Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 21 mars 2018

 The American Ambassador in Haiti, Michèle J. Sison, visited the Northern part of the country

The American Ambassador in Haiti, Michel J. Sison, on Tuesday, February 13, toured the Northern Department, where she visited the Caracol Industrial Park, which opened in 2012 and is financed in collaboration with the United States and the Inter-American Development Bank of the Haitian government. Following her visit to the park to inquire firsthand about the day to day operations and see the progress, she made a stop at the campus of Henry Christophe University in Cap Haitian where she made a speech.

The following is an exert of her speech:

“…Haiti is leading its own development journey, designing and implementing solutions to its own unique challenges. And we, the U.S. Embassy, are here to work together with Haiti to support a prosperous and democratic future for all Haitians.

We are proud that U.S. assistance is helping advance economic opportunities for Haitians; develop a comprehensive food security strategy; provide access to basic health care and water and sanitation services; strengthen institutions and governance; and improve educational opportunities for youth.

Haiti has held a very special place in my heart. I began my diplomatic career in 1982 as a young diplomat in Port-au-Prince, and I have always remembered the warmth of the Haitian people, the country's great natural beauty, and Haiti's unique culture.

… I always wanted to return to Haiti, and I am so happy to be here with you today.

Haiti and the United States share a strong commitment to freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.

We also share a long history, and our futures are closely linked through the nearly one million Haitian-Americans who contribute to prosperity in the United States and to the economic growth of Haiti.

The United States has a tremendous amount of respect for the Haitian people, and we are very proud of our partnership with Haiti.

When I think back to my first diplomatic assignment to Haiti, in the 1980s, it was clear even in those days that Haiti needed strong State institutions, good governance, and transparency to ensure prosperity and economic growth.

This is also true today.

Today, after a period of political impasse, Haiti has a democratically elected government in place. The United States and the international community have a long-term partner with whom we can engage to help the country build a promising future. We continue to work hard to support the goals and vision of the Haitian government and the aspirations of its people.

Effectively, we are working together for Haiti's bright future.

Our partnerships with Haiti reflect our respect and admiration for the Haitian people, a population that has demonstrated dignity and resilience even during the most difficult of times such as the 2010 earthquake and recent hurricanes.

…The Caracol Industrial Park is the largest modern facility of its kind in the Caribbean, and it directly supports the Government of Haiti's goal of creating centers of economic activity outside the capital of Port-au-Prince by encouraging decentralization and promoting job creation.

During my visit to the Caracol Industrial Park yesterday, I was very impressed by the results of this key partnership between the United States, the Government of Haiti, and the BID.

Since its launch in 2012, the Caracol Industrial Park has created close to 13,000 jobs in Haiti's northern corridor, and its power plant provides reliable and affordable electricity to thousands of individuals and small businesses. The anchor tenant, Sae-A Trading, has become the largest private sector employer in Haiti. That is truly impressive!

This really represents a cascade of income for people, and I believe this successful model could certainly be replicated elsewhere in the country.

Job creation is a priority for our U.S. Embassy, and I know it is a priority for you and for the Haitian government as well.

The question of local economic growth here in Haiti is of critical importance—we all agree that the Haitian State must generate revenues through customs and taxation, so the State can fulfill its responsibilities to the people in supporting health, education, and other social services. And I know we all agree that the only way to succeed in doing that is by creating economic growth, and by creating additional economic opportunities.

I just can't emphasize this enough. It is important to work together on this.

The private sector of course has a big role to play in this. I was glad to visit yesterday the Royal Caribbean cruise lines site at Labadee, where thousands of Americans and foreigners visit each month. What a beautiful place. And I know that H.E. President Moise recently inaugurated the Labadee road, a key piece of infrastructure which will boost the tourism sector in northern Haiti.

… [In the agricultural sector] some 70,000 farmers have increased incomes thanks to U.S. programs in support of the Haitian government's agricultural sector priorities, while the U.S. government has also introduced improved seeds, fertilizer, irrigation, and other new technologies to over 118,000 farmers.

We are proud to contribute to Haiti's national agricultural production and we believe that H.E. President Jovenel Moise, with the special attention he brings to agriculture under the Caravan of Change, is also committed to increasing opportunities for the Haitian people to bolster national agricultural production.

Here in Cap-Haitien, with support from USAID under the Feed the Future initiative, the University of Georgia is helping Haitian farmers grow peanuts more profitably and partnering with the NGO "Meds & Food for Kids" to produce high-quality, nutritious foods, known locally as "Medika Mamba."

…According to the latest studies, many of Haiti's health indicators continue to improve. Through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USAID, and PEPFAR, the United States has worked with the Government of Haiti and partners to combat HIV/AIDS, improve the delivery of basic health care services, maternal and child health, nutrition, labs, and public health research.

… In support of rule of law, the bilateral cooperation between our two countries also supports the Haitian National Police, improving its institutional capacity and growing its ranks to better serve the Haitian people.

We started this work together more than 20 years ago, and it is a critical cornerstone of our bilateral engagement with Haiti.

Haiti now has a trained police force of 15,000 officers; a professional force that is trained to respect human rights and protect the Haitian people.

One of my key goals as the new U.S. Ambassador to Haiti is to work to ensure strong coordination between the Haitian government and our U.S. assistance projects in all of these crucial sectors.

It is also important for us to keep in mind the many important factors working in Haiti's favor, including its young and energetic population, its vibrant civil society, and its active and independent media.

So, to sum up, before we move to a question and answer session:

We look forward to continuing to work with Haiti to strengthen the rule of law, enhance food security and health services, and create jobs and greater economic and educational opportunities for the Haitian people. All of this, of course, is in support of Haiti's own development objectives and priorities.

I can promise you that I will do my best to promote this vibrant U.S.-Haitian partnership.

Coast Guard repatriates 201 migrants by sea to Haiti

A total of 201 Haitians were returned to Haiti Wednesday by the U.S. Coast Guard, the agency said, after two overloaded boats were intercepted near the Bahamas.

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter spotted a 50-foot freighter Sunday, 30 miles east of Great Inagua Island. The 86 migrants from that freighter were picked up by the Coast Guard cutter Tahoma. The next day, the Tahoma gathered 115 migrants from a 50-foot sail freighter three miles east of Sunday’s pickup.

Migrants get food, water and medical attention when picked up by Coast Guard cutters.

