Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Guardian.com Government-backed campaign aims to double Caribbean country’s forest cover by 2016 Haiti was once covered in verdant forests but land clearance for colonial plantations was followed by tree felling for cooking fuel. Photograph: Olivier Coret/Corbis …. More tree … Continue reading →

Thursday, 09 January 2014 11:14 By Ayiti Kale Je , Haiti Grassroots Watch | News Analysis Port-au-Prince – Four years after the January 12 2010 earthquake, questions haunt the four main post-disaster housing projects built by the governments of René … Continue reading →

An alliance of Quebec human rights groups raised an alarm Thursday as it released a study that questions the efficacy and ethics of Canada’s efforts to help Haiti rebuild four years after that country’s devastating earthquake. The study, commissioned by … Continue reading →

January 12, 2014 By JACQUES PIERRE PIERRE jacques.pierre@duke.edu It was sunny as usual in Little Haiti, a small Haitian enclave in Miami where the predominant language is Haitian Creole. I was there that day in May 2012 to celebrate Haitian … Continue reading →

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti January 11, 2014 (AP) By TRENTON DANIEL Associated Press On a steep hillside on the edge of Haiti’s capital, Pacha Jeudy slaps soupy cement onto jagged cinderblocks and stacks them into a wobbly wall. The home looks likely … Continue reading →

On Sunday, January 12, 2014 on the fourth anniversary of the earthquake, we will invite our sisters and brothers in the Episcopal Church and beyond to make a special offering to help rebuild the center of life and culture in … Continue reading →

By TRENTON DANIEL, Associated Press ….Martelly said much had been accomplished since the disaster. “Four years later, I think we have moved forward tremendously,” Martelly told The Associated Press, noting a decline in the number of people still without housing … Continue reading →

(A modern day mystery) LAGO ENRIQUILLO, Dominican Republic — Steadily, mysteriously, like in an especially slow science fiction movie, the largest lake in the Caribbean has been rising and rising, devouring tens of thousands of acres of farmland, ranches and … Continue reading →

….The United Nations says as much in a recently published Humanitarian Action Plan for Haiti that strives for an ambitious and hopeful tone but mostly sounds forlorn. It notes some positive changes. More than three-fourths of young children are now … Continue reading →

View this: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/Montreal/ID/2429005502/

“There is enormous opportunity that has been untapped, right now in Haiti,” Four years after the devastating earthquake, the impoverished Caribbean country is making strides attracting foreign investors and “building back better,” UNESCO’s special envoy for Haiti said Wednesday. “There … Continue reading →

By Joe Colas PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (HCNN) — During an historic and frank dialogue at the border town of Ouanaminthe, Dominican Republic authorities pledged to enact measures to safeguard the basic rights of Haitians and their descendants living in … Continue reading →

HIV rates in Haiti December 21, 2013 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince says the number of Haitians who have tested positive for HIV has declined over the past decade. The diplomatic mission says the drop is … Continue reading →

By Newlink Research Published: Monday, Dec. 23, 2013 ….Newlink-Dagmar surveyed 1098 Haitians between December 11 and 17; the poll has a margin of error of +/-5 percent at the 90% confidence level. According to the poll, President Martelly’s approval rating … Continue reading →

See: http://rapadoo.com/2014/01/07/apartheid-a-lile-a-vache-les-habitants-lancent-un-ultimatum-au-regime-martelly-lamothe/ Read also: http://www.touthaiti.com/economie/3174-apartheid-a-l-ile-a-vache-les-habitants-lancent-un-ultimatum-au-regime-martelly-lamothe (French to English…with the help of Google Translate) P -au- P , 07 Jan 2014 [ AlterPresse ] — Inhabitants (both men and women) of Ile à Vache ( South ) this Monday, Jan. 6, … Continue reading →

Positive news always appreciated! Since the earthquake struck, American Red Cross programs in Haiti have: Spent and committed $144 million on shelter programs, ensuring that nearly 109,000 people, to date,  have a safer place to live; Provided clean water and … Continue reading →

By Trent Daniel PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haitian and Dominican officials met Tuesday in an effort to resolve mounting tension between the Caribbean neighbors that was reflected in a recent court ruling that threatens to strip the citizenship of people of … Continue reading →

