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ISAACUMEN (vol. 2)
This photo captures the essence of Isaac ... Our people-loving, smiley peacekeeper.
- "I am thinking about studying the history of cathedrals. But only after I study the ten most predatory animals."
- (to Paige) "I cannot believe you were THAT young when Monsters Inc. came out. You sure are becoming more ancient."
- "Wart.Waaarrt." (long pause) "That is a weird word."
- "I don't ever want blocked tear ducts - I wonder how you prevent that?"
- (to Troy) "Did they have lots of new words when you were learning spelling - or words that were combinations of words like smoke and fog - so like was smog a word when you were a kid?"Troy - "Yes, smog was a word when I was a kid - I am not that old.""Oh, I thought maybe that one started on 9/11"
Categories: Haitian blogs
you say you care about the poor ...
My friend D.L. is hosting a series of posts called "War Photographers" on her website. She is asking hard questions (of herself especially) about how we share the stories of others, and how we do that with respect. In the last year writing stories about others has become more difficult because of the hard questions. These questions are important to ask, important to wrestle with and examine. I loved this post on her blog today, you can read it in its entierty HERE. (Below are powerful excerpts.)
"My supposedly prophetic photography, which I dreamed could one day change the world, was doing nothing but showing the ugly surface and ignoring everything underneath. I was taking the assumptions and fears of everyone who I hoped would see the truth, and showed them only what they expected:Look how poor our community is.Look how dirty and run-down our buildings are.Look how hopeless and dangerous our youth are.Look how rough a place the city is."~ ~ ~"So how do we do all this? I still don’t really know yet. I’m still trying to learn how to do it well. But I do know what I’m striving for:
Where the world sees poverty, we want it to see a different sort of richness.Where the world sees violence, we want it to see people longing for peace.Where the world sees crime, we want it to see neighbors looking out for each other.Where the world sees brokenness, we want it to see stories of hope and strength.Where the world sees destruction, we want it to see signs of God’s redemption.Amidst the darkness, we want the world to see the Kingdom."
~ ~ ~ ~ (reposting, originally posted here in 2011)
"You say you care about the poor.Then tell me, what are their names?"Gustavo Gutierrez
There are so many topics that are touchy and difficult to write about. I usually avoid speaking/writing with force about them in order to dodge any conflict that may arise as a result. I hate internet word wars .... But more than that I hate when people misunderstand and jump to conclusions. Discussion is great, but it seems that things tend to deteriorate quickly.
The fights people have on line would never happen if they were standing face to face because we're all way more polite, gracious, and non-confrontational in real life. In face to face interaction it rarely happens that if you disagree with someone you jump them with the boldness that happens on line.
All that to say - Bringing up the book, "When Helping Hurts" and writing about Short Term Missions caused a little ruffling of feathers. It wasn't meant to put anyone on the defensive; but it did anyway. C'est la vie. In this case, I think it needs to be said and it was worth the conflict. That post was meant to make us think. It is not actually all about us and what makes us feel good.
Lately I find myself frustrated with some of the problems we create when we come to "help the poor" and that post was born of that frustration. I dislike a lot of what happens between the poor and the people that come to help. I get squirmy and uncomfortable with the 'great white hope' attitude and the Santa Claus stuff that goes on. I don't think there is anything wrong with examining our own motives and asking hard questions about the things we do.
I'm struggling a bit with what I perceive as exploitation of people. I recognize in some of the things we've done over the years (especially very early on) a bit of an air of superiority. I'd go so far as to say that in the past Troy and I have done things that I would now say robbed people of their dignity in that moment. I wish I could go back and undo a few of the things I've done, said, and thought.
I also feel a resentment growing toward others who don't seem to consider the feelings and position of those they come to "help" - nor do they ever allow their approach to be questioned without great offense. Truthfully, I desire to be far more gracious toward the people doing these things and I don't want to resent anyone.
No matter what you've done in the past when on a short or longer term trip abroad - try to be open to this question. I ask that you honestly (without defensiveness) consider this and how you would react to it ...
You are with a friend of yours and a couple of your kids (or if you don't have kids you are watching someone's kids) and you've gone to run a few errands one morning. At Target you notice a woman taking photos of the kids from about 15 yards away. Later, you've stopped at the grocery store and you turn around to see five or six people taking photos of your friend and the kids. That afternoon as you return home you look down your driveway to see someone else standing there taking a photo of your house. You go to bed, the next morning you walk out of your house looking ragged in sweats and an old shirt. As you are walking your dog a truck full of people you've never seen before ride by and they all start snapping your photo.
Yesterday on facebook, out of totally curiosity, I asked this question - I ask it of you now:
Would you be okay with strangers taking your picture(or of your kids or family) while you were out and about minding your business, doing life?Here are a few of the replies I got in response:- I really don't know. I think they'd need to ask for permission first, but then they'd need a good reason. If they wanted a picture of clothing I'm wearing, a purse I'm carrying, shoes, etc so they can go home and find the same, then ok. If they have a valid reason maybe. I'm not a mom yet, but I'm pretty sure I won't ever be ok with someone just randomly taking pictures of my children, for any reason.
- That's tough. Normally I would say no, but I'm fine with people who are obviously traveling or when the new refugee families come to our city they want tons of pictures of everyday life stuff (often involving our family) and that doesn't bother me cuz I know it's new and exciting. I definitely wouldn't want to if I wasn't asked though or if it was someone I didn't know at all.