“The waters of the Caribbean and Florida Straits are dangerous and unforgiving for migrants on illegal voyages, in overloaded vessels with little or no safety gear, needlessly placing lives at risk,” said Rear Adm. Peter Brown, commander of Coast Guard 7th District. “The Coast Guard and its partner agencies continue to maintain a strong presence along our maritime border and will continue to interdict and rescue those who embark on these illegal and ill-advised voyages in these unsafe vessels.”

The Coast Guard says about 1,040 Haitian migrants have been caught trying to illegally enter the United States by sea since Oct. 1. In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 1,869 Haitian migrants were caught attempting to do so.

David J. Neal

Haitians in South Florida, New York latest to sue Trump over TPS

A group of South Florida Haitian immigrants are among the latest plaintiffs challenging President Donald Trump’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status, which — until recently — has shielded them from deportation.

In a federal lawsuit filed Thursday in the Eastern District of New York, the plaintiffs argue that Trump and the Department of Homeland Security “employed an invalid and unauthorized process to terminate Haiti’s TPS designation irrespective of the statutory criteria for review enacted by Congress.”

The plaintiffs include three South Floridians, seven New Yorkers, the weekly Brooklyn-based Haitian newspaper, Haïti Liberté, and a Miami-based Haitian rights advocacy group, Family Action Network Movement, or FANM, an organization previously known as the Haitian Women of Miami.

“People are afraid to go to the supermarkets. Businesses are suffering ...We’ve definitely seen an increase in the level of services requested from families as a result of the termination of TPS and it’s not only within the Haitian population. Immigrant families in general are suffering,” said Marleine Bastien, FANM’s founder and executive director. “Family members are keeping children away from schools because of the fear.”

Steve Forester, immigration policy coordinator with the Boston-based Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, noted that one of the plaintiffs is a New York man with cerebral palsy whose caretaker died in the 2010 Haiti earthquake and now is dependent on his brother, a U.S. citizen, for his personal and medical care.

“What is supposed to happen to this man?” asked Forester, who lives in Miami. “The human dimension of this should not be forgotten.”

Asylum Seekers Sue U.S. Government Over Prolonged Detention

March 15, 2018, at 12:01 p.m.

BY READE LEVINSON

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A group of migrants seeking asylum in the United States sued the Trump administration on Thursday, claiming the government is unfairly keeping them in custody while they pursue their cases in immigration court.

The class-action lawsuit on behalf of nine plaintiffs, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and immigrant rights groups and filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., alleges five U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field offices have detained virtually all adults seeking asylum at a port of entry.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said it does not comment on pending litigation and the Justice Department declined to comment.

President Donald Trump promised during his 2016 campaign to clamp down on illegal immigration and keep immigrants who contest deportation locked up during the process.

Under a 2009 ICE directive, border-crossers applying for asylum and having a "credible fear" of persecution or torture in their home countries can be released from detention on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian reasons.

The lawsuit said in 2013, 92 percent of asylum seekers found to have credible fear were promptly released from custody in the five field offices. Today, the lawsuit says, few are released.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said the asylum process has been "subject to rampant abuse and fraud" and that releasing immigrants as they pursue asylum claims created "incentives for illegal aliens to come here and claim a fear of return."

The practice of releasing asylum seekers is "still in place on paper" but "is effectively a dead letter" in practice, ACLU attorney Michael Tan said in an interview.

A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court found asylum seekers who crossed the border illegally do not have a right to a bond hearing in immigration court, making the need for ICE's policy of humanitarian parole all the more urgent, Tan said.

The lawsuit alleges that ICE offices in Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, El Paso, Texas, and Newark, New Jersey, are violating the U.S. Constitution and the agency's own policy guidelines by refusing the release most immigrants. The five offices oversee the detention of about one-quarter of the agency's average daily population of detainees.

The lead plaintiff is Ansly Damus, 41, an ethics teacher who fled political persecution in Haiti. He was twice granted asylum by a judge, according to the suit, but has remained locked up in Ohio for more than 16 months while the government appeals his case.

(Deletes extraneous word "them" in lead paragraph.)

(Reporting by Reade Levinson; Editing by Bill Trott)

Business

Toys R Us to close all 800 of its U.S. stores

Toy store chain Toys R Us is planning to sell or close all 800 of its U.S. stores, affecting as many as 33,000 jobs as the company winds down its operations after six decades, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The news comes six months after the retailer filed for bankruptcy. The company has struggled to pay down nearly $8 billion in debt — much of it dating to a 2005 leveraged buyout — and has had trouble finding a buyer. There were reports earlier this week that Toys R Us had stopped paying its suppliers, which include the country’s largest toymakers. On Wednesday, the company announced it would close all 100 of its U.K. stores. In the United States, the company told employees closures would likely occur over time, and not all at once, according to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal deliberations.

All 6 Victims Recovered in FIU Bridge Collapse

By MAHITA GAJANAN, ABIGAIL ABRAMS, and ELI MEIXLER Updated: March 18, 2018 4:23 PM ET | Originally published: March 15, 2018 by Time Magazine

Police have recovered the remains of all six victims who died in the Florida International University bridge collapse.

The new 950-ton pedestrian bridge was designed primarily to allow students to safely cross Southwest Eight Street in order to reach the business district in the City of Sweetwater. It was installed at FIU on Saturday, March 10^th, and it collapsed a few days later, on the afternoon of Thursday, March 15^th, onto Southwest Eighth Street. In addition to the six people killed by the bridge collapse, several others were hospitalized.

Authorities said late Saturday that all six people who died were recovered. Five people were killed when the bridge fell, while the sixth person died at the hospital, the AP reports stated.

Police said while they believe all the victims from the bridge collapse were recovered, they would continue the search and rescue.

Three of the victims were found Saturday morning in two vehicles. A third vehicle was extracted from the collapse later on Saturday, though police did not say whether there was a body inside.

Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez said the bodies may need to be identified through DNA, fingerprints or photos. Eight vehicles were trapped under the bridge when it fell.

Federal and state law enforcement are still investigating the cause of the bridge collapse after first responders spent hours on rescue and recovery efforts, according to the AP.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 28 mars 2018

 Dominican businessmen complaining after mass depart of Haitians.

The border zone was transformed into a ghost town after Haitian migrants, harassed by a group of people after the murder of two Dominicans in the community of Tired Mercedes, left the area.

