Post-Irma, Miami's 'Little Haiti' Continues to Struggle
For the diverse neighborhood — strong in resemblance to its namesake country, and now plush in scattered palms — a humid 32-degree celsius weekday afternoon with no electricity, and no back-up generators is wearing on an already wary community.With their stocked coolers quickly diminishing, along with all their perishables, the family barbecues can only last so long.‘We really need help’
Anthony Bennett, like others in his community, is frustrated that wealthier neighborhoods have begun to see their lights turn on, and not theirs.“We all bleed the same, so we feel like if they got lights, we should have lights too,” Bennett said. “We shouldn't be over here suffering waiting till next week or the week after.”
Passing by Bennett’s home, neighbor Haitian-native Sylvie Lucien borrowed a purple crayola marker, and penned a cardboard sign asking for assistance.“We have newborn babies and disabled elderly...we desperate,” Lucien read aloud. “We need help. We really need help.”For Lucien, the personal financial struggles she endures began long before Irma. But the passing of a hurricane, she says, reveals a devastating reality: if it were worse, she might not have survived.“You can't go nowhere,” Lucien said, frustrated. “We were going to stay here and die because where can you go with no car, and nobody picking you up?”
Ortiz, on the other hand, says she and her husband had a choice, but decided to stay and not risk separating from their pet dog. Next time, she admits, the decision will be easier.“I couldn’t handle it again,” Ortiz said.By: Ramon Taylor | September 13, 2017
Violent Street Protests Break Out In Haiti Over Tax Hikes
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Protesters in Haiti damaged commercial buildings in the capital city and set cars on fire on Tuesday, angered by government tax hikes that
The Port-au-Prince protest, called by former presidential candidate Jean-Charles Moise, took many by surprise and represents the biggest outcry against the administration of President Jovenel Moise since he took office earlier this year.
“The revolution has just started. Jovenel Moise will have to retract his taxes or he will have to leave immediately,” said Jacques Menard, a 31-year-old protester. “And this is a warning because the next phase can be very violent.”
Protesters took to the streets in separate groups in several districts in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, erecting flaming barricades, blocking traffic, and confronting riot police, who fired tear gas and warning shots in the air.
Several people were arrested, the police said, but there were no reports of any deaths or serious injuries.
Lawmakers last weekend approved an unpopular budget that raises taxes on products including cigarettes, alcohol and passports.
At the same time, foreign aid to Haiti is slowing. The country is one of the poorest in the Americas and suffered a devastating earthquake in 2010 and the worst of hurricane Matthew last year.
“If Jovenel Moise is intelligent, he should refrain from publishing the budget, otherwise he will have to face a series of street demonstrations that will further complicate the situation,” Jean-Charles Moise said on local radio.Government officials were not immediately available for comment, but Economy and Finance Minister Jude Alix Patrick Salomon defended the budget over the weekend.
“There are people who are blaming many things on the budget that are not true,” Salomon told reporters shortly after the spending plan was approved. “There are people manipulating the public opinion.”
U.S. Department of State - Haiti Travel Warning
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risks of traveling to Haiti due to its current security environment and lack of adequate medical facilities and response. The Department of State also warns U.S. citizens to carefully reconsider travel to Haiti due to Hurricane Irma, a category 5 storm projected to impact Haiti. This storm may bring significant rainfall and wind that may result in life-threatening flooding, flash flooding, mudslides, and storm surge. Disruptions to travel and services are likely throughout the country. On September 5, the Department authorized the voluntary departure of U.S. government employees and their family members due to Hurricane Irma. This replaces the Travel Warning dated May 22, 2017.
- See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Haiti’s Country Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, located at Boulevard du October, Route de Tabarre telephone: 509-2229-8000; after hours emergency telephone: 509-2229-8000; fax: 509-2229-8027; e-mail: acspap@state.gov; web page: http://haiti.usembassy.gov.
- Anyone who missed a scheduled American Citizen Services appointment at the U.S. Embassy due to Hurricane Matthew is welcome to call 509-2229-8000, 509-2229-8900 or send us an email at the acspap@state.gov to reschedule your appointment. For Immigrant or nonimmigrant visa cases, please contact the call center at 509-2819-2929 or by email at support-Haiti@ustraveldocs.com.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
By: US Department of State. | September 11, 2017
‘How Would I Survive Going Back There?’