- Do you mean obviously focusing on my family or me? I frequently get people in my photographs that I don't necessarily mean to, but they are there when I snap the pic. But deliberately focusing? I would not really like that. However, what are they planning on doing with it? I would not like to be used in a media sense.
- No! We've had that happen before & I was shocked. I will not let it happen anymore.
- Absolutely NOT, my children are not exhibits and I would not hesitate one bit to let whoever know that taking their pictures without consent is not appreciated.my son s daycare have a very strict policy on that, parents are not allowed to videotape,take pictures on school grounds.
- NO! If you have the responsability of having a camera and want to take shots. You NEED to approach and ask, can I take a picture of your child on the swing for an article. OR for a art show. Otherwise NO!!
- That's a tough one. We are constantly approached here for a "photo" Sometimes I agree sometimes not. I can't even tell you why I make the choice that I do...When we first came I "obliged" now after having our photos taken a gillion times, ...I mostly say no. However, what I do not like is when we are walking and ppl take out their phones and "steal" our photo. Then again, I "steal" photos of random ppl here...so, what to do?
- Well, it is the paparazzi that drives me nuts. I just wish they would stop following me. lol. No, I wouldn't like it. But I did it in Haiti the first time I went and never thought once about my actions. Rude! I was an ignorant tourist the first time for sure!
- definitely not okay...we have the cell phone picture taking issue here too. way too much of a security risk in the country we live. Maybe more of us should think about it before we take pictures of others???
~~~~~~~~
I'm not debating the ability for photos to tell a story and to draw people in. I know that the world saw Haiti after the earthquake and that the images moved people to respond. There are most certainly times where photos tell a story. We ourselves have shared many stories with photos. We are not claiming we know where the line is - we are simply aware that there IS a line.
Obviously within relationships and with permission it is a entirely different ballgame.
I only know that I am uncomfortable with a lot of what happens here and embarrassed that visitors with fancy cameras often disrespect the Haitian people, sticking the camera in their face without greeting them, without any thought. There seems to be a real attitude of entitlement. (When large groups all have their cameras out, I hide. I cannot watch it.)
Before these were my friends, before these were people I knew, people I loved, people I respected, I took photographs without much thought. I shared photographs without much thought. Now that these are not just "poor people" but REAL PEOPLE, I take and share fewer photographs.
Remember, when you come here for a week you are one of many MANY snapping photos. (The number of groups in and out of Haiti is mind-boggling. Being 700 miles from FL ... 200,000 one+week visitors a year is the number being tossed around.) I'm thinking if we all stopped and put ourselves on the other side of the camera for a moment, we might take very different photographs.
~ ~ ~
Does a post like this hit you wrong? Does it cause defensiveness or examination? I would love to hear your thoughts if you're willing to share.
"My supposedly prophetic photography, which I dreamed could one day change the world, was doing nothing but showing the ugly surface and ignoring everything underneath. I was taking the assumptions and fears of everyone who I hoped would see the truth, and showed them only what they expected:Look how poor our community is.Look how dirty and run-down our buildings are.Look how hopeless and dangerous our youth are.Look how rough a place the city is."~ ~ ~"So how do we do all this? I still don’t really know yet. I’m still trying to learn how to do it well. But I do know what I’m striving for:
Where the world sees poverty, we want it to see a different sort of richness.Where the world sees violence, we want it to see people longing for peace.Where the world sees crime, we want it to see neighbors looking out for each other.Where the world sees brokenness, we want it to see stories of hope and strength.Where the world sees destruction, we want it to see signs of God’s redemption.Amidst the darkness, we want the world to see the Kingdom."
~ ~ ~ ~ (reposting, originally posted here in 2011)
"You say you care about the poor.Then tell me, what are their names?"Gustavo Gutierrez
There are so many topics that are touchy and difficult to write about. I usually avoid speaking/writing with force about them in order to dodge any conflict that may arise as a result. I hate internet word wars .... But more than that I hate when people misunderstand and jump to conclusions. Discussion is great, but it seems that things tend to deteriorate quickly.
The fights people have on line would never happen if they were standing face to face because we're all way more polite, gracious, and non-confrontational in real life. In face to face interaction it rarely happens that if you disagree with someone you jump them with the boldness that happens on line.
All that to say - Bringing up the book, "When Helping Hurts" and writing about Short Term Missions caused a little ruffling of feathers. It wasn't meant to put anyone on the defensive; but it did anyway. C'est la vie. In this case, I think it needs to be said and it was worth the conflict. That post was meant to make us think. It is not actually all about us and what makes us feel good.
Lately I find myself frustrated with some of the problems we create when we come to "help the poor" and that post was born of that frustration. I dislike a lot of what happens between the poor and the people that come to help. I get squirmy and uncomfortable with the 'great white hope' attitude and the Santa Claus stuff that goes on. I don't think there is anything wrong with examining our own motives and asking hard questions about the things we do.
I'm struggling a bit with what I perceive as exploitation of people. I recognize in some of the things we've done over the years (especially very early on) a bit of an air of superiority. I'd go so far as to say that in the past Troy and I have done things that I would now say robbed people of their dignity in that moment. I wish I could go back and undo a few of the things I've done, said, and thought.