Big and small shopkeepers are all complaining about the same thing: Business has dropped sharply due to the absence of Haitian migrants who always supported the economy of the region.

Manuel Rufino Medina, of the Association of the fishermen of the Pedernales, declared that there is nothing more to do in the city, because the population depends on trade between Dominicans and Haitians.

The Dominican population does not know what to do to continue to live. Even the sale of fish has seriously slowed down, because people on the ground have no money to buy it.

Here the traders, all what sells edible products, rice, beans, oil, cans of food and all the supermarkets depend on Haitians.

The authorities of Pedernales are afraid that a crime wave will develop in the city because of the lack of jobs, since certain companies began to close their doors.

The Haitians left Pedernales because they were pursued, and made responsible for the murder of two Dominicans.

Sales in Pedernales fell more than 80%.

Why shouldn’t Haiti take advantage of this situation by hiring these people?

The private sector could create enterprises and hire these fellow countrymen who have left the Dominican Republic to return to their country and are in search of employment.

The Court of Appeals cancels Clifford Brandt's judgment

The Court of Appeals of the Republic (Haiti) canceled the judgement to be rendered against Clifford H. Brandt, Carlo Bendel Saint-Fort and Ricot Pierre-Val. It sent the case and the involved individuals back to the Criminal Court of Gonaïves, which doesn’t have a jury, to be judged there.

The accused will remain under arrest, as long as the Court of Gonaïves has not decided on their fate.

The reporter and photographer Vladjimir Legagneur hasn’t been reachable since March 14th

Port-au-Prince, Thursday, March 22nd 2018.- The 2D Kolektif has announced the disappearance of the photo-journalist Vladjimir Legagneur since March 14.

The latter had gone to do some reporting in a neighborhood of Martissant named Grrand Ravine. Since then, he has answered any of the phone calls from his wife and friends.

A missing person report was filed by his wife with the Head office of the Criminal Investigation Department (DCPJ) on Friday, March 16th, 2018. His close friends and relatives are waiting for the preliminary results of the investigation.

Vladjimir Legagneur has been photo-journalist for more than 5 years and collaborated in several printed and online media.

“Reporters Without Borders (RSF) worries about the disappearance of Vladiir Legagneur. It calls upon authorities to lead a thorough investigation on the disappearance of the photo-journalist,” declares Emmanuel Colombié, who is in charge of the Latin American office of the organization. “It is extremely disturbing that, 10 days after its disappearance, the police was able to bring no new element."

Vladjimir Legagneur left his home on March 14th at 9 am and never returned. His wife indicated her disappearance on March 16th with the Head office of the Criminal Investigation Department (DCPJ), which asserts having opened an inquiry. Without news from her husband since then, the wife of the photographer returned in the office of the DCPJ on March 22nd, without obtaining from additional information.

Haiti occupies the 53rd place on 180 countries in the Classification of the freedom of the media established by RSF in 2017.

Daphne Campbell Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.

SB 382 Signed into Law by Governor Rick Scott on March 23, 2018

(Miami, FL) -Today is a great day for many in Senate District 38. Senate bill 382: Transportation Facility Designations was a bill that was co-introduced by Senator Campbell has been signed into law. This bill honors those individuals who have done exemplary work within the community by providing them with a specific road designation. These individuals and the streets where their names will be placed have been included below for your reference:

Joseph Emmanuel "Manno" Charlemagne Street is designated as the portion of 5th Street between Euclid Avenue and Lenox Avenue in Miami-Dade County. Mr. Charlemagne was a Haitian political folk singer, songwriter and acoustic guitarist, political activist and politician. He recorded his political chansons in both French and in Creole. He took up guitar and singing at the age of 16 where he formed a band. He later organized a youth group and choir in his old neighborhood in Carrefour, Haiti. Mr. Charlemagne died of cancer in Miami Beach, Florida on December 10, 2017 at the age of 69.

Senator Campbell is honored and extremely proud that these deserving individuals will receive this lifetime commemoration for their involvement in the community and for their genuine spirit.

This will become effective July 1, 2018.

Trump didn’t want to give Haiti $11 million for cholera. So Congress found another way

Included in the $1.3 trillion spending package that was passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump on Friday, are $10 million to help Haiti fight cholera.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, who unsuccessfully tried to get the Trump administration last year to turn over $11 million in unspent Haiti peacekeeping money to the United Nations’ cholera plan, led the charge on getting the appropriation for small, locally based projects in communities severely impacted by the deadly waterborne epidemic.

The disease has killed more than 9,000 people and sickened more than 1 million since 2010.

“What happened in Haiti was a humanitarian disaster and not something we should walk away from,” said Leahy, a Vermont Democrat and vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “The amount we are contributing is small, but it shows that we want to help the families that were the worst affected by the cholera epidemic. It’s not enough to work only on improving access to clean water and sanitation, which we will continue to do.”

(The Miami Herald – Jacqueline Charles)

These Boots Are Made From Old Plastic Bottles Recovered In Haiti

Timberland’s latest man-boots have an interesting backstory. Their canvas-like uppers are recycled from plastic bottles picked up from the beaches of Haiti.

The outdoor apparel brand gets the material from a social impact startup named Thread, which works with about 1,300 bottle pickers in Haiti. Timberland’s four boots, which build on a previous set of Thread-infused products, range from the Men’s 6-inch Canvas(price $150) to the more sporty Newport Bay Thread Canvas Chukka Boots ($75).

Thread breaks down the bottles into flakes, heats up the mixture, then passes it through an extruder, like water passing through a showerhead. It then rolls and bales up the threads, so they can be spun into fabric. The material is like polyester–after all, PET plastic, like polyester, comes from oil.

Colleen Vien, Timberland’s sustainability director, says Thread’s material is a little more expensive than a comparable fabric. But the expense is worth it as it allows the brand to tell a compelling story about the product’s provenance (see the video above featuring three trash-pickers).

Timberland has a long association with Haiti. Working with the Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA) and the Clinton Global Initiative, it’s planted millions of trees across the island, helping farmers increase incomes and lay down sustainable seed banks. Recently, it committed to buying organic cotton from Haiti in a unique blockchain-powered project.

“It gives us an opportunity to have a conversation with our consumers that we definitely feel it’s well worth the price,” she says. “We are an outdoor company and customers expect us to do things that minimize our footprint and protect the environment. Improving people’s lives is beyond what’s expected–that’s what gets people’s attention.”BS

TIMBERLAND is Helping Rebuild Haiti’s Cotton Industry

Can using blockchain to verify cotton as organic help revive the industry in Haiti?

