Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 10 novembre 2023

 Haiti Bans Charter Flights to Nicaragua in Blow to Migrants Fleeing Poverty and Violence

Associated PressPORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti —

Haiti's government has banned all charter flights to Nicaragua that migrants fleeing poverty and violence had been increasingly using in their quest to reach the United States, according to a bulletin issued Monday that The Associated Press obtained.

Haiti's government did not provide an explanation for the decision in its bulletin, which was first reported by The Miami Herald. Civil aviation authorities in Haiti did not respond to a message seeking comment.

The move left a couple of thousand angry and bewildered travelers stranded in a parking lot facing Haiti's main international airport in the capital of Port-au-Prince surrounded by their luggage, with some holding babies.

"I have to seek a better life elsewhere because Haiti doesn't offer my generation anything," said 29-year-old Jean-Marc Antoine. "It's either hold a gun and be involved with a gang, be killed or leave the country."

His brother in Chile had loaned him $4,000 for the plane ticket, and like many of the stranded passengers, he fretted about whether he would get his money back.

Nearby, Marie-Ange Solomon, 58, said she had been calling the charter company repeatedly on Monday to no avail. She had paid $7,000 total to leave Haiti with her son.

"After gathering money to get me and my son out of this fragile country, now all of a sudden they stop everything," she said. "I thought I was going to be freed today."

Thousands of Haitians were stranded at the Port-au-Prince Airport on Oct. 30, after the government banned all charter flights to Nicaragua as migrants sought to flee the poverty and violence in their country.

Solomon kept an eye on their bags as her 28-year-old son ran to the airport repeatedly in case someone called their names.

More than 260 flights departing Haiti and believed to have carried up to 31,000 migrants have landed in the Central American country of Nicaragua since early August as Haiti's crisis deepens, with gangs estimated to now control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince. The number of migrants represent nearly 60% of all U.S.-Mexico border Haitian arrivals, said Manuel Orozco, director of the migration, remittances and development program at the Inter-American Dialogue.

Experts have said that seats on charter flights to Nicaragua can range from $3,000 to $5,000, with Nicaragua a popular destination because it does not require visas for certain migrants.

"The magnitude of the flights are just completely unusual ... and it represents a security risk," Orozco said in a phone interview.

He questioned whether the suspension of the charter flights was prompted by outside pressure, adding that he did not know if the U.S. government was involved.

Orozco noted that there were no charter flights from Port-au-Prince to Nicaragua last January and that the three daily flights that began in late July had grown to 11 flights a day.

The suspension of charter flights could prompt Haitian migrants to seek other ways to flee their country, he said.

"I think Dominicans will probably at this point organize themselves or cross their fingers that there is not a cross-over," Orozco said.

The two countries share the island of Hispaniola but are now in a dispute over construction of a canal in Haiti that would divert water from a river that runs along the border. Dominican President Luis Abinader announced last month that his government would stop issuing visas to Haitians and he closed the border to all Haitians seeking to cross for work, education, medical issues or other purposes.

With another migration route popular with Haitians closing on Monday, frustration began to build among the stranded passengers.

"Can you imagine that I spent all this money? I sold everything that I had," Jean Erode Louis-Saint, 25, whose flight was scheduled for mid-afternoon Monday but he never received a boarding pass. "I cannot stay in this country because of the lack of security. Gangs are everywhere."

He used to work along the border that Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic exchanging currencies but has struggled to find another job.

"I cannot do anything in Haiti anymore," he said as he stood with a backpack on his back surrounded by thousands of other passengers.

Many were reluctant to leave in case there was a sudden change in plans, but by late afternoon, the crowd began to thin out as people left.

Among them was 35-year-old Saint-Ville Etienne, a civil engineer who was hoping for a better life so he could care for the 14-year-old son he would have left behind.

"Haiti is in a state of war among its own people," he said. "I don't know why they are fighting. It's only causing everybody to leave the country."

William O'Neill, Expert on the human rights situation in Haiti, concludes his official visit

Port-au-Prince (October 31, 2023) Mesye dam bonjou (Greetings everyone). Allow me to begin by thanking the authorities for their support for my mandate, BINUH for the welcome and support they have extended to me, as well as the civil society organizations and the victims I have been able to meet.

I have just concluded my second official visit to Haiti. I continue to be alarmed by the worrying situation, which is spreading rapidly to other departments, notably Artibonite and Nord-Ouest. Murders, injuries and kidnappings are the daily lot of the population. Sexual violence against women and girls remains endemic, and no progress has been made in terms of access to services and justice for survivors since my last visit.  

