Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 4 octobre 2023

 The Revolution of 1946" by Matthew J. Smith, Ph.D.

"Red and Black in Haiti, Radicalism, Conflict, and Political  change, 1934-1957" is the most important book about 20th century Haitian politics you will ever read. 

This book will show you what can happen when all Haitians regardless of class or complexion join in demand for radical politics under the banner of L'Union Fait La Force. We Haitians did it in 1946, we can do it again. 

Smith is Senior Lecturer in the Department of History and Archaeology at the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica. He is the author of Red and Black in Haiti: Radicalism, Conflict, and Political Change, 1934-1957 (2009).

In many ways Haiti entered its modern political era with the Revolution of 1946. Color and class conflicts in the country deepened under the leadership of élie Lescot, who succeeded President Sténio Vincent in 1941. Lescot ruled with a firm hand and like Vincent relied heavily on the Garde d’Haïti (the former gendarmerie) to retain his rule. Still, he was unable to contain the radical impulses unleashed by the victory of the Allied forces in 1945. Young Marxists in Haiti drew much inspiration from the Russian Revolution, the Spanish Civil War, French Marxists, André Breton and the Surrealist movement and the previous generation of Haitian communists, particularly the celebrated Marxist poet Jacques Roumain, whose renown and legend grew after his sudden death in 1944.

Defiantly revolutionary in their outlook, these Marxist students, which included the gifted writers Jacques Stephen Alexis, René Depestre, and Gérald Bloncourt, were not only agitated by elite abuse of political power, but also the interference of the United States in Haitian politics and economy during WWII. In the 1946 New Year’s edition of their organ La Ruche, they called for a dramatic reorientation of Haitian politics and an end to dictatorship in Haiti. Lescot’s forced closure of the press prompted a mass student protest led by members of the La Ruche collective. Within days the student protest swelled to a large countrywide strike. A helpless Lescot was forced to resign.

In the aftermath of the "1946 Revolution" Haiti experienced a period of intense radical activity. For the first time in the country’s history, there was a flurry of radical newspapers and dozens of political parties formed, including several prominent leftwing parties. Among them was a revived Parti Communiste Haïtien (PCH) and the Parti Socialiste Populaire (PSP). The PSP was led by former allies of Roumain and had stronger connections with Marxist groups in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and the United States.

But it was the noiriste groups that held the greatest influence in 1946. Noiriste radicalism owed a great deal to the expansion of black consciousness in the forties and the late development of a labor movement in 1946. The leading figure in the labor movement and of the pre-Duvalier era was unquestionably Daniel Fignolé. A young mathematics teacher and writer from a poor rural background, Fignolé was an extraordinarily gifted orator with phenomenal appeal among the urban majority in Port-au-Prince. Fignolé’s emergence on the political scene in 1946 was attributed to his unique ability to tap into the concerns of the majority of Haitians in dramatic speeches delivered in Kreyòl.

Noiriste writers regarded Fignolé as the epitome of their hopes and his enormous following saw him as a savior from the political dominance of the bourgeoisie. Fignolé’s party, Mouvement Ouvrier et Paysan (MOP) was formed in 1946 and became the largest labor organization in Haitian history. In spite of Fignolé’s magnetism, and the radical agenda of the Marxists, the United States and the Garde d’Haïti, remained the most important powerbrokers in 1946. Under the direction of the Garde elections were held on August 16 and resulted in the victory of Dumarsais Estimé, a deputy from Verettes with noiriste sympathies. Estimé’s four-year administration proved to be one of the more progressive of the twentieth century.

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 REFLECTIONS 26th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. October 1, 2023

Ezekiel 18, 25-28; Psalm 25; Philippians 2, 1-11; Matthew 21, 28-32;

With humility but with joy we come together today to share the word of God, to celebrate our faith, to feed our hope, and to commit ourselves to live with one another as God’s children. Let being together this Sunday, be a praise to our God, a thanksgiving for the life and blessings received from Him, and a constant call to conversion.