Haiti hasn’t grown cotton in decades. Its once-abundant industry collapsed in the 1970s due to government corruption, economic mismanagement, and U.S. embargoes. But now, thanks to a project involving thousands of smallholder farmers, apparel brands like Timberland, and a blockchain network, it could be set for a comeback. Within a few years, if all goes to plan, the island will be supplying millions of pounds of organic cotton for shoes, shirts, and other clothing sold in U.S. stores.

The Blockchain Cotton Project in Haiti is one of several around the world looking to use a distributed digital ledger for supply chain management. The same technology that tracks transactions of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can also track commodities and products as they leave fields and move through factories and distribution centers. Blockchains have the potential to boost transparency and lower the cost of authenticating the origin of products, particularly those of an organic and fair trade variety, say supply chain experts.

“The promise of blockchain is that we can trace the purchase back to the farmer and the field. That not only increases the visibility of our supply chain but also enables us to share more robust stories with our consumers,” says Atlanta McIlwraith, Timberland’s senior manager for community engagement and relations, in an interview.

The blockchain project is led by the nonprofit Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA) and isn’t the first that Timberland has been involved with on the island. Starting in 2010, Timberland, the SFA, and the Clinton Global Initiative started planting millions of trees across 19 nurseries, hoping to avert serious deforestation. They encouraged farmers to tend to the trees by offering “tree currency”: seeds, tools, and training that allow farmers to increase their own yields. The project has doubled household incomes, according to the SFA, and is now self-sustaining without corporate sponsorship. The trees produce enough seeds to create recurring seed banks, as well as food, like moringa, a “superfood” which is sold to a company in California called Kuli Kuli.

In 2015, the SFA and Timberland started exploring the idea of the brand becoming not just a sponsor of Haiti’s agriculture, but also a customer. Cotton was the obvious candidate, as it had been grown there before. “We were thinking about what sustainability looks like for smallholder farmers,” says Hugh Locke, cofounder of the SFA. “They said, ‘you know, it’s been great sponsoring you guys, but what if we became a client?’ We felt that was a better basis for sustainability in the long-run because it creates a market.”

Timberland has committed to meeting up to a third of its global cotton needs from Haiti–2,750 metric tons a year–assuming the project can meet quality and cost targets. The SFA recently planted the first cotton trees using funding from Timberland and Vans, which is part of the same retail group, VF Corporation (Patagonia has also expressed interest in being involved). Better Sourcing Program, a supply chain technology provider, and RCS Global, a supply chain advisory firm, are helping to develop the concept, along with students from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. For now, the project only involves a handful of farmers, but, once ramped up, it could see up to 17,000 onboard within five years, Locke says.

Blockchains create permanent ledgers of transactions as they occur. They are viewable and updatable by multiple parties who join together to ensure the record is accurate. As such, Locke hopes the system will help to cut the cost of certifying Haiti’s cotton as organic–for instance, proving that no pesticides were used during growing and harvesting. Rather than outside inspectors coming in and certifying farms one by one, the system will instead allow farmers to create their own consensus version of the authentication process.

“Most systems for tracking input and outputs, yields and net profit are very expensive and proprietary,” Locke tells Fast Company. “We want something open source. We’re still figuring out how the farmers do the live reporting. But we hope it will replace the normal organic or fair trade certification through a radical transparency approach.”

McIlwraith sees an opportunity in blockchain to improve the way brands talk about their products. She says many consumers want to purchase from companies that take a stand on social issues like ethical sourcing. Blockchains can open up supply chains and potentially take consumers down to the farmer level, by proving products have arrived in-store as advertised.

“Consumers want to purchase from brands that they trust and one of the things that helps build that trust with consumers is this transparency and the ability to tell stories about your product that aren’t just fizzle,” McIlwraith says. “They want real stories about real people and this helps make our products more relatable.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ben Schiller is a New York staff writer for Fast Company. Previously, he edited a European management magazine and was a reporter in San Francisco, Prague, and Brussels.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 4 avril 2018

 Haiti police find partial human remains in area where journalist disappeared

BY JACQUELINE CHARLES

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March 29, 2018 09:49 AM

Updated March 29, 2018 07:52 PM

Haiti police are investigating whether part of a body found in an area where a freelance Haitian photojournalist disappeared March 14 are those of Vladjimir Legagneur, 30.

Police spokesman Frantz Lerebours said the mangled partial remains were discovered Wednesday, along with a hat, after Police Chief Michel-Ange Gédéon ordered police to run an operation into Grand Ravine, the gang-controlled neighborhood in Port-au-Prince where Legagneur was last seen as he worked on an independent project.

“It’s the DNA [test] that will say for sure if it is him,” said Lerebours, adding that a motorcycle taxi driver who drove the victim was also killed.

On the morning of March 14, Legagneur told his wife, Fleurette Guerrier, that he was headed to the teeming slum to meet someone as part of an independent photo assignment. A freelancer who worked for several Haitian media outlets, Legagneur “really loved taking photos and he was passionate about it,” Guerrier, 31, said.

“It wasn’t about the money,” she said. “He always seized every opportunity he could to take a photo.”

A police source said they know Legagneur stopped in at a nearby police station before entering Grand Ravine, where gang members keep a close eye on people coming into and leaving the area.

In November, Grand Ravine was the scene of a deadly police raid in which two police officers and several civilians died. The deaths have raised questions about what happened during the anti-gang operation. Gang members have remained suspicious of outsiders, and police have been reluctant to go in. Even United Nations peacekeepers, before their withdrawal from Haiti in October, often steered clear of the community.

An internal police investigation was ordered into the raid, and the Port-au-Prince police director, Alain Auguste, who ordered the operation, was replaced. The United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti, which supported the raid and condemned the violence afterward, has called for a judicial inquiry into the police shootings and alleged human rights violations.

On Wednesday, hundreds of journalists wearing white and holding placards took to the streets of Port-au-Prince to denounce the passivity of Haitian authorities after Legagneur’s disappearance.

Guerrier, who filed an official complaint with the chief prosecutor’s office after the march, said she filed a missing person’s report with Haiti’s investigative police unit on March 16 after spending two days searching “local hospitals, police stations and the morgue” for her husband. She said she did not hear back from police, who in a press conference on Wednesday guaranteed reporters “that we will shed light on this case.”