I also feel a resentment growing toward others who don't seem to consider the feelings and position of those they come to "help" - nor do they ever allow their approach to be questioned without great offense. Truthfully, I desire to be far more gracious toward the people doing these things and I don't want to resent anyone.
No matter what you've done in the past when on a short or longer term trip abroad - try to be open to this question. I ask that you honestly (without defensiveness) consider this and how you would react to it ...
You are with a friend of yours and a couple of your kids (or if you don't have kids you are watching someone's kids) and you've gone to run a few errands one morning. At Target you notice a woman taking photos of the kids from about 15 yards away. Later, you've stopped at the grocery store and you turn around to see five or six people taking photos of your friend and the kids. That afternoon as you return home you look down your driveway to see someone else standing there taking a photo of your house. You go to bed, the next morning you walk out of your house looking ragged in sweats and an old shirt. As you are walking your dog a truck full of people you've never seen before ride by and they all start snapping your photo.
Yesterday on facebook, out of totally curiosity, I asked this question - I ask it of you now:
Would you be okay with strangers taking your picture(or of your kids or family) while you were out and about minding your business, doing life?Here are a few of the replies I got in response:- I really don't know. I think they'd need to ask for permission first, but then they'd need a good reason. If they wanted a picture of clothing I'm wearing, a purse I'm carrying, shoes, etc so they can go home and find the same, then ok. If they have a valid reason maybe. I'm not a mom yet, but I'm pretty sure I won't ever be ok with someone just randomly taking pictures of my children, for any reason.
- That's tough. Normally I would say no, but I'm fine with people who are obviously traveling or when the new refugee families come to our city they want tons of pictures of everyday life stuff (often involving our family) and that doesn't bother me cuz I know it's new and exciting. I definitely wouldn't want to if I wasn't asked though or if it was someone I didn't know at all.
- Do you mean obviously focusing on my family or me? I frequently get people in my photographs that I don't necessarily mean to, but they are there when I snap the pic. But deliberately focusing? I would not really like that. However, what are they planning on doing with it? I would not like to be used in a media sense.
- No! We've had that happen before & I was shocked. I will not let it happen anymore.
- Absolutely NOT, my children are not exhibits and I would not hesitate one bit to let whoever know that taking their pictures without consent is not appreciated.my son s daycare have a very strict policy on that, parents are not allowed to videotape,take pictures on school grounds.
- NO! If you have the responsability of having a camera and want to take shots. You NEED to approach and ask, can I take a picture of your child on the swing for an article. OR for a art show. Otherwise NO!!
- That's a tough one. We are constantly approached here for a "photo" Sometimes I agree sometimes not. I can't even tell you why I make the choice that I do...When we first came I "obliged" now after having our photos taken a gillion times, ...I mostly say no. However, what I do not like is when we are walking and ppl take out their phones and "steal" our photo. Then again, I "steal" photos of random ppl here...so, what to do?
- Well, it is the paparazzi that drives me nuts. I just wish they would stop following me. lol. No, I wouldn't like it. But I did it in Haiti the first time I went and never thought once about my actions. Rude! I was an ignorant tourist the first time for sure!
- definitely not okay...we have the cell phone picture taking issue here too. way too much of a security risk in the country we live. Maybe more of us should think about it before we take pictures of others???
~~~~~~~~
I'm not debating the ability for photos to tell a story and to draw people in. I know that the world saw Haiti after the earthquake and that the images moved people to respond. There are most certainly times where photos tell a story. We ourselves have shared many stories with photos. We are not claiming we know where the line is - we are simply aware that there IS a line.
Obviously within relationships and with permission it is a entirely different ballgame.
I only know that I am uncomfortable with a lot of what happens here and embarrassed that visitors with fancy cameras often disrespect the Haitian people, sticking the camera in their face without greeting them, without any thought. There seems to be a real attitude of entitlement. (When large groups all have their cameras out, I hide. I cannot watch it.)
Before these were my friends, before these were people I knew, people I loved, people I respected, I took photographs without much thought. I shared photographs without much thought. Now that these are not just "poor people" but REAL PEOPLE, I take and share fewer photographs.
Remember, when you come here for a week you are one of many MANY snapping photos. (The number of groups in and out of Haiti is mind-boggling. Being 700 miles from FL ... 200,000 one+week visitors a year is the number being tossed around.) I'm thinking if we all stopped and put ourselves on the other side of the camera for a moment, we might take very different photographs.
~ ~ ~
Does a post like this hit you wrong? Does it cause defensiveness or examination? I would love to hear your thoughts if you're willing to share.
Categories: Haitian blogs
(Missed) Appointment With a Dictator
According to a Haitian judge, Baby Doc Duvalier should face trial for misappropriating public funds, but not for abusing human rights.
Categories: Haitian blogs
ISAACUMEN*
Chin meets cement corner ~ no contest for guy smiley.
"I am really starting to like the word serendipitous."
"If you run into an anaconda, do.not. harass it."
"I have a question. Why do your eyes make tears only when you're sad?"
"What is the origin of the word animosity?"
"Have a good day, may God be with you, Mama." (every.single.morning.)
"Thank you for teaching us, Mr. Jimmy." (every.single.afternoon.)
"What is the root word of the word protocol?"
*Intallment 1 of ISAACUMEN (isaac acumen) - more to come.
"I am really starting to like the word serendipitous."
