Haitian News

Two government buildings inaugurated in the Central Department

THOMASSIQUE, Haiti (defend.ht) - After the opening of the Administrative and Socio-cultural complex in Hinche on Monday, on Tuesday, in the towns of Thomassique and Cerca-la-Source, also in the Centre Department, two new building were completed. A new Directorate General of Taxes and a town hall, respectively.

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Haiti: Port Authority receives high level World Bank delegation

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - The Haitian National Port Authority received a delegation fo 7 high ranking members of the World Bank. The purpose of the visit, according to the APN, was to discuss infrastructure and introduce the new World Bank Envoy to Haiti.

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Haiti: Administrative and Socio-Cultural Complex is opened in the Central Department

HINCHE, Haiti (defend.ht) - A Center Administrative Complex and Socio-cultural Complex by the Inter-American Development Bank was opened on Monday in the town of Hinche.

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Haiti: Night of rain causes immense flooding in Centre

HINCHE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Rainfall in the central plateau is continuing to create panic at the homes of families. Many districts and homes were under water, people took to their roofs and livestock and animals were washed away.

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The “M" Community: LGBT Courage in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht/C&C) - Homophobia affects our entire society. That’s why we have the slogan, “Homosexuality hurts no one; homophobia hurts everyone.†Homophobia is what stresses people out. Homophobia is what pushes people to violence.

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Haitian-American Org. backs Bill de Blasio for NYC Mayor

BROOKLYN (NY), USA (defend.ht) - Friday, June 14th, 2013. The Haitian American Association for Political Action (HAAPA) PAC today endorsed New York City Public Advocate and Democrat Bill de Blasio for Mayor. HAAPA PAC Political Director, Josue Pierre cited de Blasio's progressive and inclusive vision, his dedication to improving access to economic opportunities for communities of color, and the critical need to reform Stop and Frisk.

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Bodies pile up at Port-au-Prince general hospital morgue

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - A situation to say the least, "appalling", has been developing at the morgue of the general hospital in the capital. Down for several months, bodies continue to arrive by the dozens every day in Haiti's largest hospital and are being left in the courtyard decaying and posing a health hazard for workers, patients and citizens.

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Haiti: New National School Inaugurated in Dondon

DONDON, Haiti (defend.ht) - The latest of a series of schools commissioned to be built by the Preval-Bellerive administration was inaugurated on Thursday in the town of Dondon in the North Department.

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Haiti: Parties object to Martelly's objections of law on political parties

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - A diverse group of political parties objected to the objections of the President of the Republic to a bill on political parties written under the Presidency of Rene Preval in 2009, passed through the Senate in 2011 and the Lower House in April 2013. This set of electoral laws is supposed to improve competition in the Haitian electoral system by recognizing an opposition and allocating 1% of state funds to all political parties.

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At Parliament, more than 100 protest for departure of Haiti Prime Minister

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht/AlterPresse) - On the sidelines of a meeting of the Administration in the Senate of the Republic, more than one hundred people, mostly women, demonstrated outside the Parliament building on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to demand the departure of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe Salvador, observed the online agency AlterPresse.

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Haitian man beaten to death by Dominican immigration agents

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (defend.ht) - A 31 year-old Haitian carpenter with a work visa died allegedly after receiving "a brutal beating" by immigration officials and police during a repatriation raid of immigrants in the Dominican Republic.

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Haiti: Fanmi Lavalas has not settled on Lunise Morse as senate candidate

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - "We have not yet reached the stage of selecting candidates," corrected Maryse Narcisse on information that Fanmi Lavalas had settled on Lunise Morse to be the party's candidate for the Senate for the West.

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Elementary School to open in Haiti

WASHINGTON, D.C. (defend.ht) - The Delta Sigma Theta sorority announced as part of its centennial year celebration the opening of the Delta Sigma Theta Elementary School in the remote village of Chérette, Haiti.

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FAES says loan-backed social programs in Haiti modeled after Brazil

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - The Director of the FAES defended the use of social assistance programs funded by Petrocaribe loans by saying the programs in Haiti were inspired by social assistance programs that worked in Brazil. Brazil, where a 10% per year agricultural growth rate, second largest industrial sector in the Americas and a completely self sufficient energy sector is enjoyed.

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Cuba devotes a week to celebrate Haitian culture

HAVANA, Cuba (defend.ht) - This week from Sunday until Saturday Cubans expressed their longstanding fascination with Haiti and celebrated the Haitian culture with a whole week devoted to the culture of the country.

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Haiti's Pierre Esperance elected Secretary General of Int'l Fed of Human Rights

INSTANBUL, Turkey (defend.ht) - Haitian Pierre Esperance was elected Monday in Turkey to be the Secretary General of the International Federation for Human Rights; founded in 1922, the FIDH is the oldest international human rights organization in the world spanning over 100 nations.

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Journalist Laventure Ernest Edouard (Moloskot) In Trouble With Haitian Justice

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Radio host and journalist Ernest Laventure Edouard, known to many as, Moloskot, has a case against him before justice for distributing fake badges and firearms to persons who believed they were being hired as customs employees. According to Moloskot, he was hired by President Michel Martelly to do a job and will only answer to him.

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Haiti: Spectacular theft of 30 trucks from Belladere customs offices

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Customs officials say last week a group of heavily armed bandits stole thirty (30) trucks that had been seized and were being kept in their warehouse in Belladère in one operation. No figure was given on how many bandits participated in the crime but officials say one individual is in the hands of justice.

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Haiti: Fanmi Lavalas nominates Lunise Morse for Senator of the West

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - The wife of the outspoken Richard Morse, Lunise Morse, was officially invested on Saturday as the senatorial candidate for the West Department of Fanmi Lavalas.

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Haiti: Fmr PM Garry Conille dispels return to politics

BOSTON, USA (defend.ht) - Former Prime Minister Dr. Garry Conille in Creole, French and English, wants it to be clear that he has no intention of entering into the Haitian political arena.

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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