BHR 3-12 - Dorchester Reporter

BOSTON HAITIAN REPORTER
Citizen Martelly
Vol. 11, Issue 3
MARCH 2012
FREE
Dogged by persistent rumors about his
eligibility to serve, President Michel
Martelly finally confronted the issue
head on this month.
By TRENTON DANIEL
Associated Press
PORT-AU-PRINCE— President Michel
Martelly displayed his Haitian passport
on national television on March 8 to try
to quell rumors that he gave up his citizenship and is not eligible to hold office.
The Haitian constitution does not recognize dual nationality for senior government officials, and politicians have been
disqualified from office in the past for
having acquired the citizenship of other
countries.
Critics of Martelly, a former globetrotting musician, charged that he had
renounced his Haitian citizenship prior to
taking office last May. Several opposition
senators went so far as to open an inquiry
into the question of his passport.
Martelly had already denied that he
held the citizenship of another country
but angered opponents by refusing to
show his Haitian passport.
But on Thursday, Martelly showed
reporters eight stamped passports that
he’s held over the years as U.S. ambassador to Haiti Kenneth Merten and other
diplomats looked on.
Merten said Martelly used to have a
green card and now has visa, and there
are no records of him being an American
citizen.
Schools let out early and some businesses closed early before the late afternoon news conference amid reports of
anti-government unrest. But Associated
Press reporters saw no evidence of unrest.
The traffic was heavy as people made
their way home but the streets appeared
calm otherwise.
RIGHT: President Michel Martelly, center, shows eight stamped Haitian passports
that he’s held over the years during a press conference in Port-au-Prince, Haiti,
Thursday, March 8, 2012. Martelly displayed his passport to help quell rumors that he
gave up his citizenship and is not eligible to hold office. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Haitian women hit the streets to demand more rights
A coalition of women organizations
in Haiti led a march through the
streets of Port-au-Prince on March 8
to mark International Women’s Day.
Supported by more than a dozen local human rights organizations and
activist groups, the marchers sang,
“Women, we are reeds. You can cut off
our heads, you can burn our roots, but
when it rains, we will grow again.”
Story, page 8.
Rachelle de Fondechaine, a member of SOFA (Haitian Women’s Solidarity) reads a declaration
in front of the Ministry for the Status and Condition of Women on March 8. Photo by Ben Depp
T-Micky: Is he the real deal?
The industry’s latest sensation, T-Micky, makes his debut
appearance with the album, “Pa Chache’m.” Does the son of
Haiti’s president and one of the most celebrated performers
of his time have talent? In a word, says BHR contributing editor
Steve Desrosiers: “Yeah!” Album review, page 6.
Clinton, Duvalier, Martelly:
Haiti’s three-legged power cauldron — Sylvain, Page 4
Page 2 Boston Haitian ReporteR
March 2012
BostonHaitian.com
Student-led conference shines positive light on Haiti
By Manolia Charlotin
Editor
On February 11 BrandHaiti, a student led marketing nonprofit that is working to re-brand negative
perceptions of Haiti, hosted its annual symposium
at Tufts University. The all day business conference
titled “Investing in Haiti: Challenges, Strategies,
Opportunities” featured several prominent entrepreneurs, many, directly from Haiti. The panels
addressed key themes of entrepreneurship, investment and economic development on the island.
BrandHaiti, founded in 2010 by Marie-Gabrielle
Isidore and Chad Gordon, was a response to the
consistent negative images of Haiti particularly
after the earthquake. The two students conceived
the organization as interns under the tutelage of
Tuft’s Institute for Global Leadership.
In its second year, the symposium’s focus on investing in Haiti drew a sizeable attendance from
members of the diaspora – which included some of
Boston’s Haitian entrepreneurs – Legrand Gandhi
Lindor of Caribbean Apparel was featured on a panel
that addressed the next generation of leadership
and Patrick Lucien of the Ile-a-Vache Development
Group presented one of his new products, a fruitbased pepper sauce.
