Business

White-Mark Entertainment contracts with Caribbean Fever Music Festival at Barclays Center

NEW YORK, USA (defend.ht/DML) - May 22, 2013: Today White-Mark Entertainment (WME) announced its contract with the 2013 Caribbean Fever Music Festival, a premier celebration of Caribbean cultures, cuisine, fashion and music. Presented in partnership with Irie Jamboree, Inc., the Caribbean Fever Music Festival is a three-day live event taking place during Labor Day Weekend on Friday, August 30 through Sunday, September 1, 2013 at the landmark Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn, New York.

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Loans between Pledged and Disbursed Health Aid

WASHINGTON, D.C. (defend.ht) - Now, aid groups will be able to obtain financing with a line of credit from Pledge Guarantee for Health, a public-private partnership between the United States and Sweden and commercial banks that aims to get aid recipients, working in health, the money they need faster.

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Carrefour-Feuilles in blackout, EDH apologizes

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Electricity of Haiti apologized to residents in one of Haiti's largest districts, Carrefour-Feuilles, for power rationing caused by the failure of the CAF 2-1 circuit. Although teams are working to repair the circuit, it fears armed intruders may make this operation difficult. This expands the extreme shortage of energy being felt in the metropolitan area.

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Leopard Haiti Fund Makes First Investment in dloHaiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht/LeopardCapital) – The Leopard Capital Haiti Fund made it's first investment into dloHaiti, a company owned by Silicon Valley executive Jim Chu. In March 2013, dloHaiti was runner-up in Imagine H2O's annual international competition recognizing the world's most promising water start-ups. Press release:

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JetBlue readies for direct flights to Haiti

NEW YORK, USA (defend.ht) - It was first mentioned by its CEO David Barger in September of 2009 but today jetBlue is announcing that pending approval from the Haitian and U.S. governments it will begin offering daily non-stop flights from New York, Fort-Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince.

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Victims of Tabarre Market Fires Decry Broken Promises

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Merchants at the public market in Tabarre mobilized on Wednesday to denounce that a year and a day ago after the market caught of fire, President Michel Martelly visited them to say there was a fund of $5 million [US] already available in the public treasury to repair the victims, but since, not a penny had been disbursed.

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Haiti: State electricity company disconnected for arrears of payment

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Less than a week after Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe promised 24-hour electricity throughout Haiti within 6 months, the state-run company, Electricite d'Haiti, was disconnected for being 3-months in the arrears, putting the entire greater metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince in blackout.

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Dominican farmers fear loss of crops without Haitian laborers

SAN JUAN de la MAGUANA, Dominican Republic (defend.ht) - More than 20 major farm and livestock associations on Thursday warned Dominican authorities that 90% of their more than 9,400 hectares of crops could perish if Haitian laborers aren't allowed into the country.

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Another Fire Destroys Public Market in Tabarre

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - The public market of Tabarre again suffered a devastating firing that destroyed the merchandise and shops of more than 200 small businesspersons. Victims who received no assistance since the previous fire destroyed the marketplace in February, were promised by the Haiti government assistance in securing more loans at preferential rates.

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Haiti: Two Gold, Copper Exploitation Permits Awarded to Foreign Companies

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - After years of exploration, two mining permits were awarded to two companies based in Canada and the U.S. to openly mine for gold and copper in Haiti. Many still worry the mines will be a boom for foreign investors and a bust for local communities.

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Haitian Drivers Strike against Tax Hikes

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Drivers began a general strike on Monday, promising not to transport anyone until the Haitian government returns on its decision to impose an increase in taxes on drivers' incomes and commercial licenses.

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Karibe Hotel looks to double capacity in expansion

BOSTON, USA (defend.ht) - Haiti's premier hotelier Richard Buteau has commissioned J/Brice Design International to design a new wing for The Karibe Hotel & Spa that will include 100 luxury guestrooms, as well as an upscale eatery and entertainment venue with rooftop terraces and commanding sea views.

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New Haitian Digital Television Channel coming to South Florida

MIAMI, USA (defend.ht) - For Morrocan film producer Claude Mancuso the digital revolution has been a rebirth. The man who founded the Haitian Television Network of America in South Florida back in 1988 closed his local station in 2006. The availability of more channels through digital television has allowed him to get back in the business of Haitian television.

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Muhammad Yunus announces financing for Haitian businesses

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Nobel peace price laureate Muhammad Yunus announced that his group would providing loans and equity investments to several Haitian businesses. The financing will range from $80,000 to $500,000 with interest rates from 6-10%.

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Digicel Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists: Building the Economy of Tomorrow

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Digicel Entrepreneur of the Year in Haiti, a country facing many economic problems is entering its third edition and there have been more applications received than in previous years.

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Haiti: Digicel Announces Closing of Voila

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Six month's after Digicel acquired Voila, it announced that the Voila network and company will be closing on October 15.

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Haiti - Open Letter to President: Businessman Announces Lawsuit against Government

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - André Apaid Jr, the businessman abased on Monday at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, being prohibited from traveling abroad, over allegations of unpaid taxes, released a critical open letter to President Michel Martelly ultimately announcing intentions to sue the government.

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Haiti: State Electricity Announces Plans to Make Power Available 24 Hours per Day

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Andress Appolon, Director General of Electricity of Haiti, having repaired all circuits lost a week after the passage of Tropical Storm Isaac announced a $160 million plan to have electricity available in Port-au-Prince 24 hours per day.

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Haiti: Business Leaders Prohibited from Leaving the Country for Alleged Tax Evasion

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) – A prominent businessman in Haiti was stopped from leaving the country on Monday by port authority officials at the international airport for alleged tax evasion, a charge the business leader is contesting.

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Haiti: Power Outages across Port-au-Prince

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - At least 32 power grids lost power in metropolitan due to Tropical Storm Isaac which passed over Haiti Friday night. Authorities at Electricity of Haiti (EDH) believe damage was minimized by preventative measures taken before the storm such as trimming tree branches threatening power lines and prepare gas generators for backup.

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Book reviews

Haiti Noir

Book Review

The anthology edited by Edwidge Danticat puts a uniquely Haitian spin on the crime genre

"Danticat has succeeded in assembling a group portrait of Haitian culture and resilience that is cause for celebration." - Publishers Weekly