In today’s parable, Jesus highlights the superiority of Deeds over Words. A father sends his two sons to work in his grapevine. The first one answers “No,” yet, on second thoughts goes to do the job. On the contrary, the second one says “Yes” but goes nowhere. The first son will be praised, not the one who only paid lip service. Do we get the point?

Prophet Ezekiel in the first reading makes the same point: the necessity for the sinner to repent and change his conduct. He will be forgiven completely while the virtuous man who turns away from virtue to commit iniquity will surely die. Turn away from evil paths. Open your eyes, ask for forgiveness, and let God forgive you. We must demonstrate by our deeds the faith we profess with our lips.

The second reading points to Jesus as an example to follow. He did not seek his own selfish interest. Rather he lowered himself and suffered death to save the many. His heroic sacrifice for the sake of others shows that He is a Doer, not a Talker. Paul invites communities to live the same love, the same spirit, the same feeling. Not because it is beautiful but because it is the will of God, because this is why Jesus Christ came, and because every tongue is called to proclaim that Jesus is the only Lord.

This is how we must understand the parable of the day. The first son, despite his initial refusal, receives a tribute of gratitude while the second son is rejected.

Jesus warns the Priests that it is not enough to talk about God and feel like owners of the vineyard. We must work in the Lord's vineyard and we must take care of it. Jesus died on the Cross to prove by his example the sincerity of his message. The Christian also must not only pretend that he believes. His conduct, his actions, and his good works must testify to his sincerity.

To enter the Kingdom of God you must obey God, do his will, and live as an active member of the church. Sometimes despicable sinners break away from their sinful ways and throw themselves in the merciful arms of God. They are then clothed with the robe of grace. Others, on the contrary, possess good knowledge of God and proudly boast of their social status, yet remain blind to the key teachings of the Gospel such as love, mercy, and humility. There will be no room for them in the Kingdom! Deeds speak louder than words! A sincere Christian is like a fruit-bearing tree! A fruitless tree is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 30 août 2023

 Carrefour-Feuilles : 8 armed men shot dead by police

August 27, 2023

In a large-scale operation conducted by the police forces last Saturday in Carrefour-Feuilles, eight individuals suspected to belong to the Grand Ravine gang were neutralized. Authorities simultaneously managed to confiscate several firearms during this decisive intervention in the fight against crime.

However, this action comes following a week of tension during which the gang, under the leadership of Ti Lapli, spread terror in the locality, leaving behind a toll of dead and injured individuals.

The situation had reached a critical point in the middle of the week when heavily armed individuals affiliated with Ti Lapli’s gang launched attacks in various neighborhoods of Carrefour-Feuilles. Their actions resulted in deaths and injuries among the defenseless civilian population. Faced with this imminent threat, many residents were forced to leave their homes to escape this wave of deadly violence.

Haiti violence: gang guns down churchgoers protesting against criminals

Rights groups say churchgoers were killed and wounded as they marched in order to rid the area of gang members

The Guardian - At least seven people were killed in Haiti, a rights group said, after a powerful gang that controls a northern suburb of the capital, Port-au-Prince, opened fire with machine guns on a protest organised by a Christian church leader.

Haitian rights group CARDH director Gedeon Jean said the final number killed would probably be higher, adding that several people were wounded and some churchgoers had been kidnapped, after they marched through the community on Saturday trying to rid the area of gang members. Local media reported at least 10 participants were killed.

Videos shared on X/Twitter showed about 100 people, many wearing yellow shirts associated with the religious group of Pastor Marco, marching in the suburb Canaan, some carrying sticks and machetes.

Canaan is controlled by a gang led by a man identified only as Jeff, who is believed to be allied with the “5 Seconds” gang.

Gangs have grown more powerful since the July 2021 assassination of Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moïse, and they are estimated to control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince.

Gédéon Jean, director of Haiti’s Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights, said that he also watched the event unfold online and planned to ask the justice ministry to investigate.

He accused the pastor of being irresponsible because he “engaged a group of people and put them in a situation like this”.