“We wanted our students and guests, to get a full
perspective of what it means to invest in Haiti,” said
Isidore. The conference planning team sought to
emphasize areas of opportunity, and inspire participants to get involved in the long-term sustainability of Haiti.
“More importantly, we wanted to show that there
[are] amazing Haitians in Haiti leading successful
businesses, working hard to improve and rebuild
their country, models and industries that are successful, and show the real faces and voices of Haitians.”
One of those entrepreneurs was panelist Genevieve Lemke, who owns the Wahoo Bay Beach
Club and Resort an hour away from Port-au-Prince.
Wahoo Bay is one of the well-known tourist destinations on the island.
“I want the image of Haiti to change,” said Lemke.
“I am tired of when I travel and people ask where
I am from and I say ‘Haiti’ they say ‘really?’ Like
everywhere else we have our problems, but there’s
so much positivity we want people to come discover
this positivity that nobody is talking about.”
Many of the attendees expressed similar optimism
in the potential for Haiti’s economy to grow from its
under-utilized resources.
“I learned a lot from [this conference] and met
like-minded people who are operating in Haiti,” said
Marie-Danielle Vil-Young. Vil-Young is a scientistturned-entrepreneur who owns À Votre Service, a
New Jersey-based upscale event-planning firm. She
hopes to open an office in Haiti and to work with the
school of hospitality to enhance training of service
professionals.
“It was important for me to hear about the realities of working in Haiti, especially in the hospitality
industry. Things are not always perfect, but with
all the resources we have I’ve always thought ‘why
aren’t we using these same resources to build our
economy?’ For me, my technical background helps
me with problem-solving, which is very important
as an event planner.”
Throughout the symposium, attendees also noted
the importance of transparency in government, as
longstanding charges of corruption in the public
and private sectors remain a daunting challenge for
the current administration, and its robust efforts to
attract investors.
Lemke and other speakers say the country needs
political security and as they see positive things
happening, they are working to do their part to help
Haiti move forward. These positive messages are
at the core of BrandHaiti’s goals.
“[The] key was to make sure Haiti remains in the
spot light and that the information that is communicated is not always negative,” said Jacques-Philippe
Piverger, founder of the Global Syndicate and board
member of BrandHaiti. “…the fact that people traveled from pretty far away is a testament to the hard
work of the team.”
This hard work has helped the organization
grow at an impressive rate, with several chapters
in universities across the US, and more scheduled
to start in Canada and France later this year. In
addition to the annual conference, BrandHaiti organizes an internship program that matches young
talent with businesses in Haiti along with a spring
break program – which has just received an official
endorsement from the ministry of tourism.
“We developed [BrandHaiti] on the idea that young
people can serve as ambassadors of Haiti on their
respective college campuses,” said Isidore. “We believe that if students are exposed to Haiti, develop
a love for the country, they will hold a special place
in their hearts for Haiti.”
“Students are future leaders and policy makers,
who will one day make decisions about Haiti, so we
want to plant a seed of inspiration in them to remain
committed to Haiti’s long term sustainability.”
Brunache: ‘I want community to
know I’m there for them’
By Manolia Charlotin
Editor
Marjorie Alexandre
Brunache, Counsel Minister for the General
Consulate of Haiti in
Boston, is the newest
representative of the
Haitian government
in Boston. She was appointed to the position
last fall and has served
since Dec. 1, 2011. She
succeeds Emmanuelle
Dupiton and Gladys
Joseph.
“What I want the community to know is we
are here for them,” said
Counsel Brunache. “We
deliver so many important services, that
outreach to educate the
community on what we
provide is key to our
success.”
Brunache was born
in Port-au-Prince. She
was an attorney in Haiti
and practiced family and
commercial law there.
She has counseled and
served numerous ministries in the Haitian
government – most recently ministry of foreign
affairs.
“I was glad to find
out that I would serve
my government in this
capacity, in Boston,”
said Brunache. “I attended UMass Boston
from 2008-2010, where
I received a graduate
degree in Conflict and
Resolution. This city is
a great place to further
[one’s] education and
raise a family.”
