Haitian gang kills at least 70 people as thousands flee, UN says
- Some 3,000 flee Pont-Sonde as international support lags
- Over 700,000 displaced, more than 5 million face severe hunger
- Gang leader says attack intended to worsen food crisis
- No progress on justice for massacres in recent years
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Armed men belonging to the Gran Grif gang killed at least 70 people, including three infants, and forced at least 3,000 to flee as they swept through a Haitian town shooting automatic rifles at residents, the U.N. said on Friday.
"We are horrified by Thursday's gang attacks in the town of Pont-Sonde in Haiti's Artibonite department," U.N. spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement.
At least another 16 people were seriously injured in the attack in the early hours of Thursday, including two gang members hit during an exchange of fire with Haitian police, according to the U.N. The gang members reportedly set fire to at least 45 houses and 34 vehicles, forcing residents to flee their homes.
The killings are the latest sign of a worsening conflict in the Caribbean nation, where armed gangs control most of the capital Port-au-Prince and are expanding to nearby regions, fuelling hunger and making hundreds of thousands homeless, while nearby countries continue to deport migrants back to the country.
"This odious crime against defenseless women, men and children is not only an attack against victims but against the entire Haitian nation," Prime Minister Garry Conille said on X.
Conille added that security forces were "reinforcing their intervention" in the area. His office said the public hospital in nearby Saint-Marc was boosting capacity to treat the wounded.
Haitian online TV showed security forces moving into Pont-Sonde, where a burnt-out vehicle lay on the road and bullet casings were gathered on the ground.
In an audio message shared on social media on Thursday, Gran Grif leader Luckson Elan, who was sanctioned by the U.N. last month, blamed the state and victims for the attacks, accusing residents of remaining passive while his soldiers were killed by police or vigilante groups.
"It's Pont-Sonde residents who are at fault. What happened in Pont-Sonde is the fault of the state," he said.
The U.N. has accused Elan's gang of killings, rapes, mass kidnappings, robbery, destroying property, hijacking trucks and forcing farmers off swaths of land, threatening to kill them if they return.
"Gran Grif has also committed some of the highest levels of child recruitment in Haiti," according to the U.N. Security Council. The U.N. believes Haiti's gangs are armed largely by guns trafficked from the United States.
But Haiti's judicial system has been paralyzed for years. According to the U.N., no progress has been made in the cases of any mass killings committed since 2021, as well as several major massacres since 2017.
Police are alleged to have taken part in some massacres. Gang leader Jimmy "Barbeque" Cherizier, a former police officer was accused by the U.N. of planning and taking part in the 2018 killing of 71 civilians in the capital's port-side neighborhood of La Saline.
The port, a key supply corridor, has been closed since late last month due to gang attacks, worsening the already dire food crisis.
CALL FOR ASSISTANCE
Pont-Sonde is a major rice producer located in Haiti's breadbasket Artibonite region, built around a bridge and important crossing connecting the capital to the north.
The region has seen some of the worst violence outside the capital, compounding a worsening hunger crisis that has seen half the population suffer from severe food insecurity and thousands in Port-au-Prince facing famine-level hunger.
Cherizier, who has acted as spokesperson for an alliance of armed gangs in the capital, said in a video the attack was part of a plan to prevent Artibonite from supplying food to the country.
The number of people internally displaced by the conflict has meanwhile surged past 700,000, nearly doubling in six months despite the partial deployment of a U.N.-backed mission mandated to help under-resourced police restore order.
"We cannot turn a blind eye," said Raouf Mazou, an executive at the U.N.'s refugee agency, on Friday, pointing to shortages in food, medical supplies and blocked humanitarian aid.
Haiti has so far received a fraction of the resources it was promised and been frustrated in efforts to bring in a formal U.N. peacekeeping mission. Many countries made formal pledges of money and troops, but so far only around 400 have arrived, mostly from Kenya.
"We call for increased international financial and logistical assistance" to the mission, Al-Kheetan said, urging an urgent investigation and reparations for the victims, a call echoed by a spokesperson for U.N. chief Antonio Guterres.
Haiti's prime minister warned last month that countries should urgently fulfill their pledges in order to contain the situation.
The U.N. estimated at the end of September that 3,661 people had been killed in the gang violence since January.
Haiti's former government first requested international security support in 2022.
Countries including the United States and the UK, which both hold territories in the Caribbean, have meanwhile continued to organize deportation flights back to Haiti, despite pleas not to do so by the United Nations.
Responding to the "limited" results of the mission more than a year after it was formally approved, neighboring Dominican Republic said this week it would step up deportations of undocumented migrants to up to 10,000 per week.
Summer Olympics 2024: 10 Of The Most Stylish Uniforms From The Paris Games
Paris has always been the fashion capital of the world, the birthplace of classic trends and designer powerhouses. This year, however, the City of Light is captivating fashion critics for a different reason—the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, taking place from July 26, 2024 to August 11, 2024. This Friday, the Opening Ceremony will once again become a global runway of cultures. From the intricate details that pay homage to cultural heritage and artisanship to the innovative materials that promise both comfort and sustainability, each country's Olympic uniform is an opportunity to put itself on the global fashion map.
Here are 10 countries with the opening ceremony Olympic uniforms that have best managed to balance style, traditional national symbols and colors, sportswear trends and high fashion.
Chinese Taipei
Following the success of his designs for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Justin Chou, founder of avant-garde streetwear brand JUST IN XX, is back in 2024 as the official outfitter for team Chinese Taipei, an official Olympic name for Taiwan. The tailored two-piece suits to be worn by the athletes during the Olympic opening ceremony blends sustainability with the crafts of local artisans.
Chou turned the artwork “Mountain Range of Taiwan” by Taiwanese artist Paul Chiang into a beautiful printed fabric for the suits, the blue waves representing the natural beauty of Taiwan’s landscape. Adorning the Olympic opening ceremony looks are lapel pins crafted by flower-weaving artisan Lin Pei-Ying, made up of the Taiwan’s national flowers, the plum and the canola blossoms, serving as a traditional token of good luck for the athletes. Meanwhile, the belt and shoe uppers were made by Artisan Yan Yu-Ying with banana fiber woven fabric, an ancient textile tradition used in Taiwan. Chou also worked with a typography designer Kokia Lin to create a print that through an optical illusion transforms the words “Chinese Taipei” into the words “Cheer On.”
Mongolia
According to the “world’s most ruthless fashion critic” —the social media—this year’s best dressed Olympic team is Mongolia. Label Michel & Amazonka, led by designers Michel Choigaalaa and Amazonka Choigaalaa, caused a stir online when they unveiled the opening ceremony looks on Instagram earlier this month, with fans flooding the comment section with words of praise. “Absolutely stunning. Team Mongolia gets the gold for most incredible uniforms,” wrote one user.
The viral uniforms pay homage to Mongolian culture, with silhouettes inspired by the traditional Mongolian deel, a calf-length tunic. The ivory ensemble features cuffed, billowing sleeves, a pleated skirt, and an embroidered vest, offset by pops of collar in the collar, cuffs and vest. Further nods to Mongolian national symbols can be found in the intricate gold stitching of the vest, showcasing the moon, the sun, and the Gua-Maral, a mythical deer from traditional folklore. According to Michel & Amazonka, each individual uniform took dozens of hours to make–which isn’t surprising given the intricate level of detail.