By Lisa Hendrick Do you know the expression, “it fell into my lap?”  It was an expression I used the other day describing the exciting new project I am involved with as I was explaining it to my Haitian student.  … Continue reading →

Party at Silars’ Posted on January 5, 2014 “Hey Jeanide, we should have a party for the kids at Silars’ the day the group gets here.” I know what you’re thinking – Sora, parties take a little bit more planning than … Continue reading →

Introducing Scrabble in Haiti Uploaded on Sep 9, 2011 This documentary shows the work of Dr. Benjamin Hebblethwaite (University of Florida) in the promotion of Haitian Creole Scrabble as a tool to increase literacy in rural Haiti. This youtube clip … Continue reading →

   Translation of the lyrics is courtesy of Kreyolicious. The English is rather embellished, but it does convey the meaning of some of the phrases pretty well.   Ayiti se bèl lanmè se bèl montay ak bèl rivyè Se bèl plaj … Continue reading →

My New Year Posted on January 5, 2014 Back at home, I always stay up on New Years’ Eve but we don’t really do anything special – maybe there are some extra treats on hand for eating. Even if I’d stayed … Continue reading →

Rehabilitation of the Champ-de-Mars December 23, 2013 The rehabilitation of the Champ-de-Mars, the largest public square in Port-au-Prince, will begin in January and should be completed in June 2014, if there is no setback. The rehabilitation of the Champ-de-Mars, the … Continue reading →

Moving Forward Posted on January 5, 2014 The hardest thing to adjust to for me in Haiti has definitely been the concept of “Haitian time” – you can let hours slip by while chatting, traveling, or sleeping in, and then you’ve … Continue reading →

Looking Back Posted on January 5, 2014 I know, 2014 is already four days old, but anyway here’s a look back at 2013. Around April, I received word that the director of the school I’d worked at the previous summer wouldn’t … Continue reading →

Haiti has had just “4 censuses” across all its history, the most recent in 2006, costing $8 million and employing 25,000 people.   How can one have a new election without a census? See this press release from 2006: 10 … Continue reading →

A volunteer’s Christmas in Haiti. My Christmas List Posted on December 27, 2013 Well, there’s my first week done in Haiti, and since it coincided with Christmas here’s a list of 12 gifts I received. It’s been great to be back … Continue reading →

With the four-year anniversary of Haiti’s devastating, 7.0 magnitude earthquake just two weeks away, Mission of Hope (MOH) a Christian nonprofit headquartered in Haiti, has developed a holistic model for long-term development and rebuilding that works and is sustainable. “The … Continue reading →

….The Minister of Social Affairs and labour, on the occasion of the holiday season and new year, proceeded to the distribution of educational toys to some 200 residents of this center for street children supported by the Government. Beyond the … Continue reading →

  Richard Browne, Business Reporter If Jamaica looks to Haiti, it, too, could produce high-tech tablet computers for the local and export markets, according to Brian Pengelley, president of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA). ….Jamaica’s nearest neighbour to the east … Continue reading →

Dec 28, 2013 by Trenton Daniel   Two tech companies have launched rival ventures to build Android tablets in Haiti, a country with little recent experience in electronics manufacturing. Startups Surtab SA and Handxom SA began production last month and … Continue reading →

The effects of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010 are still affecting the work of aid groups and health care workers, but they’re now getting some help from an unconventional source: 3D printers. A project called iLab Haiti, … Continue reading →

FILIPINO WORLDVIEW By Roberto R. Romulo (The Philippine Star) | Updated December 31, 2013 …”Recommendations in the aftermath of the earthquake clearly indicated that governments must take the lead in any relief operations. If projects implemented by NGOs do not match … Continue reading →

http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201401/grapple-energy-consumption.aspx Even as more U.S. appliances meet Energy Star standards, America is still an energy glutton compared with much of the world. That router that you never bother to turn off, for instance, uses more kilowatt-hours per year than does … Continue reading →

What is most extraordinary about Megan Coffee is she does not believe she is extraordinary. The Harvard-educated physician — and Oxford-educated epidemiologist — has spent three years in Haiti, healing the sick. With no pay, with few days off, with … Continue reading →

