· December, 2006

Stories about Haiti from December, 2006

Haiti: Government's Tougher Stance on Insecurity

  30 December 2006

Reacting to a Christmas speech by Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis announcing a tougher stance on gang-driven kidnappings, Deky Lakyel from Collectif Haiti de Provence writes (Fr): “Not so long ago the stance was still to negotiate with the bandits. Today the approach and the discourse are more a-propos to...

Haiti: Competition for AA on Miami-Port-au-Prince

  29 December 2006

Jojo of Collectif Haiti de Provence is happy (Fr) that Spirit Airlines is offering a Miami-Port-au-Prince flight in addition to American Airlines’ but cautions: “Spirit Airlines is welcome so long as it doesn't align itself to the detriment of the public with American Airlines’ practices. $370 for a 2 hour...

Haiti: Teacher's Union Denounces Insecurity

  26 December 2006

Many school children have recently been the victims of kidnappings in Haiti and the Haitian press reports that teachers’ unions have denounced what they feel is the government's inaction vis-a-vis the phenomenon. Collectif Haiti de Provence reacted (Fr) to the story: “The teachers’ declaration is timely but insufficient in the...

Haiti, US: President Bush Signs HOPE law

  25 December 2006

Of President Bush's signing of the HOPE Law (Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act), Collectif Haiti de Provence writes (Fr): “We find ourselves compelled to welcome with enthusiasm this law which seems to be designed to favor job creation via textile subcontracting. We would like that leaders in that...

Haiti, Dominican Republic: Slaves in Paradise

  24 December 2006

Says Collectif Haiti de Provence (Fr):”For International Anti-Slavery Day, May 10, 2007, Pour Que L'esprit Vive Association is organizing a series of activities to denounce living conditions in [Dominican] bateys: photo exhibits, roundtables with Haitian and Dominican intervenors, films. The event will be titled ‘Slaves in Paradise’.”

Haiti: Saving Local Soccer

  20 December 2006

Collectif Haiti de Provence laments (Fr) that local soccer team The Racing Club d'Haiti is on its way to extinction for lack of sponsorship by both government and alums in the diaspora.

Haiti: Millennium Development Goals

  19 December 2006

Haiti Justice Blog refers to an article from the New York Times, which examines the ways in which the comfort of rich, developed countries “is, to a large extent the result of unfair extraction of wealth from poor countries; but more important, that wealthy countries could eliminate the worst forms...

Haiti: High Prices of Flights

  18 December 2006

Reacting to news of a new airline to offer Haiti-Dominican Republic flights, Collectif Haiti de Provence complains about the cost of flights to Haiti(Fr): “It is always flabbergasting how expensive flights to Haiti are whether via all powerful American Airlines who holds an unwavering monopoly or via the lines that...

India, Haiti: Matrimonials

  18 December 2006

India-based Haitian blogger NatifNatal ponders (Fr) India's matrimonials. Whereas in the West, she says, people fall in love and then marry, “here you marry the one your parents chose along many parameters such as caste, religion, income, dowry etc… and then, after many years of joint living, you just can't...

Haiti: Preval's Prostate Cancer and Healthcare

  12 December 2006

Reacting to recent news stories and speculation about President Preval's prostate cancer and his trip to Cuba to receive treatment, JoJo at Collectif Haiti de Provence reflects on healthcare for the everyday Haitian (Fr): “What Preval forgot to say … is to detail his plans so that all Haitians can...

Haiti: Reflecting on Insecurity

  4 December 2006

Yon Ayisyen writes (Fr): “As we approach elections, officials cannot afford to admit that they are loosing the fight against insecurity, hence they tell us that the situation has improved and that they are making progress.”

Haiti: Local Artist Wins Global Music Contest

  3 December 2006

Says Haitian newsfeed Alterpresse (Fr): “Jean Belony Murat [a.k.a. Belo], haitian artist … won the reknown international music competition titled “Les Decouvertes RFI Musiques du Monde” [Radio France International's Finds in World Music] on November 30th in Douala, Cameroon. He was among the three finalists, inclusing Patrick Ruffino, a bassist...