I am particularly concerned about the impact of insecurity and violence on children. The testimonies received are stunning. An entire generation is seemingly being sacrificed by violence, and the future of a country is threatened by the dramatic situation faced by its youth. I urge the authorities to give priority to addressing the situation of children.

Many have suffered - and continue to suffer - severe violence and violations of their rights. They are also victims of the catastrophic humanitarian situation, with access to health, water, food and education severely hampered. This is particularly the case in underprivileged neighbourhoods controlled by gangs and deserted by the State. I have received numerous reports that many children suffer from wasting, the deadliest form of malnutrition. Over 500,000 youths have no access to education. Many children from these neighbourhoods are recruited by gangs, for lack of opportunities, or by fear of reprisals.

The Haitian justice system remains dysfunctional and ill-equipped to protect children at risk or to judge minors in conflict with the law. The Juvenile Court is paralyzed. I visited Cermicol, the juvenile prison in Port-au-Prince, and found it alarmingly overcrowded, with an occupancy rate in excess of 350%, as well as unhygienic conditions and a lack of access to drinking water, exposing children to disease. 99% of the minors held in the prison have not been convicted, and most are in prolonged pre-trial detention. They have been incarcerated for years for stealing a chicken, shoes or a telephone, without ever having seen a judge. I was nonetheless encouraged by the setting up of an intergovernmental commission to relieve overcrowding in the prisons. We need results quickly.

I am also concerned about the situation of internally displaced people. There are at least 200,000 displaced people in Haiti. Many are living in inhumane conditions, without access to basic services, surviving in makeshift camps. I have received appalling accounts of children and elderly people sleeping on the ground, next to mounds of garbage and without access to drinking water. I also heard of women and girls are repeatedly raped, with no access to healthcare. The State must assume its responsibilities not only to prevent human rights violations and abuses, but also to protect its population, especially the most vulnerable.

I heard a strong desire for the arrival of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) among the Haitian population. The imminent deployment of this mission, under strict conditions of respect and protection of human rights, is necessary to alleviate the suffering of the population. However, it is essential that this mission anticipates and takes the measure of the current challenges if it is to succeed in its long-term objective. Many of these measures will require the population to regain confidence in its institutions.

These must be strengthened, in particular through reliable and transparent public control systems to curb corruption and impunity. In particular, the Haitian National Police (PNH) must speed up the vetting of its officers, and the judicial system must complete the certification of its magistrates. Codes of ethics must be implemented. I reiterate my encouragement for the work carried out by the Unité de Lutte contre la Corruption (ULCC) to combat the scourge of corruption. 

The international sanctions regime has sent out a strong signal to dismantle the networks of corruption that plague the country. It must also be accompanied by national prosecutions to put an end to impunity. I reiterate my appeal to the international community to put an end to the illegal trafficking of arms and munitions that circulates in Haiti and continues to claim many victims every day.

A major challenge is the fact that many gang members are children. It will be necessary to implement rehabilitation and reintegration programs for the vast majority of them. According to many actors interviewed, it is essential that the State plays a key role in rebuilding the social and economic model to enable the most vulnerable to find opportunities locally and thus avoid the mass departure of populations in search of better days.

Finally, I visited the canal under construction on the Massacre River in Ouanaminthe, as well as the border with the Dominican Republic. I continue to hear reports of the disastrous impact of the border closure on access to health, water and food. I reiterate my call for dialogue and the passage of aid to protect vulnerable populations from the dramatic humanitarian impact of this measure. I would also like to pay tribute to the work of the police in Ouanaminthe and Fort Liberté, who have succeeded in bringing the situation of violence in the department under control, thanks to community and proximity policing. 32 police officers have been killed since the beginning of the year. 

Ensuring the safety and protection of the population is a priority. Overcoming institutional shortcomings and strengthening the rule of law remain fundamental prerequisites for long-term change. Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past.

Mysion mwen an fini men travay la ap kontinye. Mèsi anpil (My mission ends but the work goes on. I thank you from the bottom of my heart).

National Center of Haitian Apostolate

REFLECTIONS ON THE READINGS OF THE 31^st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Nov. 5^th, 2023)

Malachi 1; Psalm 131; 1 Thessalonians 2, 7-9; Matthew 23, 1-12

Msgr. Pierre André Pierre              

Brothers and sisters, 

From the Prophet Malachi to the Gospel of Matthew, and the first Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, the word of God today calls our attention to humility. The absolute opposite is pride, arrogance, and selfishness. 