"If you run into an anaconda, do.not. harass it."
"I have a question. Why do your eyes make tears only when you're sad?"
"What is the origin of the word animosity?"
"Have a good day, may God be with you, Mama." (every.single.morning.)
"Thank you for teaching us, Mr. Jimmy." (every.single.afternoon.)
"What is the root word of the word protocol?"
*Intallment 1 of ISAACUMEN (isaac acumen) - more to come.
Categories: Haitian blogs
Alo Papa - Nou vle konnen ou
Thanks to a small group in Texas that worked together, four boxes of these arrived yesterday!
We have been reading the Jesus Storybook Bible to our kids for a few years. They never grow tired of the beautiful way the stories are told. (See the precious paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer from JSB in English here.)
We are excited to share this stunningly beautiful book with our Haitian family. From JSB:
"No, the Bible isn’t a list of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne–everything–to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life! There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them."
Alo Papa! Nou vle konnen ou epi rete tou pre ou.
Souple montre nou kijan.
Hello Father! We want to know you and stay close to you.
Please show us how.
Categories: Haitian blogs
baby on the road
At 7pm, getting kids homework done, preparing for bedtime, giving baths...At 8pm, driving an ambulance down a bumpy dark road while a baby girl enters the world.
Chrismene came in a few minutes after 7 last night. She was at the 36 week mark of her pregnancy. In Haiti if you deliver a preemie, you're stuck caring for the preemie. If you want the preemie to have every chance at equimpment and higher-level care the baby needs to be born in the hospital. That's the system. It is close to impossible to bring a baby to the hospital after it is born and get the hospital to receive it. They focus on babies they have delivered and they are almost always filled to capcity.
36 weeks is right at the line, but Chrismene measured very small and her dates had been in question because she joined the program 20 weeks (estimated) into her pregnancy. She is in the Haitian Creations program and we've known her for years. Beth checked Chrismene and decided we better not risk a tiny baby and we headed out in the ambulance. We picked up Wini to be with us to try to negotiate our way into the hospital. Right after Wini joined us, a 5pound 10ounce baby girl joined us too! Ambulance run cancelled, we headed back to the Maternity Center instead.
Chrismene will be seeking a prize of some sort - she was the first of the ladies to give birth in the ambulance. All is well.
23 days without any babies - now 3 babies in 5 days - that's the system, too.
Categories: Haitian blogs
Accident in St. Marc: MINUSTAH continues to sow mourning
by Yves Pierre-Louis (Haiti Liberte)
In Saint-Marc, Dieudaline Jérôme, a 13-year-old schoolgirl, was killed on Fri., Jan. 25, 2013 by a vehicle driven by soldiers of the UN Mission to Stabilize Haiti (MINUSTAH), as the foreign forces occupying Haiti are called. At around 8 a.m., a Nissan Patrol SUV with UN license plate 24499 struck the motorcycle carrying Dieudaline to school. The motorcycle driver was seriously injured, while Dieudaline, who was sitting on the back, was mortally wounded. Although she was urgently transported to the hospital, she could not be saved. The tragic death of this young girl has once again stirred the anger of Haitians against the presence of UN forces on Haitian territory. The population of Saint-Marc took to the streets to demand the departure of “peacekeepers,” throwing stones at their base and vehicles and paralyzing all activities in the town.
"MINUSTAH has come and sown grief in Haitian families,” said one demonstrator. “It brought cholera to Haiti, which continues to kill Haitians. Today, it is their vehicle that kills us. The Haitian people must rise up to demand the unconditional departure of UN soldiers.”
The MINUSTAH deployed in Haiti almost nine years ago, following the Feb. 29, 2004 coup d’état against former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It has committed various massacres around Haiti, killing hundreds of people. Furthermore, it is implicated in the hanging death of Gérald Jean Gilles, a 16-year-old boy, in the MINUSTAH base in Cap-Haïtien in 2008, and the gang rape of 18-year old Johnny Jean in Port-Salut in 2011.
Meanwhile, some 8,000 Haitians have died from the on-going cholera epidemic which the MINUSTAH imported into Haiti in October 2010. In November 2011, a legal complaint was duly filed with the United Nations in Haiti and New York to demand that the UN take responsibility for the epidemic and compensate victims. Until now, the UN has given no response.
"For complaints about cholera, they must be filed in New York, at the Office of Legal Affairs,” said MINUSTAH’s Chilean chief Mariano Fernandez. “That is where to make a claim.”
Therein lies the absurdity meant to discourage victims. When a crime is committed on Haitian soil, Haitians are told to file complaints in New York. Is that now what the family of Dieudaline Jérôme must do to find justice and redress?
The nine-year MINUSTAH military occupation of Haiti has brought massacres, rapes, and a cholera epidemic. An tragic accident in St. Marc has renewed calls for UN troops to leave.
Categories: Haitian blogs
With Cabinet Reshuffle and Proposal to Trim Senate Terms, Martelly Regime Veers Hard Right
by Thomas Péralte (Haiti Liberte) President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe reshuffled their cabinet last week for the third time in nine months. The new cabinet comprises 23 ministers and 10 secretaries of state. The previous government of President René Préval and Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive was less bloated but more effective with only 18 ministers and just a few secretaries of state.
