Stories about Haiti from March, 2006
Caribbean, US: US-Caricom meeting
Larry Smith discusses the recent US-Caricom meeting in the Bahamas in the context of both recent US foreign policy and Condolezza Rice's career. He quotes a Bahamian diplomat, who says: “The policies of the US are not producing the results that it desires, and therefore how should friends of the...
Haiti: Army
Hayti outlines the reasons certain parties think Haiti should re-instate its army, and why others think the opposite.”Whether it is an army, a national police force, or a combination thereof, it is the poor of Haiti who are the best gauge as to whether it is a good idea for...
Caribbean: Books for birders
“It's many years now–I might even say decades–since I've considered myself a real birder, and I stopped keeping a lifelist ages ago, but birds continue to have a special fascination for me–their colours, their songs, the effortlessness of their flight,” writes Nicholas Laughlin in the prelude to his overview of...
Haiti: Music video
Filmmaker Frankenbilly posts a music video he created for a lovely reggae-flavoured song by the Haitian singer Belo.
Haiti: Two young achievers
Ayiti Cheri Connexion profiles two young acheivers of Haitian descent, basketballer Samuel Dalembert and music producer Carl G. Gilbert.
Haiti: You Know You're Haitian When…
AyitiCheriConnexion posts (FR) an english language 35-point list of things that make one Haitian sent to her by a Haitian born outside of Haiti. AyitiCheri tacks on seven slides of staples of Haitian culture including the inevitable djondjon and griot.
Caribbean: Carifesta 2006
Jeremy Taylor at the Caribbean Beat Blog looks forward to seeing what the Caribbean arts festival Carifesta 2006 has in store. “I still remember the excitement of the very first Carifesta in Guyana, in 1972, when it seemed that the whole of Georgetown was taken over by musicians, poets, dancers,...
Haiti: “Shacking up” with America
Alice Backer links to an article on the new realities of US immigration which helped her understand how Haitian-born hip-hop star Wyclef Jean was able to vote in the recent Haitian elections: “it turns out he's shacked up, not married, to America”.
Haiti: Pros and Cons on Resurrecting the Army
While President Preval wishes to dissolve the Haitian army for good, a recent commission would like to resurrect it. AyitiCherieConnexion weighs in (FR) with an analysis of the Haitian army's historical role as a repressive tool for presidents. AyitiCherie concludes however that since Haiti's neighbor the Dominican Rep. has an...
Caribbean: Women writers’ blog
Over at BlogHer, Karen Walrond announces her new project, The Pan Collective, “a community blog featuring the voices of wonderful women writers from the Caribbean”.
Haiti: “Failing Haiti”, the documentary
Haiti-Cuba-Venezuela Project weighs in on the documentary “Failing Haiti” and the goings-on in and around a screening of the film in Washington DC.
Caribbean: Another bad hurricane season?
Bermuda-based photoblogger Tom Q reports that Reuters and MDA EarthSat Energy Weather are predicting “another year of potential category 5 hurricanes”.
Caribbean: Indigenous languages
The CAC Review links to an excellent web site on indigenous languages of the Caribbean which features vocabulary lists, sound files and some grammar instruction. Among the languages represented are Arawak, Galibi, Taino, Karifuna, Garifuna and Warao.
Caribbean: Proverbs, anyone?
Fun and games over at the blog of Caribbean-born sci-fi writer Nalo Hopkinson, as she asks readers for suggestions of Caribbean proverbs.