Everyone takes their place, the priests, the people, the scribes, and the Pharisees. The prophet reproaches the priests of his time to pervert the covenant with God. Jesus investigates the words and behavior of the Pharisees. Their function is to devote themselves to God and seek his glory, to teach the Law given to them by Moses. However, instead of thinking about the glory of God, they only seek their own interest. They make religion a business. They manipulate the Law of Moses for their own purposes. Do not follow their example. They do not work for God but for the gallery. They look for the best places. They seek honors and titles. Everything is a facade, inside full of skeletons. This is hypocrisy. 

The search for power and wealth, the race for honors and privileges, are not only abuses in the time of Malachi, or in the time of Jesus. Nowadays, it may no longer be a question of phylacteries and very long fringes, but of car brands, of extravagant lifestyles, and excessive wealth, displayed in broad daylight, which become an insult to the billions of poor people on the planet. The desire to appear then becomes the goal of life. Jesus tells his disciples to stop giving themselves high-sounding titles that risk creating a misleading appearance. His authority is exclusively an authority of service and liberation: he forgives, he heals, he restores his feet, he gives a second chance, he opens a future. This allows us to move forward with joy. “ I tell you this so that your joy may be complete .” (John 15, 11) Just watch those who meet Jesus flourish: the Samaritan woman, Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, the blind, the lepers...

Following in the footsteps of Jesus as his model, St. Paul expresses his love for the community of Thessalonica that he served. This very beautiful text provides us with a remarkable portrait of the true pastor: He is “ full of gentleness, like a mother with her babies ”. He is filled with “affection” for them, wanting to give them “not only the Gospel” but everything that he himself is. He toils and tires night and day so as not to be a burden to others. 

Psalm 131,1 reminds us of the secret of life: "In you, Lord, I have found my peace. O LORD, my heart is not proud; nor are my eyes haughty. I busy not myself with great things, nor with things too sublime for me. " 

The Lord invites his disciples to embrace Humility. Yes, Truth is hidden in HUMILITY. 

Détails

Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti

Création : 23 octobre 2023

 The EU Humanitarian Aid provided 2.5 million euros to combat child malnutrition in Haiti

In Haiti more than 100,000 children under five are in urgent need of care for severe wasting

 Port-au-Prince, Haiti - In response to the alarming evolution of the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, UNICEF has received essential financial support of 2.5 million euros from the EU Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) to address the devastating effects of child wasting among, concentrated in the most vulnerable areas of the country.

This assistance comes at a critical time as Haiti faces a worrying situation, as reported in the latest SMART nutritional survey, which revealed alarming levels of wasting across the country where more than 100,000 children under the age of five are in urgent need of treatment for severe wasting (also known as severe acute malnutrition). The situation is particularly concerning in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and the Artibonite department.  

The rapid deterioration of Haiti's socio-economic context, marked by protracted violence and widespread insecurity, has led to an alarming rise in malnutrition rates across the country. Immediate action is imperative to prevent further deterioration in the nutritional situation and reduce malnutrition-related mortality. 

"In times of crisis, nutrition is more important than ever. Every second counts. Malnutrition is deadly: a child suffering from severe acute malnutrition is nine times more likely to die than a well-nourished child” says UNICEF Representative in Haiti, Bruno Maes.  

UNICEF is firmly committed to tackling this nutritional crisis in Haiti, and to ensuring that the most vulnerable children receive the care and support they need to thrive in an already precarious environment. 

"This funding from the EU Humanitarian aid will help us rapidly scale-up our response and improve early access to and quality of severe acute malnutrition treatment in the country” he explains.   

As part of this vital partnership, DG ECHO will actively support UNICEF Haiti's efforts to strengthen early detection and referral of children suffering from wasting. This crucial support will also ensure that the most vulnerable children receive appropriate care in a timely manner. 

A significant proportion of ECHO's aid will be devoted to ensuring the provision of quality care to around 40,000 children under five suffering from severe wasting. This care will be provided through existing health systems and community platforms, ensuring an integrated approach to the treatment of child malnutrition. 

Recognizing the fundamental importance of prevention, this partnership will work to strengthen wasting prevention measures. The aim is to ensure that women and children in Haiti have continued access to improved nutrition, appropriate care, and basic health and nutrition services, thereby helping to reduce the risk of malnutrition. 