The parishioners who clutched machetes and yelled “Free Canaan!” were no match for gang members armed with assault rifles.

“Police should have stopped them from going,” Jean said. “It’s extremely horrible for the state to let something like this happen.”

Comment was sought from Haiti’s national police.

From 1 January until 15 August, more than 2,400 people in Haiti were reported killed, more than 950 kidnapped and another 902 injured, according to the most recent United Nations statistics.

Fed up with the surge in gang violence, Haitians organised a violent movement in April known as bwa kale that targets suspected gang members. More than 350 people have been killed since the uprising began, according to the UN.

In October, the Haitian government requested the immediate deployment of a foreign armed force to quell gang violence.

The government of Kenya has offered to lead a multinational force, and a delegation of top officials visited Haiti recently as part of a reconnaissance mission.

The US said this month that it was prepared to introduce a UN security council resolution authorising Kenya to take such action.

Haiti Needs a New UN Mission, This Time Led by the US

The Washington Post, August 25, 2023

Business

Bloomberg Opinion

Analysis by James Stavridis

For decades, Haiti has struggled to avoid tumbling into deeply challenging conditions. It has been repeatedly beset by poor leadership, dictatorships, and natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes, which are often followed by outbreaks of disease.

Today, the nation of more than 11 million people seems to have reached a nadir. After the assassination of the president in 2021, civil order has essentially been neutered. The shaky parliament is no match for the nation’s large, heavily armed gangs. Kidnapping, rape, murder and drug dealing have soared, with crime rates doubling in a year. 

Port-au-Prince, the capital, is among the most dangerous cities in the Americas. Tragically, all this is occurring in a nation that is the second-oldest free republic in the hemisphere (having won its independence from France in 1804).

As the security situation continues to deteriorate, many international observers are calling for a new United Nations stabilization and security mission, similar to the one in place from 2004 to 2017. Is it time to send the blue helmets back to Haiti?

I know Haiti well. As commander of US Southern Command from 2006 to 2009, I visited often and studied the history, culture and language of the nation, which is the poorest in the Americas and among the least affluent in the world. Nearly 60% live in abject poverty, including 4 million children. I speak French, and learned a bit of the official language, Creole. Haitians told me then that they were grateful for our assistance and engagement — or at least, they were initially.

In my many visits, I spent significant time with the UN mission leaders. 

Known as the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), it was composed of roughly 5,000 UN forces, half military and half police. The military component was mostly Brazilian, and typically a Brazilian Army 3-star general was the overall commander. Chile was also a major contributor, as were Argentina and several other South American nations. 

Soldiers from Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka also provided major contingents. Many police officers from India and Pakistan were also engaged. In total, more than 50 nations participated (roughly the number who sent troops to Afghanistan). Of note, the US – which was of course deeply committed in Afghanistan and Iraq throughout the period of the mandate — did not contribute significant forces.

On the positive side of the ledger, the UN troops brought a modicum of stability to Haitian society, reducing violence and increasing access to food and school. But sadly, the mission earned a mixed reputation in Haiti. One critical reason was a severe outbreak of cholera – which killed tens of thousands of Haitians — that has been credibly traced to the water systems installed to support the UN troops. There were also multiple reports of criminal acts by the UN troops, including raids, rape, kidnapping, illegal detention and extrajudicial executions.

I remember the Brazilian 3-star general Carlos dos Santos Cruz telling me how challenging it was operating with so many nations in the UN mission, and that the deep underlying poverty of Haitian society made it difficult to create longer-term stability. Later, when I went on to command the UN mission in Afghanistan, I gained a better appreciation of the challenges he faced during those years. These are large, complex missions conducted under extreme duress.

Yet letting Haiti continue to drift into gang-run anarchy is not a viable solution. Nor does Haiti currently possess the capacity to overcome its challenges without outside intervention.

A new UN mission, using the extensive lessons learned from the first MINUSTAH experience, seems necessary. Obviously, this must be done with the permission of the current government, and the best approach would be to constitute the force as much as possible from the Americas.