Haiti
Haiti’s vibrant uniforms were created by Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean to celebrate Haiti's culture and artisanship while sending a message of hope and renewal in a time marked by the country's political instability.
Jean incorporated the work of local artist Philippe Dodard into the skirt and trousers of the uniform—a bold, colorful print from a painting called “Passage.” For the women, the skirt will be paired with a woven chambray shirt, reflecting the country’s traditional blue-cotton spinning techniques, as well as a belted, sleeveless blazer made from recycled materials. Meanwhile, the men will sport field jackets inspired by the traditional Haitian Guayabera shirt, bearing the Haitian Olympic Emblem.
“I believe that these athletes have already won the most important medal by their very own presence in Paris. The winning category: human sustainability,” said Jean.
Canada
Athleisure giant Lululemon are the masterminds behind Canada’s chic uniforms, blending style and functionality. The brand teamed up with 14 Olympic and Paralympic athletes to ensure the kits meet the needs of the athletes set to compete. And it’s clear designers have listened; every look has a functional purpose to enhance athletic performance. The four-way stretch fabric fosters freedom of movement, while customizable drawcords allow a perfect fit. New pocket shapes and placements provide accessible storage, while SenseKnit technology and sweat-wicking material provide thermal comfort.
That doesn’t mean the brand compromised on style. The red-and-white jacquard bomber jackets are emblazoned with traditional Canadian maple-leaf motifs, reminiscent of edgy street-style pieces you’d spot on a runway. The jackets can be paired with shorts or sweatpants in the same print.
Canada will once again shine at the Olympic opening ceremony as one of the best dressed teams.
USA
When you think of sports, fashion and Americana, only one name comes to mind: Ralph Lauren. This year marks the ninth time in a row that the brand is the official outfitter for Team USA.
The preppy looks are quintessentially American and a classic Ralph Lauren: navy blazers with red and white trimming, striped Oxford shirts, and light-wash denim jeans. And naturally, each blazer features the iconic Olympic logo. Made in the USA, but created with sustainability in mind, using recycled polyester and Oregon-grown Responsible Standard wool from Shaniko Wool Company. “Ralph Lauren has once again created designs that not only capture the essence of American style but also embody the spirit and pride of Team USA,” said Sarah Hirshland, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee CEO.
Sierra Leone
Adidas in collaboration with the London-based fashion label Labrum produced the official Olympic team kit for Sierra Leone. The collection features elements that pay homage to country’s cultural heritage, including windbreakers adorned with a distinctive white and blue print inspired by cowrie shells. Used in commerce as currency before, there unique shells now are often worn as the symbol prestige across many African countries.
Labrum's founder, Foday Dumbuya, has recently received the esteemed Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, and with this collection, Labrum and Adidas have created a unified and vibrant visual identity for the Sierra Leone team, one that honors Dumbuya's roots and celebrates the beauty of Sierra Leone culture.
France
The host country of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris will be making a grand entrance, donning custom-tailored tuxedos designed by luxury brand Berluti. “Berluti has brought together the savoir-faire and experience of its artisans to ensure that the French athletes look their very best,” reads an official statement.
Both men and women will sport midnight-blue wool tuxedos with lapels in shades of blue and red, key colors of the French flag. Suit pockets and scarves were created from fabric scraps to prevent waste, while the white shirts were made from cotton-silk blend for luxury and comfort. The expert craftsmanship of each tuxedo underscores the elegance typically associated with French fashion.
Great Britain
British brand Ben Sherman is returning for the third consecutive year to dress Team Great Britain. The opening ceremony uniform consists of a white bomber jacket with navy sleeves and a floral design embroidered on the back. Made up of the rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock, the design represents the four nations that make up the United Kingdom, symbolizing their unity and national pride.
The jacket will be paired with a knitted polo featuring a geometric read-and-blue pattern, crafted from an organic cotton blend, as well as oxford trousers with a Union Flag waistband. With a contemporary yet timeless uniform design Team Great Britain will be a stellar team both on and off the Olympic ceremony stage.
The Netherlands
Slouchy, orange tracksuits might be an unexpected choice for the Olympic Opening Ceremony costumes, but Amsterdam-based brand The New Originals gave us a modern nod to the centuries-old Dutch royal color from House of Orange.
The opening ceremony uniform for the Dutch Breaking (break dance) Team is both relaxed and impeccably tailored, featuring white piping detailing and a stiff collar. The tracksuits also come in white and navy, featuring orange piping detailing, a small but powerful homage to the country’s flag. “Ever since we’ve started, our mission was to make ‘performance clothing for creatives,’” wrote the brand on Instagram. They also stated that each tracksuit is unique, slightly altered to fit the distinct styles of each break dancer.
Australia
Australia’s heritage is front and center in the opening ceremony uniforms designed by Sportscraft. Made up of a green blazer with gold buttons, plus green-and-gold ombre skirts for the women and khaki shorts for the men, the country’s national colors are on full display—representing Australia’s beaches, crops, and forests. As a sweet tribute to previous victors, the names of 301 Australian Olympic champions are featured in the lining of each blazer.
Sportscraft also incorporated Indigenous artwork into the looks. The scarf is printed with the work “Walking Together” by Olympic boxer Paul Fleming, while the pocket square features the work “Ngalmun Danalaig” by artist David Bosun.
Where To watch The Summer Olympic Games In Paris Online Or On TV:
Three cheers for fashion, as we prepare to watch the Opening Ceremony for the Summer Olympic Games in Paris this Friday, July 26, 2024. Let us know in the comments which country’s national Olympic uniform stood out the most for you.
- Peacock will livestream every event of the Paris 2024 Olympics, including the opening and closing ceremonies.
- NBC and Telemundo will broadcast sole of the most popular Olympic competitions from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET each day. With additional sports airing on the CNBC, USA Network, E!, and Golf Channel.
Gangs in Haiti try to seize control of main airport as thousands escape prisons: "Massacring people indiscriminately"
Heavily armed gangs tried to seize control of Haiti's main international airport on Monday, exchanging gunfire with police and soldiers in the latest attack on key government sites in an explosion of violence that includes a mass escape from the country's two biggest prisons. Hours after the airport assault, officials said Haiti's police academy came under attack by an armed gang.
The Toussaint Louverture International Airport was closed when the attack occurred, with no planes operating and no passengers on site. Associated Press journalists saw an armored truck on the tarmac shooting at gangs to try and prevent them from entering airport grounds as scores of employees and other workers fled from whizzing bullets.
The attack on the police academy, where more than 800 cadets are training, was repelled Tuesday after the arrival of reinforcements, said Lionel Lazarre of the Haitian police union.
Last week, the airport was struck briefly by bullets amid ongoing gang attacks, but gangs did not enter the airport nor seize control of it.
The attack occurred just hours after authorities in Haiti ordered a nighttime curfew following violence in which armed gang members overran the two biggest prisons and freed thousands of inmates over the weekend.
"The secretary-general is deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Port-au-Prince, where armed gangs have intensified their attacks on critical infrastructure over the weekend," said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Meanwhile, Haiti's prime minister landed in Puerto Rico on Tuesday. The embattled Ariel Henry, who assumed power following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, has been notably absent since the country's latest and most serious outbreak of violence started last week.