In a Jan. 12, 2013 decree, approved by Martelly, Lamothe changed seven ministers: David Bazile replaced Ronsard Saint-Cyr as Minister of the Interior and Territorial Communities; Charles Jean-Jacques replaced Josépha Raymond Gauthier as Minister of Social Affairs and Labor; Josette Darguste replaced Jean Mario Dupuy as Culture Minister; Régine Godefroy replaced Ady Jean Gardy as Communications Minister; Magalie Racine replaced Jean Roosevelt René as Minister of Youth, Sports and Civic Action; Jean François Thomas replaced Jean Vilmond Hilaire as Environment Minister; and Bernice Fidelia replaced Daniel Supplice as Minister of Haitians Living Abroad.
The remaining ministers stayed in their posts: Laurent Lamothe as Minister of Planning and External Cooperation; Pierre Richard Casimir as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs; Jean Renel Sanon as Minister of Justice and Public Security; Marie Carmelle Jean-Marie as Minister of Economy and Finance; Thomas Jacques as Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Rural Development; Jacques Rousseau as Minister of Public Works, Transport, Energy, and Communications; Wilson Laleau as Minister of Trade and Industry; Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin as Tourism Minister; Vanneur Pierre as Minister of National Education and Vocational Training; Florence Duperval Guillaume as Minister of Public Health and Population; Yanick Mézile as Minister for the Status of Women and Women's Rights; Jean Rodolphe Joazile as Defense Minister; Ralph Théano as Minister delegated by the Prime Minister for Relations with Parliament; Marie Carmelle Rose Anne Auguste as Minister delegated by the Prime Minister for Human Rights and the Fight Against Extreme Poverty;
Marie Mimose Félix as Minister delegated by the Prime Minister to Promote the Peasantry; and René Jean-Jumeau as Minister delegated by the Prime Minister for Energy Security.
Meanwhile, other appointments were Reginald Delva as Secretary of State for Public Security; Philippe Cinéas as Secretary of State for Public Works and Transport; Fresnel Dorcin as Secretary of State for Plant Production; Michel Chancy as Secretary of State for Animal Production; Vernet Joseph as Secretary of State for Agricultural Renewal; Ronald Décembre as Secretary of State for Tax Reform; Oswald Thimoléon as Secretary of State for Literacy; Marina Gourgues as Secretary of State for Vocational Training; Gérald Oriol as Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities; and Robert Labrousse as Secretary of State for External Cooperation.
In addition, the infamous Duvalierist Emmanuel Ménard was appointed as the Director General of the National Radio and Television of Haiti (RTNH). Ménard was once a leading propagandist for the Duvalier dictatorship on Radio Nationale; he was also formerly a director of the Delmas mayor’s office, director of the National Library of Haiti, and an advisor to President Martelly.
This cabinet reshuffling promoted many other notorious and zealous Duvalierists and neo-Duvalierists of yesteryear, or their children. For example, Interior Minister David Bazile was a former officer in the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAD'H), and a former Secretary of State for Public Security under the coup government of President Alexandre Boniface and Prime Minister Gérard Latortue (2004-2006). A leader of the Duvalierist Party of National Unity (PUN), Bazile was also an advisor to President Martelly and coordinator of the National Commission for the Fight Against Drugs (CONALD).
Meanwhile, Sports Minister Magalie Racine is the daughter of former Tonton Macoute militia chief Madame Max Adolphe. She is married to Georges Racine, a Martelly advisor and a strongman in the National Palace. Also Public Works Secretary of State Philippe Cinéas is the son of longtime Duvalierist figure Alix Cinéas, who was an advisor to Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier and a member of the original neo-Duvalierist National Council of Government (CNG) which succeeded Duvalier after his fall in 1986.
While former Lavalas official Mario Dupuy lost his job as Culture Minister, right-wing hardliners like Justice Minister Jean Renel Sanon, a former soldier, kept his. Sanon has come under particular outcry for firing Port-au-Prince’s prosecutor Jean Renel Sénatus, who refused to arrest three human-rights lawyers. Sanon also appointed a controversial lawyer, Fermo-Jude Paul, as an investigating judge of the court in Croix-des-Bouquets, just north of the capital; Paul then went on to release to release Calixte Valentin, a close Martelly advisor, who shot to death in cold blood Octanol Dérissaint, a Haitian vendor, in front of many eye-witnesses in the town of Fond Parisien, near the Dominican border, last April. Sanon also stands accused of encouraging corruption in an already corruption-riddled judicial system.
Public Works Minister Jacques Rousseau has been on the hot seat before Parliament for agreeing to sign contracts, which the lawmakers consider illegal and unconstitutional, granting gold mining permits.
Finally, the Minister delegated to deal with Parliament, Ralph Théano, has taken to insulting lawmakers. He described members of the opposition’s minority bloc, the PRI, as "Kamikazes" and children raised in single-parent families. Some parliamentarians feel that Martelly and Lamothe are thumbing their noses at Parliament by keeping the unapologetic Théano in his post.
The cabinet shake-up is the fourth under Martelly, who came to power in May 2011. The first cabinet to change was that formed under former Prime Minister Garry Conille.