By partnering with the Organization of American States, the UN could provide regional command and control as it did in MINUSTAH. This time, given that the demands of Afghanistan and Iraq are gone, US engagement — even leadership — is mandatory. We should remember the Haitian refugees who came to the US in the 1980s on boatlifts, who ultimately numbered more than a hundred thousand. The US has a strong interest in a stable Haiti with reasonable internal security and a shot at economic development.

The new mission should probably be scaled at roughly 5,000 personnel, divided between military and law enforcement. Their headquarters and bivouacs will have to be scrupulously constructed and maintained to 

avoid any hint of repeating the cholera experience. The lessons of the first mission should be incorporated into their charter, as well as what the international community has learned subsequently in Afghanistan (where the Provincial Reconstruction Teams offer some ideas worth considering).

There is no quick or easy fix to the challenges facing Haiti. But it is a neighbor in desperate need, and if the US can lead an improved UN mission — this time with US personnel — it would be in our interests to help Haiti get back on its feet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_G._Stavridis

A hijacked bus with all passengers held hostage

August 23, 2023

Another tragedy has befallen the Patrick Coach Line Transportation Company as one of its buses was hijacked on Tuesday by criminals operating in the Tibwadòm region. All passengers on board the bus were kidnapped, leaving families gripped by anguish and uncertainty. The bus in question was on its return journey from Port-de-Paix to Port-au-Prince when the incident took place.

As of now, there has been no communication established between the abductors and the families of the hostages, intensifying the worry among loved ones.

Regrettably, this is not the first occurrence where the Patrick Coach Line Transportation Company has been targeted by criminal activities orchestrated by the Tibwadòm gang. These criminals are affiliated with the notorious gang known as “Kokorat San Ras,” which has set up an operation base in the Tibwadòm area, located between Bassin Bleu and Gros-Morne. Additionally, this gang’s members persist in carrying out operations at Croix Périsse, the southern entrance of the city of Gonaïves.

The security situation in the region has raised significant concerns among both authorities and citizens. The actions of these criminals not only have devastating impacts on the lives of ordinary citizens but also disrupt the proper functioning of businesses and essential services, including public transportation.

Yevgeny Prigozhin in fatal plane crash, Russian officials say

août 23, 2023

Notorious warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin, known for his role in the Wagner group's failed mutiny, perished in a tragic plane crash during a flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg, as confirmed by Russian officials.

All 10 individuals on board, including three crew members, lost their lives in the accident, stated Russia's emergency ministry, cited by RIA Novosti. While a passenger named Prigozhin was among those on the plane, no further details were provided.

If verified, Prigozhin's demise would mark a dramatic end to his career. After prominently participating in Vladimir Putin's Ukraine invasion, Prigozhin led his paramilitary force on an unsuccessful march on Moscow in June.

Graphic videos shared on social media linked to Russian security services depicted the crash site in the Tver region, northwest of Moscow. Eight bodies were recovered from the area, and the Russian investigative committee initiated a criminal inquiry. The aviation agency Rosaviatsiya launched a commission to find the plane's black box.

A post from Wagner-affiliated social media channel Grey Zone suggested that Russian anti-aircraft defenses might have downed the aircraft. Local reports mentioned residents hearing two loud bangs prior to the crash.

During the time of the crash report, Putin was attending a WWII commemorative event near the Ukraine border. US President Joe Biden, on vacation, expressed that he was not surprised by the news given the context of Russia.

The US National Security Council and a western official both hinted at the plane potentially being brought down by a Russian anti-aircraft missile system.

Prigozhin, once known as "Putin's chef," rose to prominence in Russia's war efforts before leading a coup against the military leadership in June. While Wagner briefly controlled cities and engaged in clashes, they eventually brokered a truce with Belarus. Prigozhin hinted at Wagner's involvement in African conflicts and his mission to strengthen Russia's influence globally.

The aircraft involved, an Embraer Legacy, had been frequently used by Prigozhin for travel, including to Africa. Investigations were considering the possibility of a terrorist attack onboard as a potential cause for the crash.