Henry has stayed silent as he crisscrosses the world, from South America to Africa, with no announced date of return.
Even a decree declaring a state of emergency and curfew to restore order lacked Henry's imprint. It was signed by his finance minister, who is serving as acting prime minister.
By Tuesday afternoon, the mystery seemed to ease after officials said Henry landed in Puerto Rico. He arrived late in the afternoon to San Juan on a chartered flight that originated in New Jersey. Tracking data showed the flight was heading toward the Dominican Republic, which shares with Haiti the island of Hispaniola, but circled mid-flight before diverting to Puerto Rico.
Hours before he arrived in Puerto Rico, the Dominican government announced that it was immediately suspending all air traffic with Haiti.
When asked Tuesday by CBS News' senior White House and political correspondent Ed O'Keefe if the U.S. knew where Henry was, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said, "I'm not aware that we have any keen sense of what his whereabouts are."
A 72-hour state of emergency began Sunday night. The government said it would try to track down the escaped inmates, including from a penitentiary were the vast majority were in pre-trial detention, with some accused of slayings, kidnappings and other crimes.
"The police were ordered to use all legal means at their disposal to enforce the curfew and apprehend all offenders," said a statement from Finance Minister Patrick Boivert, the acting prime minister.
Gangs already were estimated to control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince, the capital. They are increasingly coordinating their actions and choosing once unthinkable targets like the Central Bank.
Dujarric said the secretary-general stressed the need for urgent action, especially in providing financial support for the mission, "to address the pressing security requirements of the Haitian people and prevent the country from plunging further into chaos."
Haiti's National Police has roughly 9,000 officers to provide security for more than 11 million people, according to the U.N. They are routinely overwhelmed and outgunned.
Ulrika Richardson, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, reported that last year saw "a very steep increase" in murders, lynchings, rape and other violence committed by gang members. This trend has continued into 2024, with January being the most violent month in two years, she added, echoing recent findings by the UN human rights office.
The United Nations' immigration office said at least 15,000 people had been displaced due to violence.
"Armed gangs forced us to leave our homes. They destroyed our houses, and we're on the streets," a man named Nicolas told the Reuters news agency.
"Please, please help us"
The deadly weekend marked a new low in Haiti's downward spiral of violence. At least nine people had been killed since Thursday - four of them police officers - as gangs stepped up coordinated attacks on state institutions in Port-au-Prince, including the international airport and national soccer stadium.
But the attack on the National Penitentiary late Saturday shocked Haitians. All but 98 of the 3,798 inmates being held at the penitentiary escaped, according to the Office of Citizen Protection. Meanwhile, at the Croix-des-Bouquets prison, 1,033 escaped, including 298 convicts.
The office said late Monday that it was seriously concerned about the safety of judges, prosecutors, victims, attorneys and others following the mass escape.
It added that it "deplored and condemned the policy of nonchalance" demonstrated by government officials amid the attacks.
Following the raid at the penitentiary, three bodies with gunshot wounds lay at the prison entrance Sunday.
In another neighborhood, the bloodied corpses of two men with their hands tied behind the backs lay face down as residents walked past roadblocks set up with burning tires.
Among the few dozen people who chose to stay in prison are 18 former Colombian soldiers accused of working as mercenaries in the July 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
"Please, please help us," one of the men, Francisco Uribe, said in a message widely shared on social media. "They are massacring people indiscriminately inside the cells."
Colombia's foreign ministry has called on Haiti to provide "special protection" for the men.
A second Port-au-Prince prison containing around 1,400 inmates also was overrun.
Gunfire was reported in several neighborhoods in the capital. Internet service for many residents was down on Sunday as Haiti's top mobile network said a fiber optic cable connection was slashed during the rampage.
After gangs opened fire at Haiti's international airport last week, the U.S. Embassy said it was halting all official travel to the country. On Sunday night, it urged all American citizens to depart as soon as possible.
The Biden administration, which has refused to commit troops to any multinational force for Haiti while offering money and logistical support, said it was monitoring the rapidly deteriorating security situation with grave concern.
The surge in attacks follows violent protests that turned deadlier in recent days as the prime minister went to Kenya seeking to move ahead on the proposed U.N.-backed security mission to be led by that East African country.
Henry took over as prime minister following Moise's assassination and has postponed plans to hold parliamentary and presidential elections, which haven't happened in almost a decade.
Jimmy Chérizier, a former elite police officer known as Barbecue who now runs a gang federation, has claimed responsibility for the surge in attacks. He said the goal is to capture Haiti's police chief and government ministers and prevent Henry's return.
The prime minister has shrugged off calls for him to resign and didn't comment when asked if he felt it was safe to come home.
Haitian Americans are stuck in Haiti
The U.S. State Department has issued multiple travel warnings urging Americans and State Department employees to stay put and be careful while on the island.
At Miami and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airports, all flights in and out of Haiti's two airports are canceled, CBS Miami reported. Despite many warnings, countless Haitian Americans are still on the island. For them, Haiti is home and leaving is complicated.
The sister of CBS News Miami's Tania Francois is one of those people.
"I've been stuck in my city where I'm living now for about two months," she said. "Trying to make it into Port Au Prince so I can fly to the States, and I just can't leave."
Kareen Ulysse who operates Centre Hospitalier de Fontaine, a hospital and orphanage in Cite Soleil, a suburb of Port au Prince, is also a Haitian American working in Haiti, CBS Miami reported.
"We work literally in the ghettos for the most vulnerable people and there's no help, there's no one really standing in line to help people like them," she said.
Last August, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti closed due to gunfire nearby, after months of ceaseless violence at the hands of gangs drove thousands of Haitians onto the streets to demand security.
Haitian cuisine highlighted in South Shore as a part of Haitian Heritage Month
CHICAGO — The sounds of a good time floated through the streets of South Shore Sunday, as the community came out to enjoy the sunshine at South Merrill Community Garden (SMCG).
“It’s really important for us to feel, taste, eat other people’s culture to generate understanding,” said Iyonna Rivers, cultural coordinator for the SMCG.
Rivers is one of many operating behind the scenes at the SMCG, helping coordinate events like the one seen today, centered around Haitian cuisine as a part of Haitian Heritage Month.
“There’s about thirty-to-forty thousand Haitian Americans in the city,” said Carlos Bossard, director of programs at the Haitian American Museum of Chicago. “And the huge connection is Jean Baptiste [Point] DuSable, the founder [of Chicago] and a Haitian man.”
The Haitian American Museum of Chicago’s goal is to promote Haitian culture throughout the City, which leads then to organize events with ‘walk-through exhibits’ where folks can learn at their own pace, while enjoying food and music like the one held at the SMCG Sunday.
“It’s important how we bridge these various these pieces together,” Rivers said. “So children understand, and Chicago at-large.”
If you would like to learn more about the Haitian American Museum of Chicago’s events, or what’s on the agenda for the South Merrill Community Garden this summer, you can visit their websites below.
Museum: https://linktr.ee/hamoc
Garden: http://southmerrillgarden.org/
State Farm Stadium to host Gold Cup match between Mexico, Haiti
The 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup match schedule came out on Tuesday, and State Farm Stadium will host two group-stage contests on June 29.
