassador, 'You know I’ll support you.' So, here I am.”

Garcon graciously declined to name a favorite among the designers. “I’m not really good at that kind of thing. Just give me a team uniform to wear. That’s the fashion I know best,” he said.

A Nigerian-American guest at the embassy, who identified herself as Kydele, acknowledged she was impressed by the show.

“It was fascinating. It really gave you an earful and an eyesight into what Haiti’s all about. And I thank God that DC was able to host that,” she told VOA Creole.

Kydele also spoke about Altidor’s stated goal at the beginning of the evening - to change the Haiti narrative.

"The ambassador has brought on a different perspective about what government is about," she said. "He’s so open-minded and has his arms open to everyone coming to Haiti. He’s very approachable, so I believe he’s letting us know Haiti welcomes you. Haiti wants you to come, and we’re all one. So, I really felt that with his spirit tonight."

IMF Staff Reaches Staff-Level Agreement with Haiti on a Staff-Monitored Program

February 25, 2018

An International Monetary Fund staff team led by Chris Walker, IMF Mission Chief for Haiti, visited Port-au-Prince from February 20-25, to carry out discussions with the Haitian authorities on a Staff-Monitored Program (SMP).

At the conclusion of the mission, Alejandro Werner, Director of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department, met with President Jovenel Moïse, Minister of Economy and Finance, Governor of Central Bank and Senior Officials to mark the accord and discuss Haiti’s development strategy and continuing engagement with the IMF. Mr. Werner hailed the agreement as an important sign of commitment to improving the living conditions and increasing the economic opportunities of the Haitian people.

President Moïse shared his vision for development of Haiti with the IMF delegation. He asked the IMF to play a leadership role in bringing together the country’s development partners to support his reform and development plans, including strengthening the social safety net.

Mr. Walker issued the following statement at the end of the visit:

“Following extensive discussions, the IMF team has reached a staff-level agreement with the authorities on an SMP covering the period of March-August, 2018. The government of Haiti, under the leadership of President Moïse and Prime Minister Lafontant, and with support of the Minister of Finances and the Central Bank Governor, is committed to carry out economic and structural reforms to promote economic growth and stability, and alleviate poverty, in Haiti. The international community and key donors welcome the government’s resolve to implement reforms to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth.

“Under the SMP, fiscal policy will focus on mobilizing revenues and rationalizing current expenditure, to make room for critical public investment in infrastructure, health, education and social services. This will include measures to improve tax collection and efficiency, and to eliminate excessive subsidies, including on retail fuel. Other reforms will focus on stemming the losses of the public electricity company (EDH), which in recent years have amounted to a sizeable portion of the public deficit, by improving the efficiency of billing, and by reforming contracting practices. Fiscal reforms also aim to increase the transparency of public accounts. These reforms are to be accompanied by a substantial package of mitigating measures to protect the most vulnerable members of society.

“The Central Bank of Haiti (BRH) will continue to protect international reserves and preserve exchange rate flexibility, while acting as necessary to contain disorderly market conditions. Under the SMP, the authorities will limit recourse to monetary financing of the government deficit, and BRH will align monetary policy to keep inflation in check, while maintaining an adequate flow of credit to the private sector.

“IMF staff will work closely with the authorities to monitor progress in the implementation of their economic program. The IMF will also continue to provide technical assistance to support Haiti’s capacity-building efforts and structural reform agenda. The SMP is designed to help the authorities build a credible track record, and successful implementation of the program will catalyze critical flows from development partners as well as support a future request for an Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.”

IMF Communications Department

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