Internet down in Haiti after gangs sabotage telecoms equipment

BY THE HAITIAN TIMES AUG. 24, 2023

The Haitian Times

Two major internet service providers in Haiti, Digicel and Access Haiti, are grappling with severe disruptions after gangs sabotaged the companies’ fiber optic lines and other critical equipment. Service technicians meanwhile, the businesses say, are unable to travel safely to make repairs.

Both Digicel and Access Haiti have released public statements addressing the acts of vandalism and sabotage. On Aug. 22, Digicel said, a fiber optic cable was deliberately severed in the Martissant area. Access Haiti issued a note on Aug. 23 saying sabotage of its equipment occurred along the National Road #1 and the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac, causing extensive service disruptions.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 2 août 2023

 U.S. Embassy personnel in Haiti evacuated amid rising violence

American citizens are told to leave ‘as soon as possible’ by commercial or private means as gang fighting eclipses the capital

Karen DeYoung

(Washington Post)

The State Department has ordered the evacuation of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and diplomatic family members from its embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and advised all American citizens to leave the Caribbean nation as soon as possible amid rising gang violence.

The announcement of an “ordered departure” came late Thursday, after a week in which Haitians from the surrounding neighborhood swarmed the area outside the embassy, seeking protection from what the diplomatic mission called “heavy gunfire in the vicinity.” Embassy employees had already been ordered not to leave the U.S. compound “until further notice.”

Armed gangs have taken power in as much as 90 percent of the Haitian capital since the assassination two years ago of President Jovenel Moïse. Even as they contest territory and control of resources with each other, they have engaged in widespread campaigns of killings, rape and displacement of civilians.

Families have been burned out of their homes and left without food and water, a new cholera epidemic threatens, and a U.N. humanitarian campaign has received only a fraction of requested funding for the rest of the year.

Since Moïse’s death, the political chaos that has plagued Haiti for decades has worsened. His replacement, Prime Minister Ariel Henry, called for a multinational force last October to intervene and control the gangs. But the international community has been unable to work out how to form it, and no country has agreed to lead such a mission.

The United States, with its own history of interventions in Haiti, has expressed no interest in spearheading such a force. Hopes that Canada would take the leadalso fell apart.

Meeting with Henry this month during a visit to Trinidad and Tobago, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was “imperative … for the international community to come together in support of Haiti.”

The idea for a multinational police force grew largely out of reluctance to send another U.N. peacekeeping force. An earlier U.N. force, sent to stem the growth of gang violence, was accused of sparking a cholera epidemic and failing to end the anarchy, and was highly unpopular with the Haitian people.

“We are not calling for a military or political mission of the United Nations,” U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said this month after visiting Haiti. “We are calling for a robust security force by member states to work hand-in-hand with the Haitian national police to defeat and dismantle the gangs and restore security across the country.” Civilians are trapped in “a living nightmare,” Guterres also, calling the conditions there “beyond appalling.”

But shortly after those comments, with no agreement on a non-U.N. force in sight, the U.N. Security Council on July 14 unanimously passed a resolution giving Guterres 30 days to report back with an outline of “the full range” of support options that the United Nations can provide, including a “possible peacekeeping operation.”

Such a U.N. force would require a Security Council vote, with no veto from one of the council’s five permanent members. Among them, China indicated skepticism, with Beijing’s U.N. representative instead saying that “all countries” must stop arms trafficking to the gangs and warning against “quick fixes implemented from the outside” that have long failed to deliver long-term results.

U.S. officials have continued to express optimism that some country will emerge to lead a non-U.N. force. “We continue to work with partner nations to identify a lead nation for a police-driven, multinational force,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters last week. “It is urgently needed, as the secretary said. I don’t have any updates … but I do hope to have them in the near future,” Miller said.

The U.N. resolution urgently called on “all Haitian stakeholders” to establish, with help from the United Nations, “a Haitian-led, Haitian-owned political process to permit the organization of free, fair and credible legislative and presidential elections.”