Team Mexico will take on Haiti at 7 p.m. after Honduras-Qatar at 4:45 p.m. in Group B.
State Farm Stadium has hosted games in the tournament — held every two years to decide the champion of North America, Central America and the Caribbean — in 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021.
The home of the Arizona Cardinals hosted Mexico, Qatar, Honduras and El Salvador in 2021, with the Mexico-Honduras game seeing a crowd of 64,211 people.
Other host cities this year include Cincinnati, St. Louis, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Chicago and Toronto.
The U.S. defeated Mexico in the final for its seventh Gold Cup in 16 tournaments in 2021. Either Mexico or the U.S. has won every Gold Cup title since 2000.
Valley soccer fans will get an opportunity to see international play at State Farm Stadium on Wednesday, as Team USA will take on Mexico in an exhibition at 7 p.m.
Haitians Celebrate Annual Festival Of The Dead
Haitians today marked Fèt Gede, the Festival of the Dead, at the National Cemetery in Port-au-Prince.
Fèt Gede is an annual tradition when practitioners of voodoo parade and believe they are possessed by the spirits of the dead. Fête Gede which is also Festival of the Ancestors, is one of the most important celebrations in the Voodoo religious calendar. It is a time when Vodouisants celebrate the ancestral dead which is equivalent to the Mexican Day of the Dead and Halloween, all in one.
People dress up, take to the streets, dance their communion with the ancestors, and walk in processions to the graveyards where they feed their ancestral dead with the gifts of their own table. In this way, spirits are honored, and their protection is gained for the coming year. The festival shares calendar space and ideology with the Roman Catholic Day of the Dead, or All Souls Day but Fet Gede can be more accurately said to derive from African traditions preserved largely unchanged through the centuries.
Vodouists come in a spiritual pilgrimage to the cemetery to pay their respect to the dead, but first, permission of passage has to be obtained. The grave of the Papa Gede, the first man who ever died. Papa Gede is a psychopomp who waits at the crossroads to take departed souls into the afterlife, although he does not take a life before its time.
Ancestral services are held at this ‘crossroad’, considered to be the bridge between life and death. Kwa Baron is the Lwa guardian of the cemetery and head of the Gedes. Believers converge on the Haitian capital’s main cemetery to honor the Gede and the father of them all, Baron Samedi. They lay out gifts such as homemade beeswax candles, flowers, food and, to warm the Gede’s bones, bottles of rum stuffed with chilli peppers.
The festival comes amid gang warfare and police killings in Haiti that has left a journalist and an opposition party leader dead in recent days.
Haiti’s National Police says it’s been ordered to launch an investigation into the death of journalist Romelson Vilsaint, who witnesses say was struck in the head by a police tear gas canister.
The Association of Haitian Journalists also accused police of beating up several journalists and confiscating their equipment and other belongings, condemning what it called “anti-democratic acts of repression.”
“The safety of media and free movement of journalists are essential for the full and complete enjoyment of freedom of the press, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and the right to information that make up democracy,” it said.
Haiti has been grappling with myriad crises that have escalated across the nation over the last month. Widespread gasoline and diesel shortages have emerged after armed gangs blocked the nation’s main fuel terminal, and these gangs have also severed access to clean water, food and other essentials as Haiti also deals with a deadly cholera outbreak.
The “triple threat” of cholera, malnutrition, and violence, which affects more than a million children in Haiti, has prompted the UN Committee on the Rights of Children to call on the international community to take “immediate action.” Since the start of the academic year in Haiti on October 3rd of last year, the committee claims that the increase in insecurity in the Caribbean nation has prevented the majority of children from attending school.
According to reports, the nation is currently dealing with a cholera outbreak that threatens “the health, well-being, and lives of 1.2 million children living in the affected areas,” despite the fact that there had not been one for the previous three years. In terms of hunger, UNICEF estimates that nearly 100,000 Haitian children under the age of five are severely acutely malnourished. This issue has recently gotten worse as a result of the country’s unrest and economic issues. It has also urged the Haitian government to uphold its responsibilities under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which include preventing children from being exposed to pornography, human trafficking, or any other form of involvement in armed conflict.
Fugees Kick Off Reunion Tour at Global Citizen Live as Group Performs Together for First Time in 15 Years
"Respect the miracle of this union," Lauryn Hill said as she, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel took the stage in New York City for Global Citizen Live, kicking off the Fugees' international tour
The Fugees are officially back after announcing their first world tour in 25 years, celebrating the milestone anniversary of their 1996 album The Score.
Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel reunited Wednesday in New York City for their first performance together in 15 years, which was taped as part of Saturday's 24-hour livestream for Global Citizen Live 2021.
The group performed their single "Ready or Not" for the enthusiastic audience, which was later streamed as part of the Global Citizen event, teasing what's to come for their 12-city international tour.
Global Citizen's 24-hour broadcast from cities around the world called on G7 countries and the European Union to share at least 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses with those most in need and to support calls for a waiver on COVID-19 vaccine intellectual property rights. The campaign also called on vaccine providers to share mRNA technology with the new World Health Organization-backed transfer hub based in South Africa.
"Respect the miracle. Respect the miracle of this union," Hill, 46, told the crowd, according to The Guardian. The group finally kicked off their secret show at Pier 17's rooftop venue after a delay of more than three hours, during which the audience had to surrender their phones.
They also treated the audience to their songs "Killing Me Softly" and "Fu-Gee-La," and Jean, 51, performed his rendition of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry."
The Fugees will continue the U.S. leg of their tour on November 2 in Chicago, before wrapping up with shows in Paris, London, Nigeria, and Ghana throughout December. They announced the reunion tour on Tuesday, just a day before the pop-up show at a previously undisclosed location in New York.
"The Fugees have a complex but impactful history. I wasn't even aware the 25th anniversary had arrived until someone brought it to my attention," Hill said in a statement. "I decided to honor this significant project, its anniversary, and the fans who appreciated the music by creating a peaceful platform where we could unite, perform the music we loved, and set an example of reconciliation for the world."
Jean added, "As I celebrate 25 years with the Fugees, my first memory was that we vowed, from the gate, we would not just do music, we would be a movement. We would be a voice for the unheard, and in these challenging times, I am grateful once again, that God has brought us together."
Formerly known as the Tranzlator Crew, the Fugees debuted in the early '90s and went on to release their debut album Blunted on Reality in 1994. The Score was their second and final album, going seven-time platinum as one of the best-selling albums in the world with two Grammy Awards.
Although the group was initially only together for five years, their status as one of the world's most influential hip-hop acts has long been solidified. They last reunited in 2005 for their single, "Take It Easy."
See all tour dates and buy tickets for the Fugees' international tour at LiveNation.com.
Playlist: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans
'Kanaval,' a three-part audio documentary, explores Haiti's influence on NOLA
Much of what distinguishes New Orleans today from other American cities can be traced back to French and African influences from Haiti. The cultural ties go back more than 200 years, when 10,000 free and enslaved people left what was then the French colony of Saint Domingue during the country's revolution. NOLA's multi-cultural DNA is its calling card, and it's reflected in the food, architecture, art, and most notably, music. Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms & the Music of New Orleans is a new three-part documentary, hosted by Grammy-winning musician Leyla McCalla, that explores the history of Haiti, and its continuing impact on the music of New Orleans.