The woman wearing a mint-green dress with tiny pink flowers is trying not to cry.She is explaining that she has Temporary Protected Status, which was granted to 58,000 Haitians after the 2010 earthquake that devastated the country. She had been living in the United States for more than a decade when the quake struck, but found herself a beneficiary of the program that allowed Haitians to stay.So every 18 months, she renewed her status without much thought. Then came May, and an announcement from then-Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly. He told Haitian TPS holders that the program may soon come to an end. That they would be given a six-month extension, but they should prepare to leave the United States and return to Haiti by January 2018.His reasoning: Things were improving in Haiti since the quake killed more than 230,000 people and did an estimated $14 billion in damage to buildings and roads.Critics called the decision shortsighted. The effects of the earthquake are still visible. Many people still reside in tents and makeshift homes. A cholera outbreak followed in 2010, infecting at least 770,000 people and killing more than 9,200. And on Saturday, Hurricane Irma brought more heartache to the already devastated Caribbean island nation as reports of flooding began to surface.But for the woman in the mint-green dress, struggling not to cry, her reasons for wanting to stay are much more personal.The Washington area, where she has lived for more than two decades, is her home — and home to an estimated 800 Haitians with TPS. Her husband and 2-year-old daughter are there. Her job as a nurse is there. And her church, with its majority Haitian congregation, is there. So despite pleas from family and friends that she should follow the exodus of Haitians afraid of a return to Haiti and instead head to Canada, she will not.“I think it’s lack of faith for me to get up and leave,” said the woman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she feared she would become an easy target for deportation. “I have two sisters and a brother in Montreal. They ask me to come every time. ‘People are coming,’ they say. I say, ‘Is it easy to pack up and come?’ It is not. I don’t want to hear people tell me that kind of stuff.”
An estimated 11 million people live in Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. A Category 5 hurricane like Irma could cause flooded roads and mudslides, which could destroy houses built on hillsides — a repeat of the devastation caused by the earthquake in 2010 and when Hurricane Matthew hit the country in October 2016.It is for that reason that many Haitians with TPS in the United States say returning to Haiti is not an option. In August, Canadian officials reported a surge in Haitians crossing the border from the United States. According to the Quebec immigration ministry, as many as 150 Haitian asylum seekers are arriving in Canada each day after making border crossings from New York into Quebec. According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., about 700 Haitians were waiting to be processed for claims of asylum from the United States this year.Canadian soldiers are building tent villages near U.S. borders to house Haitian asylum seekers. Olympic Stadium in Montreal is being used to house refugees, the CBC reported.The growing panic can be seen across the country. Haitian radio stations and other media outlets talk about the issue almost nonstop. Marleine Bastien, executive director of the Haitian Women of Miami, said that more than 32,000 Haitians with temporary status live in Florida. Many have been living in the United States for up to 20 years.“We are talking about people who have deep roots in the community,” Bastien said. “These are people who own homes, who have reached the American Dream to own a home, and started business. Eighty-five percent of them are working.”“I receive calls every day,” Bastien added. “ ‘Marleine, what should I do? Should I put my house to sale? Do I take my children to a country still reeling under remnants of an earthquake, a country where the entire south peninsula has been destroyed? Where people are dealing with food scarcity because Hurricane Matthew destroyed crops?’ ”“The heart-wrenching questions the families are asking are difficult to answer,” she said. “How do you tell a parent what to do with U.S.-born children? How do you answer a mom sitting in front of you with tears in their eyes?”Jean St. Ulmé, senior pastor at Eglise Baptiste Du Calvaire in Adelphi, Md., said he is also dealing with similar questions.“It is a sad situation. They don’t know what will happen,” St. Ulmé said. “ They don’t have anything in Haiti. They come here for a better life. They are afraid to go back.”
The woman in the mint-green dress is a member of St. Ulmé’s congregation. She and her husband, who is also in the country on temporary status, pray every morning before the sun comes up and again at night before midnight. It is the same prayer: That the U.S. government will not return to Haiti the more than 58,000 Haitians living here.She was 18 when she left Haiti in 1995 on a visitor’s visa. “Since then, I’ve never been back. I have no house there,” said the woman, who is now 40. “I wouldn’t know how to live there. How would I survive going back there?”She rubs her swollen belly. Her second child is due in three weeks.Now she can no longer hold back her tears.“My child is a U.S. citizen,” she says. “Would you take my child from me? Would you send me back and take my child? What would she become? Would you break a family?”The health-care system in Haiti is terrible, she says. Patients wait on hospital beds with no sheets, clutching brown paper bags of medicine they brought with them, hoping doctors not stopped by strikes will see them. In Haiti, she said, “You call 911, the ambulance has no gas to come help you. There is no security. There is no place to render justice.”Rony Ponthieux doesn’t want to go to Canada either, but the prospect of returning to Haiti is not one he can see. He has lived in the United States since 1999, and he and his wife were granted TPS after the 2010 earthquake.