In the meantime, a new force has arisen in Haiti, with civilian vigilantes responding to the lack of security control by forming their own armed groups to combat the gangs.

Arrest of the Alleged Gang Leader of Bizoton while attempting to flee to the United States under the auspices of the Biden Program.

July 27, 2023

In a commendable stride towards combating criminal activities, Haitian law enforcement has achieved a major breakthrough with the announcement of the arrest of the alleged kingpin of the notorious Bizoton gang, Innocent Mackenley.

The operation was executed seamlessly on Wednesday at Toussaint L’Ouverture International Airport, where the prominent member of the Ti Bwa gang was intercepted while attempting to flee to the United States under the auspices of the Biden Program.

Under Mackenley’s leadership, the gang had earned notoriety for its violent operations and extensive involvement in a myriad of illicit acts.

With his apprehension, Mackenley is now slated to face the full force of the Haitian judicial system, whereby he will be held accountable for his alleged deeds and subjected to a fair trial in accordance with the rule of law.

This unequivocal measure serves as a robust message to all criminals and active gang factions within the nation: no individual can be deemed exempt from legal repercussions, and those who transgress both societal and legal norms will be compelled to bear the weight of their actions.

US Congress : Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act

Meeks, McCaul, Salazar, Cherfilus-McCormick Issue Statement Following House Passage of Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act

July 25, 2023

Washington, DC – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks and Michael McCaul, Ranking Member and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Maria Salazar, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick issued the following statement regarding the House passage of H.R. 1684, the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act. The bill would require the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to Congress regarding the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti, and impose sanctions on political and economic elites involved in such criminal activities: 

"Today's bipartisan House passage of H.R. 1684 underscores the United States’ unwavering commitment to holding corrupt Haitian political and economic elites accountable for their role in supporting Haiti’s destabilizing gang activity. Pervasive gang violence has exacerbated the ongoing humanitarian and security crises devastating the people of Haiti. In the political insecurity following President Moise’s assassination, criminals in Haiti have sought to profit from the chaos, supporting gangs to enrich themselves and claim more power.  

“The United States must hold these corrupt individuals responsible for their support of criminal behaviors and prohibit their free travel and activities in the United States. This bill authorizes the Secretary of State to sanction corrupt actors who regularly use gangs as a lever of power and requires delivery of regular reports to Congress on Haitian gang activity.   

“This legislative milestone represents significant progress in our efforts to support a Haitian-led resolution to this crisis. By curbing corruption and taking concrete actions against criminal networks, we aim to foster a more stable and hopeful future for Haiti and its people." 

Haiti-Grenadiers are acclaimed despite their defeat

July 23, 2023

During the recent match between the Grenadiers and the English team at the Women’s World Cup, Haiti suffered a 1-0 defeat. Nevertheless, this performance did not go unnoticed, as the glories of world football and international media unanimously praised the Haitian team for their remarkable play, especially that of Melchie Dumornay, nicknamed Corventina.

In a laudatory article, the American newspaper Washington Post highlighted the determination and talent of the Haitian players. Despite the defeat, the team demonstrated an impressive strength of character and level of play, confirming their ability to compete with the best teams in the world.

It is important to emphasize that it was the first match of the Haitian women’s team in the World Cup, making their performance even more remarkable. The players clearly showed that they were not afraid to face the top nations in women’s football.

The Women’s World Cup is currently taking place in Australia and New Zealand, bringing together the best teams in the world in a fierce competition. Despite the result against England, the Grenadiers have proven that they fully deserve their place in this prestigious tournament.

Grenadiers

Programme Biden: Haitians Arriving by the Thousands…

July 27, 2023

Since the beginning of 2023, the Humanitarian Parole Program has been at the forefront of addressing migration challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean. This program, established by the United States, aims to provide a humanitarian admission opportunity to individuals facing difficult situations in their home countries.

According to available data, over 63,000 Haitians have been approved to benefit from the Humanitarian Parole Program in the first six months of the year. Among them, more than 50,000 have already successfully reached the United States through this program. These numbers underscore the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, driving a significant portion of its citizens to seek refuge and opportunities elsewhere.