Kanaval celebrates the origins, history and influence of Haitian culture, and features interviews and music from Boukman Eksperyans, Paul Beaubrun, RAM, Lakou Mizik, Chico Boyer, Win Butler & Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire, Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes, Ben Jaffe of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and others. Throughout the documentary, historical insights and interviews are provided by Ned Sublette, Duke University professor Laurent DuBois, Loyola University New Orleans professor Angel Adams Parham, award-winning author Edwidge Danticat, Linda Reno and Lori Martineau of the organization Haitianola, and Wesleyan professor Elizabeth McAlister.
"For people who know Haiti and New Orleans, the similarities are endless," says McCalla. "The deep connections between these places really comes alive in the music."
The documentary, premiering on NPR member stations this month, is part of a year-long project including live performances in Philadelphia and virtual events. One of these performances will be McCalla's current project, Breaking the Thermometer to Hide the Fever, that tells the legacy of Radio Haiti, the country's first privately owned Creole-speaking radio station, and the assassination of its owner through McCalla's own Haitian-American lens. The multi-disciplinary performance, featuring original compositions and arrangements of traditional Haitian songs, premiered in March 2020 at Duke University and will be presented in Philadelphia as part of the Kanaval project.
Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms & the Music of New Orleans is supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage with additional funding from the Wyncote Foundation.
FANM to Commemorate the 11th Anniversary of Haiti’s 2010 Earthquake
[MIAMI] – Family Action Network Movement (FANM) will host an online memorial event on Tuesday, January 12th, 2021 at 7:00 pm to commemorate the 11th Anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
The earthquake killed over 250,000 people and left thousands more wounded and displaced.
Eleven (11) years later, Haiti has yet to recover and the political situation has deteriorated.
After the earthquake, President Obama designated Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to protect Haitian nationals in the U.S., allow them to work to provide remittances to their homeland, and to help Haiti recover.
Unfortunately, TPS for Haiti and other nations has been terminated by the Trump administration which triggered a multitude of lawsuits including Saget vs Trump. Now, Haitians hope that President Elect Biden will keep his promise to re-designate TPS and work in tandem with Congress to find a permanent solution.
Today, over 55,000 Haitians have TPS.
Earthquake survivors, elected officials/community leaders, and artists will share inspiring stories of resilience, strength, and courage through songs and prayers while calling for change in Haiti.
Marleine Bastien, Executive Director of Family Action Network Movement (FANM) stated, “We are gathering in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Haiti to remember one of the worst crises in modern history and to honor those who were killed and wounded as a result. We encourage all to join us to pray for the people of Haiti as they continue to face serious problems including a crippling infrastructure and grave human rights abuses. Let us come together to remember, reflect, and pray for a strong, just, and thriving Haiti!”
This solemn gathering will take place via Zoom, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86091357635
Hundreds march in Haiti after outrage over student's slaying
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Hundreds of protesters – many dressed in school uniforms – marched through the streets of Haiti’s capital Thursday to demand answers after the kidnapping and killing of a young woman that has incensed the nation.
High school senior Evelyne Sincère was found in a trash heap Sunday after relatives said they were unable to pay the large ransom demanded by her captors. Human rights groups contend the incident highlights the nation’s worsening security crisis.
“I am worried,” said Katy Jean-Joseph, 19, who marched while carrying a photo of Sincère. “What happened to Evelyne could have happened to me.”
Haiti has been rocked by street protests demanding President Jovenel Moise’s ouster on allegations that he mismanaged the economy and failed to hold accountable those who siphoned billions in international aid into bank accounts overseas. Now the Caribbean nation is also grappling with growing concern over Moise’s decision to delay legislative elections and instead insist first on a constitutional referendum.
International leaders including the Trump administration and the Organization of American States are pressuring Moise to set a date for a vote.
Meanwhile, the United Nations and rights groups in Haiti are warning about a rising tide of violence by armed gangs whose crimes are largely going unpunished in a country that has struggled to buoy its weak national police force.
The U.N. envoy for Haiti painted a grim picture to the U.N. Security Council last month, saying that the nation is “once again struggling to avert the precipice of instability.” Helen La Lime added that the Haitian National Police would need at least 10,000 well trained and equipped officers to meet international standards.
“Gangs continue to challenge the authority of the state, especially in the more populous neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince,” she said.
Nearly 2,000 protesters gathered Thursday in a neighborhood known as a hotspot for kidnappings and marched to the Ministry of Justice. Many carried photographs of Sincère while chanting phrases like, “If we had a government, Evelyne would not have died.”
The protest ended after police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
“I want to be able to succeed in my country, without fear, and have a normal life — not wake up in the morning and hear about a crime like what happened to Evelyne on the news,” said Nerley Charles, 21, a protester. “We need justice and an end to impunity.”
Police have not released details about the crime, but a local justice of the peace told the newspaper Le Nouvelliste that she had been beaten to death. A video showing Sincère’s sister wailing as the corpse was discovered sparked outrage on social media. She said kidnappers demanded $100,000, far more than the family could raise.
“I begged for mercy and said I’d bring the money,” Enette Sincère told reporters.
Several high-profile radio hosts announced they were canceling their shows to protest the crime, and politicians have joined in the demand for justice. Moise called on police to “put the bandits out of harm’s way.”
“Normally children bury their parents – only in times of war should a parent bury their child,” Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe wrote on Twitter. “But in Haiti we are not at war.”
The crime comes two months after a prominent lawyer, Monferrier Dorval, was shot to death at his home. La Lime said Dorval’s death “epitomizes for many the weak state of rule of law in the country.”
Civil society groups have recorded 162 kidnappings this year, including 21 in October. Fifty-five of the kidnapping victims were reported to be women.
“Women do become more vulnerable as this continues to deteriorate,” said Ellie Happel, director of the Haiti Project at New York University School of Law’s Global Justice Clinic.
Human rights lawyer Mario Joseph called the current situation a “state of terror” in which police do little to hold those responsible for crimes accountable. He pointed to a video circulating online Thursday purporting to show a former policeman wanted on an arrest warrant turning in Sincère’s boyfriend – but facing no apprehension himself.
Joseph said most recent kidnapping victims have been people known to have enough money to pay a ransom – not students from poor families like Sincère. It is unclear whether gangs may have been involved in the crime.
He added that the security crisis is fueling mounting distrust of authorities, some of whom have been implicated in a big corruption scandal involving funds from an oil assistance program. In areas known for gang activity and kidnappings around the capital, police have repeatedly failed to mount an active response, he said.
“There are nearby police stations and there hasn’t been any police intervention,” he said.
Small & Mighty: Celebrating The New Secret Garden Team
Zoom EventAugust 5, Noon-1pmJoin Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86961852721
For over 20 years Barrier Free Living’s award winning Secret Garden program has provided one-on-one counseling, weekly support groups plus housing, legal and financial guidance to survivors of domestic violence with disabilities in the New York City area.We have a brand new team for 2020 and would love you to join us for this special event featuring poetry, live music and a chance to hear from our team about how to engage in or support our mission!Special Guests:Singer Lee Grane
Author Samantha TaylorMake-up Artist Tammy from Beautiful ButterflyAnd our entire team!