The nonprofit EarthSpark is working to connect more Haitians to electricity via micro-grids. Josie Garthwaite for National Geographic On Haiti’s southern peninsula, the town of Les Anglais rises alongside a snaking river prone to seasonal swells. Some 400 homes and … Continue reading →

By Jacqueline Charles jcharles@MiamiHerald.com A world-renown Haiti clinic that has become a leader in global health while leading the fight against HIV/AIDS now has one more accolade to add to its file: fighter against tuberculosis. ….The annual prize is given … Continue reading →

Read the full response here: http://www.elizabetheames.blogspot.com …. “So why is there this uproar now? Why is there no talk about the opportunity? Doesn’t anyone speak Spanish? Aren’t any of the NGOs sending out announcements? WHY NOT? Keeping you focused on … Continue reading →

Excerpts from the Statement on Injustice in Dominican Republic On behalf of the National Bar Association, we strongly condemn the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Dominican Republic, which has retroactively rescinded the citizenship of persons of Haitian lineage … Continue reading →

Haiti quake destroyed or damaged 60 years of archives AFP – December 12, 2013 Port-au-Prince (AFP) – The huge, deadly earthquake that pulverized Haiti in 2010 also caused destruction or heavy damage to 60 years of public records, the country’s … Continue reading →

MANILA – Small farmers from Haiti who were also displaced by hurricane Sandy last year pooled whatever little money they have for fellow farmers affected by super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in the Philippines. “These farmers are very poor … Continue reading →

This response to “Can Foreign Aid Help This Girl?” is written by Stuart Leiderman: leiderman @ mindspring dot com Darline St. Luc with her mother Nicholas D. Kristof/The New York Times “Let’s acknowledge that Haiti is Exhibit A for many … Continue reading →

Published on Tuesday, 29 October 2013 Written by Ken Richards- Haitian activist Myrtha Desulme St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN):  A Haitian activist is calling for the Dominica Republic to be boycotted in the same manner that South Africa was during … Continue reading →

And no agreement as to how many have been cut off from citizenship Dec 7th 2013 | From the print edition of The Economist THE last time the Dominican Republic committed an atrocity against residents of Haitian descent, the rest … Continue reading →

A story about Darline St. Luc, 13 By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF “…if Haiti is Exhibit A for skeptics, it’s worth noting that Haiti may be on the move again. The economy is growing faster than America’s, kidnappings are down and … Continue reading →

Hugh Locke delivering Fordham University’s Fall 2013 Gannon Lecture at the United Nations on November 15. Photo: Fordham/Taggart. A few weeks ago I had the honor of delivering Fordham University’s Fall 2013 Gannon Lecture. The venue was the United Nations, and … Continue reading →

I left my heart in Haiti. I have only made three trips there, but I have many friends there now and many dreams for them, especially the little ones. I am a retired school teacher, having taught French, English as … Continue reading →

     Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe with one of the new tablets   By Joe Colas PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (HCNN) — The first touch-screen tablet manufactured in Haiti and its affordable price have captured the interest of Haitians, particularly within low … Continue reading →

“This ruling is important because far too often we find that photographers don’t have the power to stand up to those that infringe with impunity. I hope that this sends a message, but in reality we need a cultural change … Continue reading →

“The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.” Remembering JFK By Reviewing His Inaugural Address Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, … Continue reading →

Excerpt: Most donor countries have failed to deliver on their promise to help Haiti fight cholera, making it difficult to combat the disease, reports reaching here quoted Haitian Health Minister Florence Duperval Guillaume as saying on Thursday. International agencies have … Continue reading →

  Tyres burn during protests in Port-au-Prince November 18, 2013. Thousands of Haitians took to the streets on Monday calling for President Michel Martelly to resign, and some protesters scuffled with police as international concern mounts over rising violence in … Continue reading →

Dear Friends, Today is the National Day for the Elimination of Restavek, a call to action on behalf of over 200,000 children that are living away from their families in vulnerable situations, and are often exploited for labor. Across the … Continue reading →