“There are no no-go zones,” Gédéon, the police chief, declared in a tweet. “In the days coming, Grand Ravine will be emptied of its bandits and accessible to all.”

The lack of an outcry by Haitian authorities over Legagneur’s disappearance and silence of police investigators and the chief prosecutor’s office led Haiti-based journalists to ask for help on Guerrier’s behalf from press freedom organizations such as Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists. The journalists also took to Facebook and Twitter with the French hashtag #OuEstVladjimir, or WhereIsVladjimir.

A number of foreign journalists on Wednesday, from France to Latin America, also showed solidarity with their Haitian colleagues by posting photos on Twitter of themselves holding up a photo of Legagneur with the French hashtag. That same day, the Committee to Project Journalists issued a statement urging Haitian authorities to “do everything possible to locate...Legagneur and conduct a full and transparent investigation into his disappearance.”

Haiti journalist Liliane Pierre-Paul, co-founder of Haiti’s Radio Kiskeya, was among the prominent personalities who joined the marchers. She said Legagneur’s disappearance was a reminder of Haiti’s fragile democracy and “of all the journalists who never found justice, who were assassinated, those whose bodies were found and whose bodies were never found.”

“These incidents are like a scar that never goes away,” Pierre-Paul said.

Haiti installs leaders of reborn army

AFP•March 27, 2018

Port-au-Prince (AFP) - Haitian President Jovenel Moise on Tuesday installed the leaders of his country's army, a symbolic step in the impoverished Caribbean country's reformation of a military demobilized 23 years ago after decades of coups and political interference.

Human rights activists have criticized the choice of the general and five colonels who will lead the army, as they are members of the old guard.

One of the colonels stands accused of extrajudicial killings of civilians in 1994, during military rule.

"This is not an emotional or a partisan act, aimed at pleasing one political camp or group -- this is an act of state, one that is patriotic and inclusive," Moise said at an installation ceremony.

Haiti's armed forces, dissolved in 1995 by then-president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, were reborn in 2015 under the leader at the time, Michel Martelly.

The country's army, currently at 150 soldiers, was trained in Ecuador.

When he took office a year ago, Moise made the restoration of the military a priority, especially as the UN pulled its peacekeepers out in October 2017.

Faced with concerns about the military's intent, and the possibility that abuses could recur, the government has been at pains to reassure the population that the military is needed.

"Today, Haiti's armed forces are a powerful tool in crisis and disaster management for a country that is constantly confronted by natural catastrophes," said Defense Minister Herve Denis.

Additional soldiers were recruited beginning in summer 2017, but the process has stalled after hundreds between the ages of 18 and 25 signed up.

Haiti hopes eventually to field an army of 3,000-5,000 soldiers.

The funding of the military raised eyebrows both at home and abroad, given that the defense ministry's entire budget stands at 6.3 million euros ($7.8 million).

The military brass will return to their old headquarters in the heart of Port-au-Prince, facing the presidential palace. The building had been used by the culture ministry, which now needs a new home.

Haiti 2018 Crime & Safety Report

U.S. Discourages American Citizens from visiting Haiti

The U.S. Department released a report on March 28 warning against possible risks when traveling to Haiti. According to the current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication, Haiti has been assessed as Level 3: reconsider travel.

Overall Crime and Safety Situation

U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The ACS Unit cannot recommend a particular individual or location and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided.

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Port-au-Prince as being a CRITICIAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

Haiti is unique in the Caribbean for its relative lack of tourism, scarcity of foreign investment, and poor infrastructure.

Crime Threats

Crime statistics in Haiti are hard to verify, and they should be considered as uncorroborated when assessing the threat from criminal activity. This lack of reliable data makes it difficult to compare the crime threat in Haiti with other countries in the region, and comparisons of reported statistics should be avoided.  

Traditional tourist-oriented crimes (pickpocketing, purse snatching) are less frequently reported than elsewhere in the region. This results from both a lack of tourism and underreporting.

The most frequently reported crimes against U.S. citizens in Port-au-Prince are aggravated assaults and robberies. A typical mugging in Port-au-Prince involves a group of young males who surrounds and overwhelms a victim in a public area. Reports of robberies of Haitian-Americans appear to increase around holiday seasons, but that appears to correlate with an overall increase in visitor traffic. Armed robberies against motorists/pedestrians remain a serious concern and have increased dramatically since the departure of UN Security Forces in October 2017. In recent years, many people have been robbed en route from Toussaint L’Ouverture airport. Banks continue to be a frequent location for armed robberies. Motorcycle-mounted assailants frequently follow their victim a short distance and rob them in a less public area. Shootings during these incidents are common.

Vehicle break-ins and thefts from vehicles, occupied or empty, occur frequently. Unattended vehicles with visible valuables are subject to break-ins. There have also been reports of pedestrians opening unlocked doors of idling vehicles and snatching valuables.

Violent crime appears to remain predominantly gang and/or robbery-related. Robberies are most common in Port-au-Prince and affect affluent areas frequented by visitors (Petionville). Gang-related violent crime was centralized in specific areas of Port-au-Prince (Cité Soleil, Carrefour, Martissant), none of which are traditional tourist/business areas; however, criminal gangs have expanded or at least shifted their operations to more affluent areas frequented by visitors (Petionville).

Homicides continue to be a major concern. In 2017, there were 890 reported homicides, with 79% occurring in Port-au-Prince. (Statistics are grossly underreported by the government of Haiti, and with the departure of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), statistics are considered unreliable.)

Residential theft (burglaries, home invasions) trends over the past few years have suggested a decline in traditional criminal burglary and a rise in home invasions. There was a continuation of home invasions in the more affluent areas of upper Port-au-Prince in 2015, 2016, and 2017. The bulk occurred in middle-class neighborhoods (Delmas 75, Delmas 83, Laboul, and Pelerin) outside the traditional expatriate residential areas. Assailants have little fear of resistance from residents and do not appear to consider whether a residence is occupied. Criminals are not reluctant to use violence; however, the vast majority will brandish a firearm/weapon, fire it randomly, tie up their victim(s), and abscond with currency or a vehicle. Criminals do not seem overly concerned with police response, as they know none will be dispatched quickly.