Haiti Calls for Dialogue Over China’s New Law Regarding Hong Kong
PORT AU PRINCE – Haiti has joined the United States and other western countries in condemning the decision by China to enact the National Security Law aimed at curbing protest in Hong Kong.
Last month, China passed the wide-ranging new security law for Hong Kong which makes it easier to punish protesters and reduces the city’s autonomy. Critics have called it “the end of Hong Kong” and the new law came into effect on June 30, an hour before the 23rd anniversary of the city’s handover to China from British rule.
“The Haitian government is concerned about the possible consequences of this legal instrument on the fundamental rights and freedoms enjoyed so far by the Hong Kong people. After an in-depth analysis of this text, the Haitian government realizes that this law systematically violates the fundamental provisions of the Sino-British retrocession agreement as concluded in 1984,” the Jovenel Moise administration said in a statement.
It said it is important to emphasize that the agreement had provided that from the year of handover, in 1997, “the region would enjoy broad autonomy for half a century and that the sacramental principle ‘one country, two systems’, should in any event characterize the relations between the People’s Republic of China and the special administrative region of Hong Kong.
“However, the National Security Law seems to call into question this principle, which the Chinese authorities had nevertheless promised to guarantee at the time of the conclusion of the Retrocession Agreement.
“It should also be added that this law intervenes in a context where the inhabitants of Hong Kong demonstrated massively for the respect and the defense of their fundamental rights, in particular their civil and political rights, recognized under the British administration and maintained in the Retrocession agreement.”
The government said that it “deplores the fact that this law will inevitably lead to a significant, even irreversible, decline in the fundamental freedoms that have ensured the prosperity of Hong Kong and its people for several decades.
“Based on the opacity characterizing the definition of the offenses that this law would punish, such as secession, collusion with foreigners, terrorism and subversion and the heavy penalties that their alleged perpetrators face, the Haitian government urges the Chinese authorities to bring back this controversial legal instrument which will only push back the prospect of establishing the atmosphere of harmony essential between the Hong Kong people and the Chinese mainland authorities.
“In short, the Haitian Government maintains that dialogue remains the royal road by which a solution can be found between the various protagonists involved directly or indirectly in this file,” the statement added.
Last week, Dominica, which like Haiti belongs to the 15-member regional integration movement, said supports the legal efforts by China to maintain law and order in “all of China including that of Hong Kong” even as Roseau indicated it does not get involved in the internal affairs of countries.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit speaking at the handing over of three bridges funded by Beijing, said while his island does not interfere in the internal affairs of countries, it has nonetheless “recognised that in the international press and in some countries they have attempted to attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of countries.
“And sometimes they do it with impunity and I want to say to you, your Excellency, as I have conveyed to your President and to your government that Dominica stands in total solidarity with all of the legal actions which China has had to take to maintain law and order in the whole of China, including that of Hong Kong and we stand in solidarity with the government of the People’s Republic of China in this regard”, he added.
Dominica enjoys diplomatic relations with China, while Haiti has diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province.
Despite Covid-19, ‘Car Wash’ parties continue in Haiti
At least one person was killed in Port-au-Prince when police officers clashed with participants at an outdoor street party on Sunday, July 19, and several were reported injured. This gathering, known as a “Car Wash" party, is a popular summer DJ festival for young people in Haiti’s capital, mainly on Rue de l'Enterrement. But due to the continued presence of Covid-19 in Haiti, the government outlawed these parties.
Last week, the Government Commissioner banned Car Wash parties. Under the decree, participants can be arrested for joining the outdoor music festival. Despite the decree, people still assembled this weekend, which led to the police’s intervention.
A participant told the Haiti Standard that the party was calm until Haiti’s National Police (PNH) opened fire on several hundred people participating in the party. Government Commissioner Jacques Lafontant contradicts this claim, saying that it was participants of the party who fired shots. He called for an investigation into the incident.
In this video, people in the crowd from the Car Wash party scream as shots are fired.
“Haitians are living as if the pandemic does not exist.”
Our Observer Niepce Zéphirin first reported this story to the Observers team. Despite the pandemic, people are gathering in large crowds, not wearing masks, and not respecting social distancing.
About a year ago, this phenomenon appeared in the country: a debaucherous activity that attracts a large part of the Haitian youth. In this activity, young people entertain themselves by pouring water over each other to the rhythm of raboday music, a DJ animation with music connected to debauchery and alcohol.
Opinions are divided about holding this weekly activity. For some, it is a means of relaxation and entertainment. For others, it is an immoral activity because young girls dance naked, which undermines modesty.
A week after the announcement by the Haitian government to reopen all activities, the Car Wash party was revived with great fanfare [Editor’s note : gradual reopening began in Haiti on June 30].
Although religious activities are permitted to resume in Haiti, and schools are set to reopen on August 10, gatherings of 10 or more people are still officially banned in Haiti.
For now, there is not a Car Wash party planned this weekend. But Niepce is sceptical that the government’s decree will have much effect in the long term.
“We are facing a situation where the majority of decisions taken by the state are no longer respected.”
There are a total of 7,100 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Haiti and 151 recorded deaths.
Violence forces Haiti to cancel Carnival
Haiti's biggest celebration of the year, Carnival, has been canceled after deadly protests and gunfire interrupted the first day of festivities in Port-au-Prince, leaving at least one person dead.Haiti's vibrant Carnival draws thousands every year for mass celebrations. But the three-day festival was cut short after gunshots were heard and people ran for cover in the nation's capital over the weekend."In order to avoid a planned bloodshed, the Government takes the opportunity to inform the population that the carnival has been canceled in Port-au-Prince and invites the Haitian people to remain calm while waiting for the next announcements," a statement from Haiti's communication ministry read on Sunday.
Armed off-duty police officers commandeer an armored vehicle during a protest over police pay and working conditions, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020.Haiti's Armed Forces said protesters from the country's National Police had attacked its headquarters, leaving one soldier dead and two others injured. Haitian police have been protesting for months, demanding better pay and conditions, but have not yet responded to claims their officers were involved in this incident.
"Despite the repeated assaults of the attackers, the military authorities maintain a defensive posture to avoid a bloodbath. The High Command of the Armed Forces once again calls on the National Police of Haiti to restore calm," Sunday's statement from the Armed Forces read.Video from Reuters shows chaos in the city, with fire burning near the festivities and people ducking for cover as gunshots are heard. Other images show several people with guns running throughout the event.
Main roads through the city of Port au Prince are blocked after Sunday's clash between Haitian police and the army in Port au Prince, Haiti February 24, 2020.The United Nations office in Haiti expressed its "grave concern" for "the serious incidents Sunday" that "lead to the cancellation of the Carnival celebrations," on Monday.
"The United Nations calls on all sectors, in particular those elements of the national police demanding better working conditions, to avoid any situation which could cause tensions to escalate and jeopardize the security of the population," the statement read.
Main roads through the city of Port au Prince are blocked after Sunday's clash between Haitian police and the army in Port au Prince, Haiti February 24, 2020.The police protests are not directly related to recent anti-government protests, but they add to the widespread unrest that has gripped the nation since February last year as demonstrators demand the resignation of Haitian President Jovenel Moise.
Haiti gears up for annual carnival celebration
Haitians gear up for the annual Carnival celebration.