While here, he has gone to school and become a registered nurse. Since 2015, he has worked at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.“I have two children born here,” Ponthieux said. “The eldest son is 16, going on 17. I have a girl who . . . spoke at Washington in Congress. She was giving some speeches. She is gifted. She just turned 10. She was champion spelling bee for her school.”Moving to Canada would be a last option. “I heard the news. I see the borders. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”On the other hand: “If I go to Haiti, I would struggle to live. To take care of children will be hard. If I leave children here, it will be family separation. It is not good to leave children here.”But, he added, “Imagine children born here and go to a place with no pure water. No shelter. No food. No house in Haiti. It would be a bad situation.”
Situation report after the passage of IRMA
Situation report after the passage of IRMA Following the passage of Category 5 Hurricane IRMA on Haiti, the National Emergency Operations Center (COUN) in its bulletin #3 informs us:16 communes of the departments of the North-East, North, Central, Artibonite and West are partially flooded by runoff and floods of the main rivers of the said departments:Northeast: Ouanaminthe (severe flooding in places), Fort-Liberté, Caracol, Ferrier and Trou-du-NordNorth: Pilate and LimonadeCenter: Hinche and Mirebalais, Lachapelle, Grande Saline, Dessalines, Saint-MarcWest: Cabaret, Tabarre and ThomazeauCivil Protection and its partners have evacuated people from 10.085 to 59 temporary shelters in 6 departments and thousands went to foster homes;Northwest: 1,553 people in 11 open shelters;Grand-Anse: 529 people in 6 shelters (Chambellan and Beaumont);Northeast: 6,290 people in 14 shelters;Artibonite: 169 in 4 shelters;Center: 550 people in 13 shelters; North: 994 people in 11 shelters.Sections of roads are cut in the center, between Hinche and Thomassique and also Hinche and Cap-Haïtien via Pignon, because of the floods of the Ravine Couine. National road number 3 is divided in two places, at the level of Ravine La Couine and between Saint-Raphaël and Pignon;The red alert is lifted all over the national territoryIn the aftermath of passage of passage of IRMA, which caused flooding, falling trees, damage to agriculture and buildings, the Organization for the Development of the Artibonite Valley alerted the population downstream of the opening on Friday morning of the locks of the dam Cannot, to allow 500 m3 of water to pass, due to the increased flow of the Artibonite river due to the tributaries (Fer-à-Cheval river, Latème river and some gullies);On Friday, heavy rains stopped early in the morning across the country and weather conditions are gradually returning to normal.Habitat :Houses are destroyed or damaged, including roofs blown by winds, at the level of affected departments. Assessments are under way to complement the data on the impacts on the built environment.Agriculture and Environment :The Ministry of Environment is in the process of mobilizing civil engineering equipment to facilitate the cleaning and clogging of the gaps.Flooding of 450 hectares of agricultural perimeters of Jassa by the river bearing the same name. Considerable losses have been recorded in rice, okra, sweet potato, banana, pepper and pea plantations.The Artibonite River has been in flood since the beginning of the evening of 7 September.HaitiLibre | September 9, 2017
Digicel gives free minutes and SMS
With the passage of Hurricane IRMA on several islands in the Caribbean, Digicel today announced that it will provide customers in affected markets with free calls so they can communicate with their relatives.Digicel Haiti will accompany its customers in the affected areas by providing them with a special allowance of 10 minutes and 50 SMSs after the passage of RMA to communicate with Digicel subscribers."We understand the need to be able to quickly contact our relatives to ensure that they are safe and sound after an emergency and we are happy to offer our customers the means to do so," said Maarten Boute, the President of Digicel Haiti "The safety of our customers is always our highest priority. Thus, we encourage everyone to stay tuned to weather messages and to follow the safety instructions."In anticipation of Hurricane Irma, as of Monday, Digicel has activated its emergency plan.With respect to the reopening of its offices in the affected areas, Digicel will keep its subscribers informed as the situation evolves.By: HL/ HaitiLibre | September 8, 2017
Dubai sends Dh712,500 emergency airlift to Haiti
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has provided, upon request from the United Nations World Food Programme and UNHRD partners, the B747-400 aircraft which flew out of Dubai International Airport at 4:30 am, September 7, to Port-au-Prince, Haiti airport. The plane is expected to land in Haiti tomorrow, the 8th of September 2017, at 8:00 pm UAE time.The Dubai Air Wings aircraft to Haiti carried more than 90 metric tonnes of key relief items, valued at more than $194,000 (Dh712,500), made available by the International Humanitarian City members.The air cargo transporting aid on behalf of the World Food Programme, Catholic Relief Services, and CARE came in response to the forecast of a monster storm, Hurricane Irma, as it bears down South America, and is expected to hit the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and Cuba in the coming days.Upon hearing about Irma, believed to be one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever recorded, a quick mobilization was crucial to be able to reach the destination before any potential closure of airports. It was made possible thanks to the coordinated efforts of IHC and its members, under the chairmanship of Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein.HRH Princess Haya hailed the emergency airlift as a symbol of the UAE commitment to humanitarian assistance. "This rapid response is the fruit of an unprecedented cooperation and a proof of our robust support to vulnerable populations all over the world," she said.Among the relief and survival items, on board are food and non-food supplies: 2000 tarpaulins, enough high-energy biscuits to feed 47100 people over 3 days, mobile storage units, lighting equipment, water purification kits, and pool testers.This is the fifth relief plane sent in 2017 by IHC with the support of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to crisis and disaster-stricken areas; earlier this year, aid was air dispatched to Madagascar, South Sudan, Uganda and Iraq.Similarly, HRH Princess Haya flew last year in October 2016 to Haiti and personally oversaw the delivery and distribution of relief supplies after hurricane Matthew had demolished the island.By: Khaleej Times |September 7, 2017