Effective management of the nutrition supply chain plays an essential role in the fight against malnutrition. This initiative will include measures to ensure an uninterrupted pipeline of Ready-to-use Therapeutic Products (RUTFs), which are vital for the treatment of children suffering from severe wasting. 

With the aim of improving the overall response to the nutritional crisis, this partnership will also include efforts to strengthen nutrition information systems as well as coordination mechanisms at national and sub-national levels, ensuring better monitoring and a more effective response to the nutritional needs of Haitian children. 

"UNICEF and the EU Humanitarian Aid are committed to scaling up and sustaining our efforts to reach more children with life-saving nutrition assistance. Our shared values motivate us to ensure that all children in Haiti enjoy their right to adequate nutrition” M. Maes concludes. 

For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org 

Follow UNICEF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube 

Gessika Thomas

Communication Officer

UNICEF Haiti, BP 1363

17, rue Armand Holly, Debussy, Port-au-Prince

Office +509 2812 3010

Mobile +509 47503125

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Haití en la OEA: “La construcción del canal no va a parar, el gobierno de Haití reclama ese derecho”

https://listindiario.com/las-mundiales/haiti/20231012/embajador-haitiano-oea-construccion-canal-parar-gobierno-haiti-reclama-derecho_777104.html

Manifestó que RD debe reconocer el derecho que tienen como nación, para la utilización de las aguas del río en el riego del suelo y cultivos agrícolas.

Leon Charles, embajador haitiano ante la OEAFUENTE EXTERNA.ntarios

MELANIE CUEVASSanto Domingo, RD

Actualizada jueves, 12 de octubre de 2023 - 17:08

El embajador haitiano ante la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA), Leon Charles, fue enfático al manifestar que Haití no paralizará la construcción del canal sobre el río Masacre, que desviaría parte del caudal hasta ese país y que ha denunciado el Gobierno dominicano.

Al tomar la palabra luego del canciller dominicano, Roberto Álvarez, Charles expresó que la obra no se paralizará acogiéndose al artículo 10 del Tratado de Paz, Amistad y Arbitraje, suscrito por República Dominicana y Haití en 1929 y en el que establece que los ríos y otros cursos de agua deberán ser utilizados por ambos países de forma justa y equitativa.

“La construcción del canal no va a detenerse considerando la topografía de ese río y de esa zona y en el espíritu del artículo 10 de ese tratado de 1929, el Gobierno haitiano alega su derecho de utilizar de forma justa y equitativa las obras sobre esa zona del río Masacre sobre todo que alimente esa parte que le corresponde a nuestro país”, defendió el embajador ante los presentes en la sala.

En ese sentido, manifestó que República Dominicana debe reconocer el derecho que tienen como nación, para la utilización de las aguas del río en el riego del suelo y cultivos agrícolas.

“La construcción del canal no debe detenerse, República Dominicana debe reconocer el derecho de los dos países a utilizar de forma justa y equitativa los recursos que compartimos en esa zona del río Masacre, de conformidad con el artículo 10 del tratado de 1929”, insistió.

Leon Charles instó además, al dialogo de las partes para encontrar una solución viable, sin que ambas naciones resulten mayormente afectados, ya que la construcción del canal “no se va a detener”.

“Lo que decimos es que se continúe con ese canal, la construcción del canal no se va a detener, la construcción del canal no va a parar, el gobierno de la República de Haití reclama el derecho de su territorio haciendo un examen exhaustivo de la situación actual, haciendo un llamado también a la buena resolución y al respeto de las disposiciones internacionales en la materia, igualmente hace un llamado al dialogo”

Charles realizó un llamado y voluntad de trabajar para obtener una solución que sea definitiva en la resolución del conflicto, con una conversación bilateral, que es esencial para la relación de buenos vecinos.

“El gobierno haitiano hace un llamado a la comunidad y sobre todo afirma su voluntad de trabajar para obtener una solución definitiva al diferendo citado sobre este río Masacre y sobre todo pide y recurre a que haya una discusión y conversación entre República Dominicana y Haití (…) a retomar las negociaciones y el dialogo que es un elemento esencial para las relaciones de buenos vecinos”.

El representante haitiano también fijo la posición de su delegación sobre el cierre de las fronteras del lado dominicano, desde el pasado 15 de septiembre, condenando la acción ordenada por decreto, debido a que cerrada de forma unilateral en medio del dialogo entre las delegaciones de ambos países.