This year, the Mardi Gras festivities are seen as controversial in a country struggling
with gang violence, kidnappings and political unrest.
“I could go to China to take that (raw textiles) basically because, I know I will work with that, with more money but we don’t have money. But in the last minute we know that we are still going to be called (by the government) anyway. Anyway, as producers we don’t have a place where we can go to borrow money”, Arnelle Laguerre, a designer said.
Think about the children who are dancing and the cash required for their transportation.
The colorful parade generates money and some say much of those funds are badly needed in the Caribbean nation. For others, the merrymaking is wildly misplaced.
“If the carnival ends todayor tomorrow they should start thinking about the carnival for next year. Start thinking about things like the infrastructure, the road where they will have the carnival procession, clothes for children, the ambiance and money the children will need. Think about the children who are dancing and the cash required for their transportation”, dance instructor, Pierre Kerense said.
There have been damage done to parade stands and several vehicles. This has prompted calls for the carnival to be cancelled for a second year in a row.
But Haitian Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Lapin is having none of it.
He said festivities would go ahead as scheduled and along the usual route.
Rehearsals have been taking place in the Haitian capital of Port-au-prince for the February 23- 25 event.
The carnival is the most intense period for Haiti’s dress makers as it involves parties and other culturally related gatherings.
Carnival in violence-wracked Haiti: good business or bad taste?
Port-au-Prince (AFP) - Haiti is gearing up for its annual Carnival celebration, but the Mardi Gras festivities are controversial in a country struggling with gang violence, kidnappings and political unrest.
Some say the money generated by the colorful parades is much needed in the impoverished Caribbean nation. Others believe the partying is wildly misplaced and in poor taste.
"How can anyone think about going to Carnival and dancing without being able to get home safely, with the risk that you could be killed, kidnapped or shot at?" said one official who asked not to be named.
The official was standing on the main square in the capital Port-au-Prince where the annual parade usually takes place -- amid the charred ruins of the grandstands that went up in flames this week.
Since the start of the year, Haiti has seen an uptick in kidnappings for ransom, against the backdrop of constant gang violence in poor urban areas.
In the face of the crime wave, police in Port-au-Prince protested Monday, demanding better working conditions and the right to unionize.
At the end of that demonstration, the parade grandstands were set alight.
"An officer just starting out makes 19,000 gourdes a month," or about $180, said one cop taking part in a fresh protest on Wednesday.
Dressed in civilian clothes, but carrying his service weapon and wearing a mask, the officer said he had not been able to pay his daughter's school fees for five months.
- Not just a party -
Despite the destruction of the parade stands and several vehicles, and amid calls for Carnival to be cancelled for the second year in a row, Prime Minister Jean-Michel Lapin said the festivities would go ahead on schedule -- and along the usual route.
In a street adjacent to the central Champ de Mars, dance instructors observe young girls rehearsing their parade routines.
Like most everyone in Port-au-Prince, Pierre Kerense is stressed out by the tense atmosphere in the city caused by the seemingly endless violence and crime.
But the 45-year-old choreographer says that the three-day Carnival ending on Mardi Gras is more than just a party.
"This is also business -- many people depend on Carnival every year to pay their rent and their children's school fees," he said.
Carnival is the most intense period each year for the country's seamstresses and tailors.
The workshop of Arnelle Laguerre is buzzing with activity -- fabric is cut, feathers are attached and sequins are sewn into costumes by hand.
"In the days leading up to Carnival, we work flat out, with lots of extra people -- I can sometimes have 40 people working by day and others who come to take the night shift," says Laguerre, who has worked on costumes for the festival for 20 years.
- Deadly protests in 2019 -
In February last year, at least seven people were killed in violent incidents as protesters demanded the resignation of President Jovenel Moise and an improvement in their standard of living.
The upheaval prompted the government to cancel Carnival -- a bitter pill to swallow for all of the professionals who depend on the festivities to make ends meet.
"We had started to do the work, and to spend money," recalls Laguerre, who stocks up several months before Carnival in anticipation of the costume orders she usually gets.
"We still had to pay (the workers)."
Given the steep lending rates at Haiti's banks, many artisans rely on informal loans, which can threaten the stability of their small businesses if things go sour -- and their ability to keep workers on the payroll.
Surrounded by piles of half-made costumes, Laguerre prefers not to do the math on how much she has laid out this year.
"Power in the neighborhood just went out. We have to turn on the generator. All that adds to the costs," says the 58-year-old.
In her studio, everyone knows how many sewing machines can be plugged in at the same time without blowing the power.
Every day, the electricity cuts only magnify the stress and fear among the residents of Port-au-Prince, who flee the streets of the capital when night falls to avoid being the next kidnapping victim.
Children’s Nutrition Program Of Haiti To Host Annual Benefit Dinner On March 20
The Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti will host their annual awards ceremony and benefit dinner at Stratton Hall on March 20. This year’s theme is “Building a Firm Foundation – One Child at a Time.” The Legacy Reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.
"Jan. 12 marked the 10th anniversary of the catastrophic earthquake that took the lives of over 200,000 people in Haiti," officials said. "The epicenter of that quake was in Leogane, just miles from the Children's Nutrition Program headquarters. To commemorate this event, the evening will invite attendees to remember the lives lost in the earthquake and celebrate the everyday heroes who continue to help Haiti to build a firm foundation. Proceeds from the night will further their work to prevent and treat malnutrition in Haiti."
The keynote speaker will be Len Gengel, co-founder of Be Like Brit.
"Len's work in Haiti began in 2010, only months after his 19-year-old daughter, Britney, lost her life in Haiti's devastating earthquake," officials said. "Len's work reflects his inspiring commitment to honor her legacy by investing in Haiti's children."
The Deb Watlington Heart for Haiti award recognizes individuals who have given their heart, soul and time to fight against childhood malnutrition in Leogane. This year’s award will be presented to Dr. and Mrs. Chuck and Martha Sternbergh and Reverend and Mrs. John and Mary Talbird.
For more information or to register or donate online, visit www.cnphaiti.org.
Krewe Du Kanaval Honors The Haitian Roots Of New Orleans
It's Mardi Gras season and in North America, no celebration is more famous than the one put on by the people of New Orleans. For two weeks, local groups called Krewes organize balls, parades and dance parties. Colorful plastic beads are everywhere.
A few years ago, a new krewe sprung up with the aim of celebrating the Haitian roots that run deep through the city's cultural identity. Krewe Du Kanaval was co-founded by Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, best known as the husband-and-wife duo who front the Grammy award-winning rock band, Arcade Fire. These days, the Canadian musicians are residents of New Orleans and good friends with Ben Jaffe of the storied Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
Butler says the idea to start the Krewe stemmed from a trip he took with Jaffe to Haiti. It was Jaffe's first time in the country.
"I remember when we first got to the central plateau [of Haiti]," Butler said. "There was a brass band that played for us when we got there. Ben's almost crying. It sounded like if you got in a time machine and went to New Orleans — pre-swing, pre-jazz New Orleans — and it's pretty powerful."
And it wasn't just the music: the architecture, the food and the people reminded Jaffe of home.
Thousands of Haitians landed in Louisiana in the early 19th century after fleeing their home country's revolution. By 1809, more than 10,000 Haitians had arrived in New Orleans, doubling the population of the city.