The Implementation Of The Haitian Army: An Imminent Danger For Haiti
The current president seems to be more than ever determined to restore the army, and in doing so, picking up where his predecessor, Michel Martelly, left off. The government maintains the demolition of the army was anti-constitutional since the constitution recognizes its existence.Dismantled 22 years ago, by President Jean Bertrand Aristide, the Haitian Gendamerie, later known as Armed Forces Of Haiti (FADH), is an institution that has historically caused more problems for the country than it fixed. For many, in Haiti and in the Diaspora alike, reinstating the army is an idea they would rather not have to think about; in many instances, the wounds inflicted by that defunct organization have not been healed yet.What is the rationale behind reviving an institution that has shamed and abused the very nation it swore to protect? Why would Haiti need an army in the first place? Further, a more relevant question is, “Are Haitians better off with or without the army?” That’s the question!If we were to place the Haitian Army’s performance on a balanced scorecard, the outcomes would be mournful. Ever since the first United States occupation in 1915, there have been at least 32 Coup- d’état. A series of unfortunate events, instigated by the army itself, that only brought about death, despair, destruction, insecurity, organized crimes, institutionalized corruption, violation of human rights on a massive scale, to say the least. From that vantage point, it would not be an exaggeration to suggest the army is directly responsible for the country’s current quagmire. Ironically, even some of those who themselves have caused bloodshed in the country, have not shied away from expressing their doubts about an eventual return of the army. Both Henry Namphi and Prosper Avril, former generals, have cautioned against the eventual reestablishment of the army- the very institution which has made them who they are today.For any country, having an effective border control has its place. But in the case of Haiti, border protection cannot possibly be at the top of the priority list; after all the country is not under any threats of outside invaders. If we were to look at this issue from a practical standpoint, since the Dominican Republic is the only country Haiti shares its borders with, why would the former want to invade the latter now? Why now? Aren’t they already in control of the Haitian markets, whereas Haiti imports more than twice as much as it exports? Isn’t most of the Dominican labor force made up of Haitian nationals living in the most humiliating conditions? Well, why then, would the Dominican Republic want to engage militarily in Haiti while it is more profitable for them not to do so?Today, there are more than 20 countries without an army. Why can’t Haiti remain part of that list? Let’s take Costa Rica and Panama, as two Central American countries. Both countries had their fair share of problems with their respective armies in the past. Costa Rica has not had an army since 1948. Panama’s army was demolished after general Noriega was removed from power in 1989. Today, they are both on the list of countries without conflict, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace (Source: Global Peace Index 2016). Costa Rica is said to have enjoyed greater peace and stability than most, if not all, of its neighbors.In light of the actual conjuncture the country is faced with, should the government be focusing on reforming the army while neglecting to revamp the country’s already broken infrastructure, improve its healthcare system, promote literacy, modernize its agricultural systems, revitalize its flagging economy?An army is there for national defense, not to run governments. And make no mistake about it, this is exactly what will happen should the FADH be allowed to be resurrected. If past behaviors are any indication, this will be the same army that had always been on the side of the rule of force rather than the rule of law. Let’s be pragmatic about it; in the final analysis, in the event should Haiti be invaded by a foreign force, would the country have a defense mechanism strong enough to be worthwhile anyway? If the answer is no, as we know it, why then bother? Such decision can only be counterproductive in that the government will undoubtedly be in need to find funds in order to keep it operated. And those resources could be better spent on other public services instead. This grotesque decision is political, one aiming at appeasing the former cohorts and sympathizers of the Duvalier regime.In closing, there should be an international coalition orchestrated by the United Nations to prevent such undertaking from being materialized. If not, this could be a mistake of biblical proportions, in that all the gains that have been made may be irretrievably lost. If I had any message for the president of Haiti, I would have advised him to do as the former Costa Rican president, Jose Figueres, did in 1948: Transform the military barracks into museums. Future generations will thank you for that.Haitian Times | September 2017
A Struggling Haiti Scrambles To Prepare For Hurricane Irma
Barreling through the Caribbean, the “extremely dangerous” core of Irma was predicted to strike northern Haiti.