Other Areas of Concern

Cite Soleil remains an area of particular difficultly for Haitian National Police (HNP) forces to rein in. Other areas of concern include Belair, Carrefour, Fort National, Simon Pele, Martissant, and Grand Ravine.

A Young Haitian is selected as a World Fellow by Yale University

Ralph François, a young Haitian sociologist who later became an IT programmer, is one of 16 professionals worldwide to have been selected as a World Fellow by Yale University.

Since 2016, along his colleague Daphné Charles, Ralph created COCREAD, an entrepreneurial incubator in a disadvantaged district of Capané Vert. The main mission of COCREAD is to support entrepreneurship within the Community of Vila Rosa and also to provide technology training to girls. Currently two arts and craft organizations are incubated and seven girls from the area are receiving training in IT programming including practical sessions around artificial intelligence and robotics.

Aware of the huge opportunity this represents François wants to reap the most out of it. Besides the 4 months which he will spend on the campus of Yale University to learn and to network, he will also have the task of mentoring students on social entrepreneurship. "I am frankly pleasantly surprised to have been selected. Generally the beneficiaries of this scholarship are connected with big organizations. Cocread is a rather young initiative,” he explained.

The cohort of 16 men and women who have been selected as 2018 World Fellows brings the total number of World Fellows since the program’s start in 2002 to 327 Fellows, representing 90 countries. This year marks the 17^th cohort of World Fellows.

“I am honored to announce the 2018 World Fellows,” said Emma Sky, director of the Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program. “The talent, bravery, and resilience of these individuals is quite extraordinary. They are amazing role models for Yale students.”

The World Fellows program is Yale University’s signature global leadership development initiative and a core element of Yale’s ongoing commitment to internationalization. Each year, the University invites a group of exemplary mid-career professionals from a wide range of fields and countries for an intensive four-month period of academic enrichment and leadership training.

“I am thrilled to welcome the seventeenth class of World Fellows to campus,” said Yale President Peter Salovey. “These remarkable leaders and innovators bring immense expertise and insights to our university. While they are on campus, they contribute to our academic excellence through teaching, scholarship, and research, and they improve our community by participating in public service. Although they are on campus for four months, they remain engaged with Yale faculty, staff, and students long after the fellowship ends. They continue to be ambassadors for Yale and share our mission to improve the world today and for future generations.”

The mission of World Fellows is to cultivate and empower a network of globally engaged leaders committed to making the world a better place. The program is part of the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, which prepares Yale students for global leadership and service through its master’s program in global affairs, master of advanced study in global affairs and undergraduate major in global affairs.

Candidacy for the 2018 International Writing Program (IWP) Fall Residency …

The Embassy of the United States is pleased to announce a call for candidacy for the 2018 International Writing Program (IWP) Fall Residency, which is scheduled to be hosted by the University of Iowa from August 18 -November 6, 2018.  The IWP brings approximately 35 emerging and recognized writers from around the world to Iowa City for an intensive 12-week cultural exchange. 

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IWP FALL RESIDENCY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

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2. 2.  (U) IWP was founded in 1967 and is the most prestigious program of its kind in the United States.  The University of Iowa is also home to the world-renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and in 2008 Iowa City was designated the first UNESCO City of Literature in the United States.  Two IWP alumni – Orhan Pamuk of Turkey and Mo Yan of China – have received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

3. 3.  (U) The Fall Residency convenes emerging and recognized writers from around the world for an intensive 12-week program designed to spur creativity, support professional development, and promote freedom of expression.  The 2018 Fall Residency is scheduled to take place from August 18-November 6. 

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SELECTION PROCESS

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4. 4.  (U) The IWP is open to established and emerging writers working primarily in the genres of fiction, creative non-fiction, screenwriting, drama, and poetry.  Except in extraordinary cases, candidates should have at least one published volume of work or have works appearing in significant publications over a period of at least two years.  Candidates must be fluent in English, comfortable with cross-cultural dynamics, and eager to engage with other writers from diverse cultures.   Candidates must be adults between the age of 21 and 65, non-U.S. citizens who are able to travel to the United States and stay for the full 12 weeks.  Family members and others are not allowed to accompany the writers during the Fall Residency.

5. 5.  (U) The deadline to submit your candidacy is April 6, 2018.  Please provide a literary-focused CV and a representative writing sample in English (original or translated).   A standard sample will contain 10-15 pages of clearly formatted material.  Please also provide biographical information and a justification of why you should be selected.     

6. 6.  Your application to participate in this program should be sent by email to the following addresses:

American center Port-au-Prince:  Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.

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 Nathalie Gardère

Director, American Center Port-au-Prince

Public Affairs Section

U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince

Your key to information

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(Office) +509.2229.8342

Police: Delray Beach, Florida man kills wife, sister-in-law and himself in shooting

A Delray Beach, Florida neighbor tells WPBF 25 News she never expected to wake up Sunday morning and find out her neighbor shot and killed his wife, sister-in-law, and himself. 

"It just hurts my heart. My heart goes out to the family, especially the kids," said neighbor Pearlie McMiller. 

The double murder-suicide happened just before 6am at a home on NW 13th Ave. 

"An adult male in the house killed two adult females and then killed himself," said Dani Moschela, Delray Beach Police spokeswoman. 

Detectives said Julien Techeler Rosemberg shot and killed his wife Pierrena and her sister Lourdine Cazeau. 

Police then said he walked outside to the backyard of the home and turned the gun on himself. 

"When I was walking I saw this lady laying in the door. A there's a guy laying across the field back there," said McMiller. 

Investigators said there were four children between the ages of five inside the home, but thankfully none of them were injured. 

Unfortunately, police said the frightened children were forced to run past bodies for safety. 

Neighbors are now reminiscing on memories they shared with the kids. 

"I'm going to miss them kids. On my day off, it would look forward to seeing them playing around, having fun," said neighbor Reginald Griffin. 

Police said the Department of Children and Families have been notified and the children are in the custody of family. 

"I know its going to be a tough fight after what went on this morning, but God is good. So, I just hope this doesn't affect those kids life in the future," said Griffin. 

Detectives said there were no reports or calls from the home related to violence.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 19 avril 2018

 Haiti is proudly represented in the official video of the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Last Thursday: Jason Derulo released the music video for his track "Colors" which is the anthem for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The video proudly begins with aerial views of The Citadelle Laferriére, and continues with countless images of Haitian dancers, the Haitian flag and a special cameo of Wyclef Jean.