Along with the Haitian people came their culture, establishing a deep relationship between the two places. Many locals refer to New Orleans as the northernmost Caribbean city. Celebrating this connection was the guiding principle for Butler, Chassagne and Jaffe when they founded Krewe du Kanaval in 2017.
"That was sort of the idea," says Butler. "What if we did this thing that everyone wants to do anyway, for a party? And we actually did something good with it. [We're] just paying tribute to the root of it."
Krewe Du Kanaval founders Ben Jaffe, Regine Chassagne and Win Butler.Kanaval/Courtesy of the artist
For Chassagne, the connections are also personal. Her parents are native Haitians who fled the country in the 1960s during the 13-year rule of dictator Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier. Her family first landed in the US, but eventually ended up in Montreal, where Chassagne grew up. And it wasn't until 2008, when she was in her 30s, that she visited Haiti for the first time.
But Chassagne says she inherited the Haitian culture through her parents.
"You just absorb it. You absorb the inflections, you absorb the humor, certain reactions to certain events," she says. It had always felt like an insular experience to her, but she says, "When I went to Haiti, I really realized this is why! This is all why."
Chassange has been publicly thinking about her relationship to her parents' home country at least since 2004; the first Arcade Fire album, Funeral, came out that year and included the semi-autobiographical song, "Haiti."
"And then when we realized that we were going to starting selling out venues," says Chassagne, "I was like, okay, maybe I will not work at the bakery anymore. Then I started to think about how to raise money, and how to be efficient in the gifts that I've been given and how to make them useful."
The answer came to her in 2010, when Chassagne co-founded Kanpe, a foundation that supports an array of health education and agriculture programs in Haiti. The Krewe Du Kanaval celebrations raise funds for the foundation.
The inaugural appearance of Krewe du Kanaval in February 2018.Erika Goldring/Courtesy of the artist
Paul Beaubrun, a Haitian singer-songwriter based in New York and a member of Krewe du Kanaval, says Carnival is like therapy for Haitians.
"You scream. Some people you curse, if you want, because you have to let your frustrations out," Beaubrun says. "So it's a very important tradition for us. And at the same time, it's that time where you almost begin your year. We call that "N'ap boule" — that means you're burning everything and then you start anew. So it's a very important tradition for Haitians and it's a lot of fun, you know, so it's like a win-win."
Beaubrun says at Carnival in Haiti, music hits you from all directions. It's at the center of the celebrations.
"There's this part where you put a band on the float and people are dancing, singing too, and then they have stands. And then it's like millions of people everywhere! Dancing, screaming ... so many things happening!"
Like Butler and Chassagne, Beaubrun says you can just feel the connections between the music of Haiti and New Orleans. And he should know: Beaubrun is a member of the prominent Haitian fusion band, Boukman Eksperyans, which rose to fame playing Carnival in Haiti in the early 1990s. The group brought their music to the Krewe Du Kanaval ball last year.
"It's just to that exchange between New Orleans and Haiti," Beaubrun says, "to really show that similarity, the influences. That's what Krewe Du Kanaval is. We just bring it together."
Butler says the theme of the Krewe Du Kanaval parade this year is "Merci Haiti" — simply, "thank you, Haiti."
"We're just trying to pay respect to all that we have [been] grateful for — that Haiti has contributed — and just to give back. I think that's the idea of the whole thing," he says.
This year's Krewe Du Kanaval features Arcade Fire, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, DJ Michael Brun, Jillionaire, Pierre Kwenders and Lakou Mizik. The parade, ball and party all go down this weekend.
Win Butler at Krewe Du Kanaval.Courtesy of the artist
Papa Jean Opens Up About His New Play, LES BOITES NOIRES
Coming soon to the New York Theatre Festival is Les Boîtes Noires, running February 17, 19 and 22 at the Hudson Guild Theater.
Written by Papa Jean, Les Boîtes Noires is the story of a Haitian Family living in modern day NYC dealing with everyday life. The American born children of this family must try to juggle to fit into their own lives while still trying to survive their parents' old school, immigrant ways. They all have dreams of living the American dream...
Below, BroadwayWorld checks in with Papa Jean to hear all about the new play!
Tell us about Les Boîtes Noires...
Les Boîtes Noires is French title and it is translated to The Black Boxes. Les Boîtes Noires is a captivating story about a Haitian family living in a modern day, gentrifying NYC dealing with the ups and downs of everyday life. In this comedy-drama, the American born children of this family must try juggle fitting into their own lives, while trying to survive their parent's old-fashioned traditions and immigrant ways. The American dream is very important to everyone in the household, and each person will take things to the edge to see their dreams come true in this story,
Why is this story so important now?
With the proactive movement of society today, many more opportunities have been created for more diverse voices to have a platform. Les Boîtes Noires not only culturally shines a light on a voice that is rarely heard in the arts, it depicts the stunning traditional similarities that Haitian families have to other families from a large number of diligent backgrounds.
What inspired the creation of the show?
Les Boîtes Noires is inspired by true events in my life. Being born and raised in NYC, growing up with immigrants parents was basically an ongoing day time soap opera: General Hospital with out the suspenseful instrumentals. I am not just the writer and director of the show, I also play a role in the story. After studying acting, theatre and writing in my earlier years, I took to social media with a barrage of characters, sketches, and short films. I soon gained a strong following who constantly requested live performances. So I did what I do best, took my fingers to my keyboard and wrote a story; Les Boîtes Noires.
How long have you been working on the show and how has it evolved during that time?
I wrote the show in 2017 and every scene and moment of the show has truly evolved since then. My everyday life and the lives of the people around me have helped me make new discoveries in Les Boîtes Noires everyday. Not to mention, pop culture has also influenced the show in the terms of, depending when and where we perform, making necessary adjustments and changes as we see needed.
What are your favorite plays/musicals?
My top five favorite plays/musicals are A Raisin in The Sun, The Lion King, The Piano Lesson, Freeman, A Street Car Named Desire, Antigone, and Hamlet. I love anything Shakespeare.
How hard is it to get stories out about communities that haven't been well-represented on stage?
I don't think it's hard getting stories out about communities that have not been well represented on stage, I feel the difficulties more lie in outside communities actually coming to see these shows. Although I have self produced my show a handful of times, I am excited at the opportunity to have Les Boîtes Noires at The NY Theatre Festival because it is a new platform for us and hopefully it is one opportunity for unheard voices to start helping bridge the gap of representation on stage and entertaining new communities.
What do you hope audiences come out of the show saying and thinking?
I hope the audiences say, "Wow, that Haitian family was just like ours!" Or "I want to see this again!" Or " I gotta tell my friends about this show!"
How can our readers get more information?
Les Boîtes Noires is part of The NY Theatre festival and will be going up on 2/17,2/19,&2/22 at The Hudson Guild Theater in the heart of NYC. You could always check out my website for more info and updates: PapaJeanRepublik.com or follow me on social media @iampapajean.
What else would you like the BroadwayWorld audience to know about your work and this production?
As a creative person of color and son of hard working immigrants, I just want all audiences to know that Les Boîtes Noires is not just my story and my voice, but it is the story of millions of people around America! My cast and I are very excited to bring forth this fun filled, comedy drama to the stages of The Big Apple.