BOGOTA, Sept 6 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Haitian authorities and aid agencies were scrambling on Wednesday to prepare for Hurricane Irma, the strongest Atlantic storm on record, warning it could devastate the country still reeling from drought and last year’s Hurricane Matthew.Barreling through the Caribbean, the “extremely dangerous” core of Irma was predicted to strike northern Haiti and the Dominican Republic as well as the Turks and Caicos and Bahamas on Thursday with winds of 185 miles per hour (295 km per hour), the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
The eye of Irma, a Category 5 storm, passed over the northern Virgin Islands on Wednesday after crossing the half-French, half-Dutch island of St. Martin and the Dutch islands of Saba and Sint Eustasius. Category 5 is the highest hurricane ranking used by U.S. forecasters.Haitian authorities put the nation on alert, closing schools, moving people to shelters and mobilizing 18,000 civil and Red Cross volunteers backed by police and the military.“Irma is expected to sweep across the northern part of the country, so besides the strong winds and rain that could cause damage to houses, it is likely that many areas will be affected by flooding, landslides, and loss of livestock,” said Jessica Pearl, Haiti country director for aid agency Mercy Corps.More than half of the population depends on agriculture, “so any damage to their farms or livestock could make the difference of eating or not for the next few months,” she said.Farming communities in Haiti, one of the world’s poorest nations, are struggling to recover from Category 4 Matthew last October.Matthew killed about 1,000 people and left 1.4 million others in need of food aid.Irma will also bring “major consequences” to northern Haiti, which also has suffered three years of drought, said Ronald Tran Ba Huy, Haiti country director for the U.N World Food Programme (WFP).But systems to handle health, water and housing put in place for Matthew remain and can be utilized for Irma, he said.“Lessons learnt and mechanisms are fresh,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.The WFP said it has food supplies across Haiti, a nation of 10.8 million people, for 150,000 people for one month, and trucks carrying emergency food aid to northern Haiti would be able to reach 40,000 people immediately.Poor infrastructure and a lack of flood prevention measures such as coastal embankments and drainage systems, along with widespread deforestation, are likely to magnify damage from Irma as they did with Matthew, aid agencies say.The international aid community has been criticized for a slow response and poor coordination to disasters in Haiti, including a 2010 earthquake.
“There is an effort on the part of the international community to address the lessons learned from Matthew and have a more efficient response this time,” Pearl said.“That said, the government consists of new people on a steep learning curve,” she added. Haiti’s new government took power in March. HuffPost | September 6,2017Photos: Hector Retamal via Getty Images
Guidance from the Haitian Embassy to Haitians in DR
Wednesday in a note, the Embassy of Haiti in the Dominican Republic informs the Haitian community that in anticipation of the passage of hurricane IRMA which will touch, on Thursday, September 7, much of the Dominican territory, an emergency unit composed of diplomatic officials was created to meet its needs.Emergency Cell Phone Numbers : (829) 259-0579, (829) 885-3133, (809) 617-7376, (829) 443-8994The Embassy recommends that you prepare an emergency kit for 7 days :"Water, provide at least 3 liters per day per person, plan a stock for 3 to 7 days;Consume non-perishable food (mainly canned), consider the specific needs of infants and the elderly;Kitchen utensils: a can opener, plastic plates and cutlery and other kitchen utensils...;First-aid kit: anti-bacterial product, pair of scissors;Hygienic products;Torch, oil lamp, candles, matches and battery;Mosquito repellent;Portable radio with new batteries;Cash (some banks may remain closed or not replenished for several days),Disinfectant tablets for water;Toys, books, games;Important documents (insurance, medical records, bank, passport, birth certificate, etc...)Gas bottles, Blankets, pillows, Clothes (seasonal, boots, raincoats)For your animals (water, food, cage, leash, muzzle, etc...)"HaitiLibre | September 7, 2017
IRMA 415 km from Cap-Haitien - flights canceled
This morning at 5:00 am, the center of Cat. 5 Hurricane Irma on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, was located near latitude 20.0 North, longitude 68.3 West, or 160 km north of the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic and 415 km north-east of Cap-Haitien.