The new clip was a double homecoming for Derulo as it was filmed at The Citadelle Laferriére (a mountaintop fortress located in the north of his homeland of Haiti) and Miami, the city where he was raised.

Jason had this to say, "As the lyrics say, 'There's beauty in the unity we've found.' We're inundated everyday with negative news and it's hard to remain positive. That's why it's more important than ever to unite with people in your community to try and make a difference.

"As a Haitian-American, I've become more and more invested in giving back to where my family is from. To that extent, this song is a bit of a launch of plans that I am excited to reveal soon..."

It is now confirmed that the visit made in Haiti last March by the Coca Cola spokesperson within the framework of shooting clips of the official song of the 2018 World Cup 2018, was not a decoy. Throughout the 3 minutes 49 second video, filled with colors, performances, and flags - in sign of a celebration of the diversity-, the audience gets a unique opportunity to discover the Citadelle – a masterpiece built by King Henry Christophe.

The Haitian flag is also featured prominently in the video. Jason Derulo raises proudly while he pronounces the words: "Show your true colors - show your real colors," as if to claim his real Haitian origins.

Acting Secretary Sullivan’s Meeting With Haitian President Jovenel Moise

Acting Secretary of State John J. Sullivan met with Haitian President Jovenel Moise on April 13, 2018 on the margins of the Summit of the Americas in Lima, Peru to discuss security and economic growth in Haiti, as well as democracy in the region.

Acting Secretary Sullivan thanked President Moise for his leadership as Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and urged consensus within the organization to promote and defend democracy. The Acting Secretary and President Moise also discussed the importance of continued support for the Haitian National Police.

The two leaders agreed that Haiti and its partners should increase efforts to improve the investment climate in Haiti to create jobs for Haitians and increase economic prosperity.

Haiti launches campaign to vaccinate over 2 million children against diphtheria, with PAHO support

REPORT

from Pan American Health Organization

Published on 03 Apr 2018 

Port-au-Prince, 10 April 2018 (PAHO/WHO) - In the coming weeks, more than 2.3 million Haitian children between the ages of 1 and 14 are expected to be vaccinated against diphtheria, a bacterial infection that causes throat inflammation and difficulty breathing and that in severe cases can lead to death.

The diphtheria vaccination campaign was launched in mid March by Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) with support from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), UNICEF and other partners.In this first phase, campaign activities are focused on 27 communes in eight departments (Artibonite, Center, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Sud and Sud-Est). According to a preliminary report, around 1 million children ages 1 to 14 were vaccinated.

On April 8, a similar campaign is slated to begin in Haiti’s Ouest department, the most populated in the country, and will seek to reach more than 1.2 million children ages 1 to 14.

“The ministry has decided to conduct a campaign in 40 communes where diphtheria has been confirmed or is suspected,” said Laurent Adriane, MSPP Director General. “Making vaccines available is the goal of the Ministry of Health and its main partners, such as PAHO/WHO and UNICEF.”

Since the beginning of this year, Haiti has reported 14 confirmed cases of diphtheria and 48 probable cases. Children under 15 are the most affected, and nearly half of the confirmed and probable cases were not vaccinated. During this period there have been six deaths among the probable cases and one among the confirmed cases.

“This vaccination campaign seeks to reach all those children who have not received the essential vaccines to be protected against diphtheria,” said PAHO/WHO Representative in Haiti Luis Codina. “This is also the largest preventive vaccination campaign in the country since 2016, when similar efforts were made towards the elimination of measles and rubella.”

PAHO/WHO is collaborating with Haiti in the response to the diphtheria outbreak with technical and financial support of the operational costs of the vaccination campaign.Vaccines against diphtheria and immunization supplies are being acquired through the PAHO Revolving Fund, a pooled procurement mechanism that allows countries in the region to purchase vaccines at affordable prices. Support is also being provided for purchases of diphtheria antitoxin to treat cases, and antibiotics for cases and contacts.

To carry out this campaign, more than 6,300 vaccinators have been mobilized, organized in 3,181 vaccination teams. They were trained by departmental and national supervisors, with the support of PAHO/WHO experts. Local supervision and independent monitoring of vaccination coverage will take place during and after the campaign) to ensure the technical quality of the campaign.

US joins the Haitian National Police to open the police substation in Diegue

April 13, 2018 -- The community of Diegue gathered today to open a new police sub-station, financed with the support of the U.S. Embassy’s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. U.S. Ambassador Sison shared, “I am proud to celebrate with Diegue as you build a strong and safe community,” emphasizing the importance of security and community policing to the ability of communities to prosper economically.

Senator Antonio Cheramy, Haitian National Police West Department Director Berson Soljour, Commissaire Jean Gospel, the Mairie of Petionville, CASEC, ADIPOD, and many others from the Diegue community attended the event. The new police sub-station will host ten police officers assigned to the community. This new facility cost $105,400 to construct and is located on property donated by the local community.

The United States has provided more than $250 million in assistance to the HNP since 2010. This includes more than $60 million in infrastructure projects in Port-au-Prince such as the Vivy Michel, Martissant, Habitation Leclerc, Grand Ravine, Cite Soleil, and refurbishment of the Portail Leogane Commissariat. U.S. support to the Haitian National Police extends beyond construction projects, however. American police experts support with technical training and assistance to fight drug trafficking, support community policing, support correctional services, and work with the principal directors of the police towards the goal of strengthening administrative and management systems.

The United States has been an important partner of the Haitian National Police for over 20 years.

New Mission in Haiti Preparing Transition from Peacekeeping to Development Role, Under-Secretary-General Tells Security Council Ahead of Mandate Renewal

REPORT

With the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) fully operational, preparations have already begun for that follow-up peacekeeping operation to make way for a new United Nations presence by the end of 2019 that would focus on the Caribbean nation’s long-term sustainable development, the Organization’s top peacekeeping official told the Security Council today.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, introduced the Secretary-General’s latest report on the Mission ahead of its decision on renewing its current mandate, which expires on 15 April. Included in that document was a list of 11 benchmarks for an exit strategy for MINUJUSTH, which the Council established through resolution 2350 (2017) as a successor to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

Briefing the Council, he reviewed the progress the Mission had made so far in fulfilling its mandate to assist the Government of Haiti to strengthen rule of law institutions, to support and develop the Haitian National Police, and to carry out human rights monitoring, reporting and analysis.

