PORT-AU-PRINCE — The first portion of U.S. reconstruction money for Haiti is on its way more than seven months after it was promised to help the country rebuild from the Jan. 12 earthquake.

BHR 11-10The date scheduled for the first round of Haiti’s presidential and parliamentary elections, November 28, is racing towards the island. Simultaneously Cholera is racing across the countryside in the Artibonite, the Central Plateau and beyond, and Hurricane Tomas raced up the Caribbean, lashing the South of the country and cutting off all towns below Leogane from the capital. The Provisional Electoral Council maintains that they are doing everything they can to prepare, and that they are moving ahead on schedule. But serious doubts have been raised about the timetable.

Even before these crises Haiti had many obstacles to legitimate and credible elections. The voter list has not been updated since 2005, so many people who lost their lives in the earthquake are still on the list, which could facilitate electoral fraud. Many Haitians are not registered to vote, or lost their identification cards in the earthquake. For months long lines have snaked out from the National Identification Offices as people tried to fix their paper work—though the lines continued even after the publication of the voter list, and many Haitians seek identity cards to go to the bank or to deal with the police, not just to vote.

Confusion, fear as Haiti camps evacuate for storm
PORT-AU-PRINCE— For nearly 10 months, more than 1 million people in Haiti's earthquake camps have been walking a precarious line: Trying to get out and find good homes without losing their tents and the few possessions they still have.

Now a potential hurricane threatens to upend that careful balance. The Haitian Read more

The organization Discover Roxbury, along with the Haley House Bakery Café will host a speaker series event focused on the history of Haitian people in Roxbury on Wednesday, October 27 at 7 p.m.. The discussion will focus on the rise, growth and culture of Haitian-Americans in the city.

GBIO forum brings candidates together: All four pledged to oppose ballot questions 2 & 3. Photo by Erik JacobsGreater Boston religious leaders this week asked the four candidates for governor to pledge that, once in office, they will create a comprehensive dwelling strategy for Haitian refugees and advocate at the federal level for legal status that will allow these families to work. All four candidates – Gov. Deval Patrick, the Democratic incumbent, Republican challenger Charlie Baker, independent candidate Timothy Cahill, and Green Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein – said “yes” at a Sunday forum at the Temple Israel of Boston.

Edwidge Danticat speaks at Brown University, Oct. 4, 2010On Monday October 4th, Brown University launched a Haitian Initiative with two special events featuring Edwidge Danticat, acclaimed Haitian-American author and Paul Farmer, UN Deputy Special Envoy to Haiti and co-founder of Partners in Health. The University’s Department of Africana Studies also announced a new visiting fellow, Haitian recording artist Wyclef Jean.

Former Haitian Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis, who is a candidate for president in the upcoming November 28th election in Haiti, is scheduled to appear at a forum on Saturday, September 25 from 5-9p.m.

Manolia CharlotinManolia Charlotin has joined the staff of the Boston Haitian Reporter as Editor and Business Manager. Manolia is a social entrepreneur, advocate and community organizer who has worked in community development, immigrant civic engagement, political campaigns, youth organizing and cultural awareness for the last 10 years.  She is the co-founder of Haiti 2015, a grassroots campaign to advance access to opportunities in Haiti, whose launch in January, connected community-based organizations all across Haiti.
“The Reporter is excited to have Manolia Charlotin join our team,” said Reporter Managing Editor and co-founder Bill Forry. “Manolia will be charged with developing new business opportunities and editorial content for the Reporter. She will also take the lead in engaging the broader community in the work of the Reporter Newspapers. Her breadth of experience and contacts in organizing, particularly in the Haitian-American community makes her a tremendous addition to the Reporter team.”