Irma is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph (28 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue with some decrease in forward speed for the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the center should pass north of the coast of Hispaniola later today, be near the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas by this evening, and then be near the Central Bahamas by Friday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).Maximum sustained winds are near 180 mph (285 km/h) with higher gusts. Irma is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days.Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 50 miles (85 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km).The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and large breaking waves will raise water levels above normal tide levels by the following amounts within the hurricane warning area near and to the north of the center of Irma. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves on the North Coast of Haiti and the Gulf of Gonâve where floods are to be feared...Hurricane conditions are expected to begin within the hurricane warning area in the Dominican Republic and Haiti today, with tropical storm conditions beginning in the next few hours.Irma is expected to produce the following rainaccumulations through Saturday in the Northern Dominican Republic and northern Haiti...4 to 10 inches (10 à 25 cm),isolated 15 inches (37cm).In the Southern Haiti 1 to 4 inches (2,5 à 10 cm) of rain is excepted.Flights canceled :Port-au-PrinceLe vol de Jet Blue 1510 à destination de Fort Lauderdale a été annuléLe vol de Jet Blue 1509 en provenance de Fort Lauderdale a été annuléLe vol de Jet Blue 1835 en provenance de New York a été annuléThe flight Jet Blue 1510 to Fort Lauderdale was canceledThe flight Jet Blue 1509 from Fort Lauderdale was canceledThe flight Jet Blue 1835 from New York was canceledCap-HaïtienThe flight American Airlines 2732 from New York was canceledHaitiLibre | September 7, 2017
Closure Of All Schools
In anticipation of the passage of Hurricane IRMA of Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale the Ministry of National Education informs the general public and educational agents in particular that it has been decided to declare 3 days of leave in public and non-public schools from Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 September 2017.The Ministry invites departmental directors to make all arrangements for the full application of this provision.Directors of schools are also invited to make all arrangements for the security of materials and especially the archives of their respective institutions.HaitiLibre | September 6, 2017
Haiti - FLASH : IRMA in category 4, Haiti in yellow pre-alert
This Tuesday morning Hurricane IRMA with maximum sustained winds at close to 150 mph (240 km/h) and higher gusts went into Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. IRMA was located this morning at 16.6N 57.0W, 424km east of Guadeloupe and 1.220km southeast of the island of Hispaniola according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).IRMA is moving westward at nearly 14 km/h and this general trajectory is expected to continue today, followed by a shift towards the northwest this evening. A NOAA Hurricane Hunterplane is scheduled to be in the eye of Irma within the hour.Hurricane force winds extend outwardly up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center and tropical storms force up to 140 miles (220 km).IRMA could reach Haiti's north coast by Thursday to FridayOn Monday in Haiti, the Permanent Secretariat of Risk Management (SPGRD) triggered at midday, the pre-alert phase 1 to the level of yellow vigilance."The IRMA Center could cross the Lesser Antilles on Tuesday," said the Hydrometeorological Unit of Haiti (UHM) in its first bulletin of vigilance "The system should then continue to approach Haiti, retaining its characteristics of major hurricane adding "IRMA hurricane should place the country under the threat of storm winds in about three days. Heavy storms are expected to fall on the northern part of the country before gradually becoming widespread. A stormy sea could overwhelm much of the northern coast of the country."The SPGRD, together with the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) and the UHM, "demands that the Haitian population, particularly the inhabitants of areas at risk of flooding and land movements, to prepare and stay tuned to weather reports and safety guidelines that will be broadcast throughout the passage of this dangerous system."By: HL/ HaitiLibre | September 5, 2017
Bond sealed between Worcester, Haiti Catholics
WORCESTER - Haiti’s first-ever cardinal was greeted in Worcester on Sunday by the tail end of a hurricane.But Harvey’s rains, dousing New England on Labor Day weekend, didn’t dampen spirits on Grafton Hill as Cardinal Chibly Langlois of Haiti joined Bishop Robert McManus in celebrating Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, then attended a dinner at St. Stephen’s across the street.Cardinal Langlois, awarded the red hat in 2014 by Pope Francis, was in Worcester to renew a covenant of support and prayer between the dioceses of Les Cayes and Worcester.More than 1,000 Haitians live in Worcester and about 200 attend the French-language Mass at St. Joseph’s on Hamilton Street, said Sister Judith Dupuy, a Sister of St. Anne who is director of the Haitian Apostolate in the Worcester Diocese.“For me to be here in the Diocese of Worcester is to build the communion between our two dioceses, Les Cayes and Worcester, and try to reinforce the twinning between parish and parish and diocese and diocese,” Cardinal Langlois said after the Mass.“That’s very important for us in Haiti,” he said. “You have heard about the many needs we have.”