Haitian peanut farmer Gustave Esteme (pictured with his family) said new agricultural methods have helped him increase his crop yield substantially./ Christina Ruffini/CBS News View video here: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57612383/raising-hope-with-peanuts-in-haiti/ (CBS News) In Haiti’s rural provinces, life is sparse, even by local … Continue reading →

Dr. Robert Hilgers of Louisville, shown during a recent trip to Haiti, is working with others toward creating a cancer registry for the nation. / Photos courtesy Dr. Robert Hilgers ….cervical cancer kills Haitian women at a rate 30 times … Continue reading →

Background: http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/projects/martissant-park-green-space-and-open-society/background In February 2004, as Haiti teetered on the brink of violent anarchy, the Open Society foundation in Haiti—Fondation Connaissance et Liberté (FOKAL)—set out to do something counterintuitive: build a park. Updates: Martissant Park represents the very real efforts … Continue reading →

Haitian president arrives today for three-day visit Wednesday, November 13, 2013 PRESIDENT of Haiti Michel Martelly is scheduled to arrive in the island today for a three-day State Visit. The Haitian president will be met on arrival at the Norman … Continue reading →

By ANDREW C. REVKIN Erik De Castro/Reuters People stood among the ruins of houses in Tacloban after the typhoon tore through the central Philippines. For many millions of people living in the planet’s poorest, most populous places, a state of … Continue reading →

Published on November 12, 2013 SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba (ACN) — Cuba and Haiti will strengthen bilateral cooperation to implement joint environment protection programs, said Haitian minister for the environment, Jean Francois Tomas, in Santiago de Cuba.At a meeting with local … Continue reading →

US Education Secretary Duncan calls for openness to improve schools November 8, 2013 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A senior U.S. official visiting Haiti called Tuesday for greater transparency to improve the quality of education in the Caribbean country’s long-struggling classrooms. In … Continue reading →

Student protests greet US officials on Haiti visit November 8, 2013 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti—A loud and smoky protest has accompanied U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s meeting with the president of Haiti in the capital of the impoverished nation. Protesters burned tires … Continue reading →

Haiti Holds First National Reading Championship Posted by Fabiola Lopez-Minatchy, USAID/Haiti on Tuesday, November 5th 2013 The finalists with the Director General and Deputy Director General of MENFP and well-known author Frankétienne. Photo credit: MENFP Out of 11,000 students from 172 schools, the … Continue reading →

November 6, 2013 U.S. Secretary of Education with Haitian President Michel Martelly. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited Haiti from November 4-6, 2013.  During his visit, Secretary Duncan met Haitian officials and discussed the ongoing cooperation between the United States … Continue reading →

Reconstruction of bridges in Jacmel Wednesday, the Divisional Delegate of Southeast Pierre Michel Lafontant announced that the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communication (MTPTC) will rebuild the 4 heavily damaged bridges in 2008 and demolished in 2009 by TPTC … Continue reading →

By Marcia Braveboy Caribbean News Now Senior Correspondent marcia@caribbeannewsnow.com Twitter: @mbraveboy PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Caribbean Community (CARICOM) chair, Trinidad and Tobago prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, said she is monitoring the situation in the Dominican Republic following a controversial … Continue reading →

The saga continues… SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — For generations, people of Haitian descent have been an inextricable part of life here, often looked at with suspicion and dismay, but largely relied on all the same to clean rooms, build … Continue reading →

Three years after Haiti’s devastating earthquake, New York-based photographer Andy Lin has taken his Self-Portrait Project to the camps for those displaced by the disaster of January 2010 The Self-Portrait Project is, according to its creator Andy Lin, a “glorified … Continue reading →

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic September 26, 2013 (AP) By EZEQUIEL ABIU LOPEZ and DANICA COTO Associated Press http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/dominican-ruling-strips-citizenship-20387587?singlePage=true The Dominican Republic’s top court on Thursday stripped citizenship from thousands of people born to migrants who came illegally, a category that … Continue reading →

Surtab´s Made-in-Haiti touchscreen tablets may help blaze a trail back to electronics manufacturing in the country In a country with a manufacturing sector known for producing cheap t-shirts, tablet-maker Surtab is a small effort at producing a big-value product. “We … Continue reading →