The Humanitarian Parole Program is not exclusive to Haiti. In total, nearly 160,000 citizens from different countries, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, have also been beneficiaries of this program during the same period. These figures highlight the importance of this initiative in the region and the growing demand for protection and opportunities in the United States.

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 19 juillet 2023

 Security Council gives UN chief 30 days to come up with options on how to fight Haiti's armed gangs

Fri, Jul 14, 2023 at 12:39 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council asked the secretary-general on Friday to come up with options to help combat Haiti’s armed gangs, including a possible U.N. peacekeeping force and a non-U.N. multinational force.

A resolution adopted unanimously by the council asks U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to report back on “a full range” of options within 30 days to improve the security situation, including additional training for the Haitian National Police and providing support to combat illegal arms trafficking to the impoverished Caribbean nation.

It also authorizes up to 70 U.N. police and corrections advisers to scale up support and training for Haiti’s understaffed and underfunded national police force. And it “encourages” countries, especially in the Caribbean region, to respond to appeals from Haiti’s prime minister and from Guterres for the deployment of an international specialized force.

Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry sent an urgent appeal last October for “the immediate deployment of a specialized armed force, in sufficient quantity” to stop the gangs. However, more than eight months later no country has stepped up to lead such a force.

Guterres, who visited Haiti earlier this month, called last week for a robust international force to help the Haitian National Police “defeat and dismantle the gangs.”

He said the estimate by the U.N. independent expert for Haiti, William O’Neill, that up to 2,000 additional anti-gang police officers are needed is no exaggeration. O’Neill, who concluded a 10-day trip to Haiti this month, is an American lawyer who has been working on Haiti for over 30 years and helped establish the Haitian National Police in 1995.

The gangs have grown in power since the July 7, 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and are now estimated to control up to 80% of the capital. The surge in killings, rapes and kidnappings has led to a violent uprising by civilian vigilante groups.

Compounding the gang warfare is the country’s political crisis: Haiti was stripped of all democratically elected institutions when the terms of the country’s remaining 10 senators expired in early January.

The resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Ecuador, “strongly urges” all countries to prohibit the supply, sale or transfer of weapons to anyone supporting gang violence and criminal activities.

It reiterates the need for all Haitians, with support from the U.N. political mission known as BIHUH, to establish “a Haitian-led, Haitian-owned political process to permit the organization of free, fair and credible legislative and presidential elections.” And it calls on the Haitians “to urgently reach an agreement on a sustainable, time-bound and commonly accepted roadmap for elections.”

The resolution extends BINUH’s mandate until July 15, 2024, and also encourages the mission “to explore options to enhance the Haitian criminal justice sector in order to fight impunity.”

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called the resolution an important step to help the Haitian people shape their future and restore democratic order.

But she said, “we must do more,” and urged all 15 council members to join the U.S. in working with BINUH, the Haitian government and the international community to “help the Haitian people secure a more just and peaceful future.”

China’s deputy U.N. ambassador Geng Shuang reiterated Beijing’s position that the most urgent task is to stabilize the security situation and stop the flow of arms, otherwise “no amount of support for the Haitian National Police will make any difference.”

He stressed that the U.N.’s actions in Haiti over some 30 years “have shown that quick fixes implemented from the outside often fail to deliver long-term results that will help Haiti truly emerge from the crisis.”

“The United Nations should fully learn from the past,” Geng said.

RD-HAITI : Esther Dacius apprehended by the Police

July 12, 2023

On the run for fraud, forgery, breach of trust, and association of criminals, a person named Esther Dacius was apprehended by Dominican authorities and subsequently transferred to the National Police of Haiti on Saturday, July 8, 2023, following a warrant and a wanted notice issued against her.

Multiple complaints were filed in 2022 and 2023 with the Bureau of Financial and Economic Affairs against her and her husband, Marckenshy Honoré, for the aforementioned offenses.