One of the world’s most impoverished nations, Haiti is still recovering from the battering it took from Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Storm-watchers this weekend were eyeing a new hurricane, Irma, that may be headed for Haiti in the coming week.The covenant of support and prayer between the dioceses was signed during the Mass at St. Joseph’s, which was founded as a parish to serve Worcester’s once-large French-Canadian Catholic community, and now welcomes new immigrants from Haiti to its French-language Mass.The “twinning” program between parishes in Worcester and Haiti is “a reminder to our people that we’re a universal church,” the Bishop McManus said. “Pope Francis has called the whole church to be a church in mission.“Anyone who has visited the church in Haiti realizes they cannot help themselves - it’s a dire situation,” he said. “In the sense of the fraternity and the solidarity of the faith, we and other dioceses in the United States are reaching out to other parts of Haiti. It’s a joy to have His Eminence with us.”By: Mark Sullivan | September 3, 2017
Senator urges Trump to extend protections for Haitians
MIAMIA U.S. senator has called on President Donald Trump to extend humanitarian protections granted to Haiti after the country's devastating 2010 earthquake.Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson wants the Trump administration to renew Temporary Protected Status so that nearly 60,000 Haitians can continue to live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation.The Florida senator, who met with a group of worried Haitians in Miami on Friday, hopes the Department of Homeland Security will extend the status beyond the Jan. 22 deadline, arguing that Hurricane Matthew in 2016 delayed Haiti's recovery efforts.Such extensions are typically renewed for 18-month intervals, but the latest announcement in May said it would expire in six months.Haiti has said more than 300,000 people died in the 2010 disaster. The exact toll is unknown.Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., center, listens to Haitian-American Marlene Bastien, far right, Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, in the Little Haiti area in Miami, during a meeting with a group of Haitian community leaders. Sen. Nelson called on the administration to extend Temporary Protected Status for the nearly 60,000 Haitians living in the U.S. until at least July, 2019. Such extensions are typically renewed for 18-month intervals, but the latest announcement in May said it would expire in six months. Haitians granted the protection can live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation.Associated Press | August 25, 2017
Haitian Airline Sunrise New Routes to Orlando and Miami
A community that works together and invests in each other grows togetherA few month ago I met Pascal and Samuel at Sunrise office to discuss collaborating on a few projects between our respective Company. It was the first time I heard about Sunrise initiative to explore new routes, but this time, it will be in the states; specifically in Orlando and Miami. The news was confirmed by their head of Marketing during an event at NH Haiti El Rancho hosted by Haitian-Benelux Chamber of Commerce.On August 25, 2017, the official Facebook page of the company announced the date of the inaugural flight, as well as the price of their round trips. A critical step and an amazing accomplishment for the Haitian Airline, which started with two small planes that are still serving Cap-Haitien and Port-au-Prince route. While this is a huge success for the Haitian company, we need to support them for them to stay in business.A community that works together and invests in each other grows together; and the company promises to remain competitive on the market. They make it their mission to continue to provide excellent customer service and competitive prices. This moment reminds me of the first AA flight in my hometown (Cap-Haitien), I was excited that I did not sleep in fear of missing out on history. History is once again happening, and we hope you will be part of it.According to the CEO, the mission of the company is to become the premier regional airline operator in the Caribbean by developing a cohesive route network in an efficient, cost-effective, and safe environment. They want to leverage success and profitability through a streamlined and innovative approach to growing the footprint of Sunrise Airways. On top of the Miami and Orlando routes, the company is looking forward to adding Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, Curacao and more.By Davidson Toussaint | August 25, 2017
Timberland Will Get Cotton from a Nifty New Supply Chain – Haiti – if Experiment Soars
In a move that the company hopes will create a new cotton supply chain, outdoor clothing company Timberland is working with the Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA) on an effort to reintroduce cotton as a crop in Haiti, the company announced Tuesday. The company, along with SFA and Haiti’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, ceremoniously planted the first cotton seed to mark the start of the experiment. If the five-year initiative is successful, Timberland has committed to purchasing up to a third of the Haitian farmers’ annual global cotton supply (subject to price, quality and volume), the company says. Cotton, once the country’s fourth largest agricultural export, collapsed as a Haitian industry nearly 30 years ago due to a combination of politics and policies, Timberland says.
First, Is It Feasible?
Timberland and SFA’s cotton program was developed following a successful agroforestry model in Haiti that the two organizations had been working on in recent years. The program had Haitian farmers voluntarily tending a network of nurseries that produced up to a million trees each year. In return, farmers received training, crop seeds, seedlings and tools to help increase their own crop yields.With the success of that program, Timberland and the SFA engaged in a feasibility study to gage the potential of cotton’s return to Haiti. The groups studied ideal growing conditions, farmer interest and the availability of agricultural best practices gleaned from smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia. The study recommended that cotton be reintroduced – along with a comprehensive support system and a range of services that were not in place when cotton previously failed. By positioning cotton as a rotational crop in mixed farms that include vegetables, grain and livestock, the resulting agricultural benefits will extend far beyond a single crop, the study suggested.Next summer, the SFA will introduce cotton varieties that adapt best to local conditions and organic cultivation, and result in the highest quality cotton for cultivation in volume by smallholder farmers.With the reintroduction of cotton as an “anchor crop” in Haiti, Timberland says it also hopes to boost the economy and contribute to environmental restoration.