“While achieving results should remain our common priority, we have already started to prepare for a transition to a non-peacekeeping presence, based on lessons learned in Haiti and in other contexts,” he said, explaining that a transition strategy was being drawn up — in consultation with the Government — that would build on existing United Nations-wide instruments, such as the United Nations Development Assistance Framework.

He said he was strongly encouraged by the willingness of and efforts by Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and his Government to create a climate for change. In that regard, he welcomed the President’s priorities on State reform and the maintenance of political and social stability, adding that the United Nations stood ready to support the Government in devising a clear road map for reforms, taking into account the Mission’s capacities on the ground.

“We have many reasons to be optimistic that this path to progress is irreversible, while we need to jointly — Haiti, the United Nations, international and regional partners — continue investing in the success of the country and United Nations engagement in it,” he said.

In the ensuing discussion, Haiti’s representative said his was a country of peace, with democracy being consolidated, institutions established under the Constitution functioning in a regular manner and human rights being respected and upheld. He reported progress in such areas as security, good governance and respect for the rule of law, and underscored a significant drop in violent crime. That said, he acknowledged that the Government was fully aware of progress yet to be made, having inherited the consequences of decades of neglect, structural handicaps and bottlenecks that would have to be tackled over the long term.

He said his Government had taken note of the Secretary-General’s withdrawal strategy for the Mission, but emphasized that nothing would be possible without scrupulous adherence to reciprocal obligations and a genuine spirit of solidarity, mutual respect and trust. He added that Haiti welcomed the Secretary-General’s initiative on cholera, although the $7.7 million raised so far for the United Nations Haiti Cholera Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund was woefully insufficient, and called for goodwill and predictable funding to ensure just compensation to cholera victims, their loved ones and others.

Canada’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti, said structural reforms must address such challenges as prolonged pretrial detention and prison overcrowding, sexual and gender-based violence, greater women’s participation in decision-making, reforming and strengthening of the justice sector and enhancing social services. The Group welcomed steps taken by the Haitian Government towards greater security, stability and prosperity, and recommended that the Council extend the Mission’s mandate for another year with no changes to its level of resources.

The representative of the United States said Haitians themselves were taking the lead when it came to security and law enforcement. When peacekeeping worked well, countries could develop their own capacities to protect their citizens and put in place their own political processes. Welcoming the benchmarked exit strategy for MINUJUSTH, she said the United States was a long-standing friend and partner of Haiti — one that would continue to support its security priorities as well as its political and democratic development.

Chile’s representative was among several non-Council members from Latin America to take the floor, saying the international community should not lose sight of what had been achieved. The Mission could only consolidate progress made by closely cooperating with all national actors and through the active involvement of the international community, she said. Welcoming a significant reduction in cholera transmissions and fatalities, she applauded consultations with civil society, local leaders and cholera victims with a view towards addressing the scourge.

Also speaking this morning were representatives of Bolivia, Netherlands, Equatorial Guinea, Poland, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Kuwait, China, United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Peru, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia, as well as the European Union.

How Haiti is Making Some of the Best Rum on Earth

Rum culture may be a mainstay throughout the Caribbean, but one of the most overlooked countries in spirits, Haiti, is making a sugarcane spirit called clairin that's unlike any rum you’ve tasted.

Many people still view rum through the lens of the dark, rich and sweet offerings of decades past. But clairin, a traditional rum made in Haiti, showcases the spirit in its most essential, and some say, finest form. And it’s finally making the leap to the United States.

A regional spirit unregulated in its home country, clairin occupies a distinct, terroir-driven space in the rum spectrum. It even stands apart from better-known sugarcane distillates like rhum agricole or Brazilian cachaça.

Rum’s place in Caribbean culture is well known, but little is said about Haitian bottlings, despite the country housing more than 500 local distilleries—arguably more than any other country in the region. This booming DIY distilling scene makes Haiti home to some of the most diverse rum production in the world.

These hundreds of distilleries are called guildive in Haiti’s native Creole. It’s a French adaptation of “kill-devil,” an early colonial slang for rum. Guildives are small, rustic and run without electricity producing enough rum to serve their immediate village and not much more.

“The person with the most money in the neighborhood [owns] the guildive, producing clairin with a donkey pressing the cane juice that goes into wild fermentation,” says Garcelle Menos, account manager for spiced-clairin brand Boukman. “Most of the time, they’re a combination of column and pot stills, very small columns and very small pots.”

To make clairin, sugarcane is hand-harvested and carted by animals to the press. The resulting juice is moved to tanks where it ferments spontaneously. While there is no certification, clairin is largely organic simply because there is no industrialized farming or pesticides used in these remote villages. Low-yield varieties of sugarcane like crystalline and Madame Meuze, long ignored by industrial producers, are still planted and favored by local distillers for their concentrated flavor.

Published on April 12, 2018

TOPICS: Spirited Away

About 15 000 Haitian migrants have been repatriated on the Haiti-Dominican border so far this year

Published 2018-04-13 ¦ Le Nouvelliste

The wave of Haitians' repatriation living in irregular situations on the other side of the border continues. For the first three months of this year, no less than 14,782 cases of Haitians' repatriation were listed at official and unofficial border points. Among these repatriates, 56 were unaccompanied minors who were found in Malpasse and in Cornillon/virgin forest (West), said the Group of support for the repatriates and for the refugees (GARR).

A number of these repatriated people, pointed out GARR, "denounced the ill-treatment which they received from the Dominican authorities" before they were taken to the border. The repatriated immigrants declared they lived between three months and ten years in Dominican Republic. They lived for the greater part to Barahona, Tired Matas, San Juan, Santo Domingo.

Some of these migrants also undergone other blatant violation of their rights. Some of them assert having been locked into a bus which shuttled in the streets of the Dominican Republic in search of other Haitians. They were then led in a prison center and kept for more than three nights in inhuman conditions.

GARR also recounted that the border points which had most influx. Ouanaminthe/Dajabon (Northeast) is the official border point having welcomed the largest number of repatriates with a total of 6,893. The border Carisal/Comendador, Belladère comes in the second place with 5,989 repatriates. The official border point Anse-à-Pitre/Pedernales (southeast) welcomed more than 1,500 repatriates. Malpasse/Jimani with 290 repatriated people and Cornillon/virgin forest with a total of 110 people came in last.