Parliamentarians are also up in arms after Martelly floated a threat to unilaterally (and illegally) shorten the terms of ten Senators who were elected to six year terms: John Joel Joseph (West), Wencesclass Lambert (South East), Francky Exius (South), Maxime Roumer (Grand'Anse), William Jeanty (Nippes), Jean Willy Jean-Baptiste (Artibonite), Desras Simon Dieuseul (Central Plateau); Moïse Jean-Charles (Nord); Méllius Hyppolite (Northwest) and Jean-Baptiste Bien-Aimé (North-East). All were sworn in on Sep. 4, 2009, and therefore their constitutional mandate will expire on the second Monday of January 2015. Several of the senators are outspoken critics of Martelly, and the President wants to silence them, particularly Moïse Jean-Charles.
Martelly’s threat to trim Senate terms has already triggered howls of protest in both the upper and lower houses of Parliament. Even senators considered aligned with Martelly expressed their opposition. "I spoke with the President, and I told him that it was a bad road to take," said Senate President Desras Simon Dieuseul. "If he has advisers who told him he can enforce this law, I challenge them to tell me that I am not right, because when we talk about a transitional provision, it is a something that is for a limited time and that time has elapsed. I told the President that I did not want him to insist on this path. If we question the terms of one category of elected officials, then we should also put into question the terms of all elected officials (including the President), and we could arrive at a general election."
Senator Wencesclass Lambert, a close Martelly ally in the Senate, also voiced his disagreement with Martelly’s proposal to shorten the ten mandates, saying they were constitutionally protected. He lamely suggested that Martelly’s remarks do not reflect the government’s official position. He warned that any attempt to reduce the senators’ mandates would precipitate “a new and serious political crisis.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Emmanuel Fritz-Gerald Bourjolly, also member of the pro-government parliamentary bloc, called Martelly’s proposal unconstitutional and undemocratic, saying the President has no authority to shorten senators’ terms. “That would be against the principles of democracy,” he said.
Deputy Patrick Joseph from Saint-Michel/Marmelade said that Martelly’s proposal “proves, once again, his dictatorial tendencies.” He said Martelly’s speeches on the development of the country are contradicted by his actions and called on the Haitian people to “remain vigilant to defeat anti-democratic plan of the President.”
Grande Saline’s Deputy, Wilbert Joseph Deshommes, said he hoped that Martelly had “already realized the illegality of the project” to shorten the senators’ terms. He invited Martelly to review “the evidence that the era of dictatorship in Haiti is over.”
Some have noted that Martelly appears clumsily willing to use the transitional provisions of the 2008 Electoral Act against parliamentarians, while he refuses to use the transitional provisions of the Constitution for the formation of a Provisional Electoral Council to organize elections.
In fact, the formation of an electoral council to organize elections is once again delayed. The coalition of clerics called Religions for Peace, which was seeking to broker a compromise between the Executive and the Legislature, has now withdrawn. The representatives of the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) installed on Martelly’s patently illegal “Permanent” Electoral Council refuse to step down. Martelly continues to keep his protégé Josué Pierre-Louis at the head of any eventual electoral council, despite the credible charges that Pierre-Louis raped one of his staff members.
The evident hardening of the regime’s stance in the face of growing popular misery, anger, and outcry augur serious political confrontations in the coming weeks and months.
President Michel Martelly has threatened to shorten the terms of opposition senators while his Prime Minister has installed new hard-right ministers in a cabinet reshuffle.
Categories: Haitian blogs
World Bank and IMF Forecasts Follow Predictable Pattern for Haiti, Venezuela
by Arthur Phillips and Stephan Lefebvre (CEPR Americas Blog)
The World Bank has joined the “doom and gloom” chorus on Venezuela’s economy. And in Haiti, the Washington-based institution again appears overly optimistic.
On Tuesday, January 15, the World Bank released its latest global economic forecast, which projects 2013 global GDP growth at 3.4%, up 0.4% from its preliminary estimate for 2012 and down a half a percentage point from its previous forecast in June. The Bank emphasized that the low rates were largely a result of sluggish growth in the U.S. and Europe. As for Latin America and the Caribbean, the regional predicted growth for 2013 is listed at 3.6%, up more than half a point from the estimated figure for 2012.
As with many media commentators over the past few years, the World Bank predicts that Venezuela’s economic recovery from the global recession cannot hold up. The Bank forecasts 1.8% growth in 2013, a sharp drop from an estimated 5.2% last year. Since the Venezuelan economy is not slowing, there is no obvious reason to predict a collapse in economic growth.
Furthermore, we can see that the projection numbers follow a trend. Both the World Bank and the IMF have been consistently underestimating growth projections in Venezuela.
Meanwhile, in Haiti the Bank predicts a sharp jump in GDP growth, from 2.2 to 6.0 percent, while the IMF has forecast growth at 6.5%. When we compare these numbers to those of previous years, we can see the opposite trend of that in Venezuela. All the projections for 2012 overestimated growth by well over 5 percentage points.
It is unclear why both the IMF and the World Bank have projected such high growth for Haiti considering the many severe challenges facing the country in the wake of the 2010 earthquake. As we have noted on an ongoing basis over the past three years, major international donor funding has been slow to materialize, progress on housing, water, sanitation and other infrastructure has been minimal, and there have been few examples of improvements that would suggest an upsurge in growth is on its way. There has been even more bad news in the wake of Hurricane Sandy at the end of October, which devastated crops and left 2.1 million people “food insecure.” The World Bank and IMF’s projections of 6 percent or higher GDP growth in 2013 seem unfounded.