Wrangler Wants Sustainable Cotton, Too
In a related move – one which is also expected to help increase the supply of sustainable cotton – clothing manufacturer Wrangler recently joined a group called Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. Working with industry and academic partners, Wrangler is focusing on cotton-growing practices that will improve profitability for growers while reducing environmental impacts. Wrangler is also engaged in a pilot project for sustainable US cotton. The project involves a family of seventh-generation farmers from Alabama who will work with Wrangler and others to improve cotton yield, irrigation, energy inputs, greenhouse gas emissions and soil conservation. Forty thousand pounds of the family’s cotton will be used to make a special collection of Wrangler denim jeans that will be sold in 2018.
19-Year-Old Haitian/Japanese Tennis Player, Naomi Osaka, knocks out Angelique Kerber in straight sets
When the 2017 U.S. Open draw came out on Friday, defending champion Angelique Kerber's first round match was highlighted and circled on a lot of draw sheets. On Tuesday, Haitian/Japanese tennis player, Naomi Osaka, proved why.Under the roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium on a rainy day at Flushing Meadows, 19-year-old Osaka out-played the two-time Grand Slam finalist, winning 6-3, 6-1 in just over an hour to advance to the second round. The victory marked Osaka's first top 10 win of her career.After retiring with an abdominal injury in Toronto earlier this month, World No. 45 Osaka hoped to be healthy for the final major of 2017. A year ago at the U.S. Open, Osaka led Madison Keys in a third round match on Arthur Ashe but was unable to close. On Tuesday, Osaka simply out-hit Kerber, blasting winners all over the court and putting any memories of last year's disappointing U.S. Open exit behind her. Osaka finished with 22 winners and 17 unforced errors to Kerber's nine winners and 23 unforced errors.Kerber is only the second U.S. Open women's champion in the Open Era to lose in the first round the following year (Kuznetsova, 2005). After reaching No. 1 a year ago when she won her second Grand Slam of the year in New York, Kerber has not won a tournament since her victory at the 2016 U.S. Open. The German also lost in the first round at the French Open in May and bowed out in the Round of 16 at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year.With Tuesday's loss, Kerber, who was seeded sixth at the U.S. Open, will drop out of the top 10 in the WTA rankings.Jamie Lisanti, SI
Kagie 22 presents ‘Haiti Royalty’
Three sections will display “Haiti Royalty” in Kagie 22’s production this Labor Day Carnival.
Band leader Haitian American Karine Gilles told Caribbean Life that the all-female band will comprise 75 masqueraders altogether in the three sections: Haiti Queen, Princesses Azia and Haiti Princess Amor Toussaint.
She said besides Haitians, masqueraders are Trini-Haitian Americans and Martiniquans.
Gilles, who has been participating in the West Indian American Day Carnival Parade since 2003, said masqueraders can expect “more colorful designs and good music” this year.
She added that Kagie 22 will play “outstandingly” as well.
The production is assisted by Moise Desir, Guetary Roche, Rosena Destin, Pedine Nazaire, Yvener Leon, Michelle Bastien Archer, Kettelie Innocent, Kagie 22 TV staff, Radio Independence, Elegance, Planet Musical, Bebe Fritay, Yoyo Family, Tambour Universel.
Gilles said she founded Kagie 22 in 2002 as a TV show “to touch base with the community and [to] create linkage with organizations that can fulfill communities’ needs.
“Many times, our people need to know how to participate in mas camps,” she added, stating that some members are unaware of the expectations of WIADCA and the rules to be “an active camp” in the West Indian American Day Carnival Parade.
Gilles said playing in the parade is a “very productive, competitive and rewarding concept for children and adults.”
She said masqueraders will sway to the beat of Sweet Micky and DJazz New York.
Gilles can be reached at (917) 348-6488 or at Kagie22@aol.com.
By Nelson A. King | August 29, 2017
20 bullet impacts on the American shot down in Pétion-ville
Twenty bullet impacts on the American shot down in Pétion-ville Following the murder Saturday evening in Pétion-ville of a US citizen http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21934-haiti-flash-an-american-shot-dead-in-petion-ville.html , the Deputy Spokesperson of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), inspector Gary Desrosiers has brought some clarification. He revealed the identified victim who would be a certain Benjamin R. Craft, an American of Haitian origin, who was shot while leaving a high-end restaurant in Pétion-ville. According to Gary Desrosiers, this murder has all the appearances of an execution. He also indicated that the person who was injured was a security guard. He confirmed that so far no arrests had taken place and that the motive for the murder was unknown until now. HaitiLibre | August 2017