Esther Dacius posed as a consul at the Canadian embassy, using fake websites in the name of the embassy to defraud her victims.

Marckenshy Honoré, who was actively sought by the Haitian National Police (PNH), played the role of intermediary and secretary between the victims and his wife.

Currently, Esther Dacius is in police custody, awaiting further legal proceedings.

Women's World Cup 2023: Haiti's team are 'bringing the light back' after qualifying - BBC Sport

10 July 2023

Women's Football

Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Theus reflects on her side's World Cup play-off win over Chile

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"Actually, can I ask something?"

Kerly Theus is a 5ft 4in goalkeeper who plays for the Haiti women's national team.

For the last 40 minutes, we have talked about her career, her country, her childhood. We have even touched on the friends she lost in the 2010 earthquake.

But all this time, something has been bubbling up inside of her, a point she has been desperate to get across.

In less than two weeks, Haiti face England, European Champions and second favourites behind the United States to win the tournament, at the Women's World Cup in Brisbane, Australia.

It is Haiti's first ever match at the competition - and for Theus, it will be the biggest of her career.

She also sees it as an opportunity: the fixture that inspires the next generation. 

"Can you quote this in your article, please?" she asks. "'This message is specifically for the girls in Haiti: 'Keep pushing, keep driving and this moment, you'll have it too when it's your time'."

Theus, along with her team-mates, wants to propel her nation into the spotlight. It is her main motivator, all she can think about.

"I've been to tournaments where people said 'Haiti? What's that?'" she adds.

"The World Cup is the biggest stage. Your country, your name is publicised everywhere. 

"We want the world to know about Haiti and the talent we have. Oh, and we want to get past the group stage."

Theus' journey to the World Cup began at the Ranch.

The team's base in Croix-des-Bouquets, one of Port-au-Prince's poorest suburbs, is officially called the Fifa Goal Center, but everybody knows it as 'the Ranch'. 

Back in 2002, the first phase of the training complex opened, boasting an auditorium, administrative office and dormitories for players. 

Today, up to 200 boys and girls aged 14 and above live, train and go to school at the former country mansion. 

Theus arrived there in 2013, at the age of 14.

Initially, it was her sister who was spotted and she tagged along because it was easier than separating them.

"There was no goalkeeper in my age group," she says. "I didn't want to play in goal but I learned the mechanics - how to hold the ball, knowing when to dive, how to dive, things like that.

"It was completely different to playing on the streets. We trained every day, twice a day, no matter what.

"We had practice matches with the boys' team, it made us stronger and faster."

The players at the Ranch grew up together. In recent months, emotionally, they have drawn ever closer.

In November 2020, Yves Jean-Bart, the president of the Haitian Football Federation, was handed a lifetime ban by Fifa for alleged harassment and sexual abuse of multiple underage female footballers at the Ranch and elsewhere.

Fifa's investigation concluded he "threatened and prevented potential victims and witnesses from giving testimony" and "exercised an authoritarian regime".

Photographs from 2021 were also followed by allegations that children at the Ranch were living in unhygienic and unsafe conditions. 

However, in February, Jean-Bart's suspension was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport who found the evidence against him was "inconsistent, unclear and contradictory".

The 75-year-old has strongly denied the allegations since they were first made. Meanwhile, Fifa have filed a rare complaint against Cas' ruling.

None of the three players interviewed for this piece wanted to speak directly about the claims but all mentioned the squad's unity in the face of adversity.

"We can't control what happened but we understand we can control our reaction to it," says midfielder Danielle Etienne.

"We're not shaken by this, we're choosing not to linger on the past or negativity," adds right-back Chelsea Surpris, who spoke to BBC World Service in February.

Theus concludes: "We're tight-knit, most of the team think the same.

"Hey, we're here to show off our talent, show off our skills. Let's let that do the talking."

Haiti were ranked 55th in the world in February, 17 places below Chile

Haiti were one of the last teams to reach the World Cup, upsetting Chile in a play-off in New Zealand in February.

Additional reporting by BBC Sport's Isaac Fanin.