The IMF’s pessimistic growth projections for Venezuela fit a pattern going back several years. GDP growth forecasts for Argentina were off by 5.0, 5.2, and 4.3 percentage points for the years 2004-2006, and for Venezuela they were off bya gigantic 10.6, 6.8 and 5.8 percentage points in the same years. These patterns suggest a politicization of the IMF’s projections for certain countries, since the Fund was consistently overly optimistic on Argentina’s growth in the years that the Argentine government was still following the IMF’s policy recommendations.
The World Bank has joined the “doom and gloom” chorus on Venezuela’s economy. And in Haiti, the Washington-based institution again appears overly optimistic.
On Tuesday, January 15, the World Bank released its latest global economic forecast, which projects 2013 global GDP growth at 3.4%, up 0.4% from its preliminary estimate for 2012 and down a half a percentage point from its previous forecast in June. The Bank emphasized that the low rates were largely a result of sluggish growth in the U.S. and Europe. As for Latin America and the Caribbean, the regional predicted growth for 2013 is listed at 3.6%, up more than half a point from the estimated figure for 2012.
As with many media commentators over the past few years, the World Bank predicts that Venezuela’s economic recovery from the global recession cannot hold up. The Bank forecasts 1.8% growth in 2013, a sharp drop from an estimated 5.2% last year. Since the Venezuelan economy is not slowing, there is no obvious reason to predict a collapse in economic growth.
Furthermore, we can see that the projection numbers follow a trend. Both the World Bank and the IMF have been consistently underestimating growth projections in Venezuela.
Meanwhile, in Haiti the Bank predicts a sharp jump in GDP growth, from 2.2 to 6.0 percent, while the IMF has forecast growth at 6.5%. When we compare these numbers to those of previous years, we can see the opposite trend of that in Venezuela. All the projections for 2012 overestimated growth by well over 5 percentage points.
It is unclear why both the IMF and the World Bank have projected such high growth for Haiti considering the many severe challenges facing the country in the wake of the 2010 earthquake. As we have noted on an ongoing basis over the past three years, major international donor funding has been slow to materialize, progress on housing, water, sanitation and other infrastructure has been minimal, and there have been few examples of improvements that would suggest an upsurge in growth is on its way. There has been even more bad news in the wake of Hurricane Sandy at the end of October, which devastated crops and left 2.1 million people “food insecure.” The World Bank and IMF’s projections of 6 percent or higher GDP growth in 2013 seem unfounded.
The IMF’s pessimistic growth projections for Venezuela fit a pattern going back several years. GDP growth forecasts for Argentina were off by 5.0, 5.2, and 4.3 percentage points for the years 2004-2006, and for Venezuela they were off bya gigantic 10.6, 6.8 and 5.8 percentage points in the same years. These patterns suggest a politicization of the IMF’s projections for certain countries, since the Fund was consistently overly optimistic on Argentina’s growth in the years that the Argentine government was still following the IMF’s policy recommendations.
Categories: Haitian blogs
Déclaration de Marie Danielle Bernadin
Haiti-Viol : “J’ai décidé d’abandonner les poursuites (…) réaffirmant que j’ai été battue et violée par Josué Pierre-Louis”
lundi 28 janvier 2013
Déclaration de Marie Danielle Bernadin
Document obtenu par AlterPresse
(Read the original article here)
Vu les voies de fait et le viol perpétrés sur ma personne en date du 26 novembre 2012 par le Président du CEP Josué Pierre-Louis dans sa résidence et la plainte déposée au Parquet du Tribunal de Première Instance de Port-au-Prince aux fins de poursuites le 28 novembre de la même année ;
Considérant que depuis ces faits infractionnels le système judiciaire haïtien me traite en bourreau alors que je suis la victime ;
Vu les menaces proférées contre le Juge d’instruction Joseph Jeudilien FANFAN par le frère de Josué Pierre-Louis, Ikenson EDUME, lui-même Juge d’Instruction, le 17 décembre 2012 l’ayant forcé à abandonner le dossier ;
Considérant la désignation d’un nouveau Juge d’instruction en dehors de la loi voulant /qu’en cas d’empêchement d’un juge initialement désigné sur un dossier c’est l’Assemblée Générale des juges qui doit en choisir un autre ;/
Vu la demande de déport adressée au Juge d’instruction Merlan BELABRE le 23 janvier 2013 suivie d’une action en récusation initiée le 25 janvier 2013 pour défaut *d’impartialité et* *suspicion légitime ;*
Considérant la scène horrible offerte par Josué Pierre-Louis et ses partisans dans la matinée du mercredi 23 janvier 2013 alors qu’une confrontation était prévue au Cabinet d’Instruction. Ayant envahi l’espace conduisant au bureau du Juge, ils ont proféré des menaces contre moi et mes avocats, injurié les membres des Organisations féministes qui ont appuyé ma démarche consistant à porter plainte aux fins d’obtenir justice pour cet acte odieux. Le Magistrat Instructeur n’a pu que constater l’impossibilité matérielle de réaliser cet acte d’instruction comme prévu en raison des véhémentes protestations des partisans zélés de l’inculpé. Ce qui rappelle les menaces exercées dans l’enceinte même du Tribunal de Première Instance de Port-au-Prince sur le premier Juge qui était désigné sur le dossier, Joseph Jeudilien FANFAN. Il en infère que ce dossier suscite des intérêts majeurs susceptibles de mettre en péril ma vie et celle de ma famille.