“El 8 de septiembre el gobierno dominicano ordeno unilateralmente el cierre de la zona fronteriza, paralelamente la armada dominicana hizo demostración de su fuerza movilizando también barcos sobre esa zona fronteriza”, dijo.

Asimismo, condenó la desinformación que ha habido en torno al tema, sustituyendo el derecho internacional, por lo que “el gobierno haitiano expresa su gran preocupación frente a esta situación y la toma de medidas por parte de las autoridades dominicanas y condena firmemente esa decisión de cerrar ese canal”.

Entre otras cosas, Charles denunció que República Dominicana luego de la firma del tratado en 1929 ha construido de manera unilateral al menos 12 obras entorno al afluente, que no han sido consultados al gobierno haitiano, recursos que son explotados de manera “industrial”.

“Desde esa firma de 1929 Repúlica Dominicana ha construido dos represas y obras sobre el río Masacre en la región de Loma de cabrera y de Dajabón, por lo tanto son obras abiertas y cuatro mini represas, los trabajos de esas obras han sido realizados de forma unilateral, y no ha estado consultado previamente ante el Estado haitiano, por lo tanto y en función de ese territorio en cuestión, explicar que la mayoría de recursos explotados, son explotados en un área industrial”, sostuvo.

Five Haitians awarded CANARI’s Yves Renard Fellowship to strengthen sustainable livelihoods for biodiversity conservation

Port-of-Spain, October 12, 2023 – Five Haitian environmental professionals have been selected as the first Yves Renard Fellows by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI). This nine-month fellowship will support their work strengthening sustainable livelihoods for biodiversity conservation in Haiti.

With this first set of Fellows, CANARI has launched its landmark fellowship programme to support Caribbean nationals pursuing a career in line with CANARI’s mission of promoting and facilitating stakeholder participation and collaboration in the stewardship of renewable natural resources in the Caribbean for sustainability, resilience, equity, justice and inclusive governance. The fellowship programme is dedicated to its late co-founder Yves Renard, to continue his commitment to fostering a new generation of Caribbean conservation practitioners equipped with the skills, knowledge, tools and networks needed to address pressing challenges to Caribbean sustainable development.

Cletus Springer, Chair of CANARI’s Board of Directors, shared that, “I am immensely happy and proud that CANARI has started this initiative at this time. In many ways, it is one of the most natural and fitting things we could do to honour Yves’ imposing legacy of Impactful work. He had a deep love and an abiding interest in the region’s sustainable development; but having worked with him for many decades, in CANARI and PANOS Caribbean, I can safely say he had a very special place in his heart for Haiti and its people. CANARI has good reason to sustain this initiative.”

This first cohort of Yves Renard Fellows are supported through a grant to CANARI from the UK Government’s Darwin Initiative. The five Haitians were nominated by civil society organisations (CSOs) they work with in Haiti which are delivering on-the-ground environmental conservation alongside supporting sustainable livelihoods of communities in Haiti – Coordination Régionale des Organisations du Sud Est (CROSE), Protection de la Biodiversité Marine (FoProBiM), Haiti Survie, Groupe d’action pour le Développement Durable et Intégré d’Haiti (GADDIH) and Action pour la Sauvegarde de l'Ecologie en Haiti (ACSEH).

The fellowship involves Fellows working over September-November in Trinidad and Tobago with CANARI to gain technical knowledge and skills, including in sustainable livelihood strategies and enterprise development for poverty reduction, stewardship and nature-based approaches to biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation, as well as use of cutting-edge information and communication technology (ICT) tools. CANARI will also facilitate knowledge exchange among Haitian and Trinidad and Tobago CSOs through face-to-face and virtual meetings, field visits and ‘learning by doing’ on projects that are currently being implemented by the Institute. In addition, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) will provide additional capacity building in sustainable development and biodiversity conservation, drawing on its global experiences.

Upon returning to Haiti, the Fellows will work with their colleagues to apply the skills and knowledge acquired during their time at CANARI. Each nominating CSO will receive a micro-grant to implement a concrete initiative in Haiti based on the learnings shared by the Fellows on sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity conservation.

The Fellows will also produce communication products on their experiences to facilitate knowledge sharing and exchanges about sustainable livelihoods for biodiversity conservation with Haitian stakeholders and the wider French and Creole-speaking Caribbean, including Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Lucia.

For media inquiries, interviews or additional information, please contact: Anna Cadiz-Hadeed, CANARI Programmes Director, at Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.

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.