Vu que mes parents ont dû fuir le pays pour échapper aux menaces d’assassinat dont ils étaient l’objet ;
Considérant que ma sécurité n’a jamais été prise en charge par les Autorités haïtiennes conformément aux Conventions Internationales ratifiées par Haïti sur la protection des victimes, alors que l’inculpé bénéficie de toutes sortes de protections. Une situation qui me contraint à adopter le nomadisme comme mode de vie et qui brise mes liens familiaux.
*Vu la déclaration du Président de la République en date du 27 décembre 2012 attribuant ma plainte contre Josué Pierre-Louis à un montage politique contribuant ainsi à influencer l’appareil judiciaire* ;
j’ai décidé d’abandonner les poursuites quant à présent, tout en apportant un démenti formel aux rumeurs faisant croire que j’ai été manipulée par des gens et des Organisations ayant un agenda politique et réaffirmant que j’ai été battue et violée par Josué Pierre-Louis le 26 novembre 2012.
Je remercie mes avocats, les Organisations de défense des Droits Humains SOFA, RNDDH, KAY FANM, POHDH pour leur support inconditionnel.
Vu ma foi chrétienne, je me réfère à 1 Corinthien 6 : 1-8 et à Matthieu 5 : 21-26 et m’accroche au Pardon et à la Justice Divine.
Fait à Port-au-Prince, ce 28 janvier 2013.
Marie Danielle BERNADIN
lundi 28 janvier 2013
Déclaration de Marie Danielle Bernadin
Document obtenu par AlterPresse
(Read the original article here)
Vu les voies de fait et le viol perpétrés sur ma personne en date du 26 novembre 2012 par le Président du CEP Josué Pierre-Louis dans sa résidence et la plainte déposée au Parquet du Tribunal de Première Instance de Port-au-Prince aux fins de poursuites le 28 novembre de la même année ;
Considérant que depuis ces faits infractionnels le système judiciaire haïtien me traite en bourreau alors que je suis la victime ;
Vu les menaces proférées contre le Juge d’instruction Joseph Jeudilien FANFAN par le frère de Josué Pierre-Louis, Ikenson EDUME, lui-même Juge d’Instruction, le 17 décembre 2012 l’ayant forcé à abandonner le dossier ;
Considérant la désignation d’un nouveau Juge d’instruction en dehors de la loi voulant /qu’en cas d’empêchement d’un juge initialement désigné sur un dossier c’est l’Assemblée Générale des juges qui doit en choisir un autre ;/
Vu la demande de déport adressée au Juge d’instruction Merlan BELABRE le 23 janvier 2013 suivie d’une action en récusation initiée le 25 janvier 2013 pour défaut *d’impartialité et* *suspicion légitime ;*
Considérant la scène horrible offerte par Josué Pierre-Louis et ses partisans dans la matinée du mercredi 23 janvier 2013 alors qu’une confrontation était prévue au Cabinet d’Instruction. Ayant envahi l’espace conduisant au bureau du Juge, ils ont proféré des menaces contre moi et mes avocats, injurié les membres des Organisations féministes qui ont appuyé ma démarche consistant à porter plainte aux fins d’obtenir justice pour cet acte odieux. Le Magistrat Instructeur n’a pu que constater l’impossibilité matérielle de réaliser cet acte d’instruction comme prévu en raison des véhémentes protestations des partisans zélés de l’inculpé. Ce qui rappelle les menaces exercées dans l’enceinte même du Tribunal de Première Instance de Port-au-Prince sur le premier Juge qui était désigné sur le dossier, Joseph Jeudilien FANFAN. Il en infère que ce dossier suscite des intérêts majeurs susceptibles de mettre en péril ma vie et celle de ma famille.
Vu que mes parents ont dû fuir le pays pour échapper aux menaces d’assassinat dont ils étaient l’objet ;
Considérant que ma sécurité n’a jamais été prise en charge par les Autorités haïtiennes conformément aux Conventions Internationales ratifiées par Haïti sur la protection des victimes, alors que l’inculpé bénéficie de toutes sortes de protections. Une situation qui me contraint à adopter le nomadisme comme mode de vie et qui brise mes liens familiaux.
*Vu la déclaration du Président de la République en date du 27 décembre 2012 attribuant ma plainte contre Josué Pierre-Louis à un montage politique contribuant ainsi à influencer l’appareil judiciaire* ;
j’ai décidé d’abandonner les poursuites quant à présent, tout en apportant un démenti formel aux rumeurs faisant croire que j’ai été manipulée par des gens et des Organisations ayant un agenda politique et réaffirmant que j’ai été battue et violée par Josué Pierre-Louis le 26 novembre 2012.
Je remercie mes avocats, les Organisations de défense des Droits Humains SOFA, RNDDH, KAY FANM, POHDH pour leur support inconditionnel.
Vu ma foi chrétienne, je me réfère à 1 Corinthien 6 : 1-8 et à Matthieu 5 : 21-26 et m’accroche au Pardon et à la Justice Divine.
Fait à Port-au-Prince, ce 28 janvier 2013.
Marie Danielle BERNADIN
Categories: Haitian blogs
NAYELI FANFAN by Reginald Gelin
Categories: Haitian blogs
NAYELI FANFAN by Reginald Gelin
Categories: Haitian blogs