Brunache’s knowledge of the community
has informed her initial
outreach efforts. She’s
visited several churches
(including a recent visit
to St. Mary’s in Lynn),
attended numerous community gatherings and
Marjorie Alexandre Brunache, Counsel Minister for the General Consulate of
Haiti in Boston. Brunache is the newest representative of the Haitian government to join the Boston office.
special events (including
HAU’s Independence
Day gala), and visited
some detainees who
await deportation in local prisions.
“On February 4, we
went to a few of the large
prisons in the state to
visit some of the detained,” said Brunache.
“They really appreciated
our presence, as some
are apprehensive of the
deportation process and
they feel that they’re
forgotten. They need
someone to explain what
will happen and what
they can expect when
they arrive in Haiti.”
In addition to the community visits, Brunache
wanted to make sure
that the community
knows the full scope of
services offered at the
general consulate.
“We provide travel
documents including
passports, visas for foreigners who visit Haiti
and documentation for
residency,” said Brunache. “We also provide
mandated paperwork
for Haitians who need
to take care of business affairs in Haiti,
whether it’s the purchase of homes or bank
statements. We also help
people who need their
birth certificate or marriage license.”
The general consulate
has also played a role in
promoting Haitian arts
and culture. Brunache
says they work with
artists to have rotating
paintings shown at the
consulate.
“We are very proud
to support and promote
local artists,” said Brunache. “As a matter of
fact, we are hosting an
exhibit at Boston City
Hall this month, that
goes through March 16.
You can visit the 8th floor
to see some wonderful art
from great local Haitian
artists.”
The consulate’s outreach has extended online as well.
“We want to meet the
community where they
are, so we have a Facebook page too! It’s Consulat General d’Haiti de
Boston. Visit us there or
come by our office in 545
Boylston Street, room
201 in Boston.”
Clinton urges officials to stem cholera
By TRENTON DANIEL
Associated Press
MIREBALAIS — Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said that a U.N. peacekeeper was responsible for
bringing cholera to Haiti but may not have known
that he was doing so, and efforts need to focus on
stemming the outbreak.
Clinton was asked after a hospital tour if he agreed
with a statement by U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.,
Susan Rice, about holding accountable those who
brought cholera to Haiti. Studies have suggested
that peacekeepers from Nepal likely introduced the
disease to Haiti for the first time, months after the
January 2010 earthquake.
“First of all, the United Nations has spent a great
deal of money in Haiti,” Clinton told reporters. “Secondly, I don’t know that the person who introduced
cholera in Haiti, the U.N. peacekeeper, or soldier
from South Asia, was aware that he was carrying
the virus.’’
Clinton added: “It was the proximate cause of
cholera. That is, he was carrying the cholera strain.
It came from his waste stream into the waterways
of Haiti, into the bodies of Haitians.”
But Clinton added that what “really caused” the
cholera outbreak was the country’s lack of proper
sanitation.
“Unless we know that he knew or that they knew,
the people that sent him, that he was carrying that
virus and therefore that he could cause the amount
of death and misery and sickness, I think it’s better
to focus on fixing it,” Clinton said.
Clinton, the U.N. Special Envoy to Haiti, made
the remarks after he toured a brand-new public
teaching hospital in the Central Plateau that was
built by the Boston-based Partners in Health. PIH
Co-founder Paul Farmer, a public health expert
who serves as Clinton’s deputy at the U.N., hosted
Clinton as the two toured the hospital, a fish farm
and a smaller hospital to study ways solar energy
can power remote facilities.
An international panel appointed by the United
Nations produced a report that blamed the outbreak
on a “confluence of circumstances” that included
bad sanitation.
The cholera outbreak prompted a Haitian law
firm and its international partner to file a complaint
against the United Nations last year on behalf of the
victims, which is under review by the world body’s
legal office.
Cholera has killed more than 7,000 people and
sickened more than 526,000 others since it was
introduced to Haiti in 2010, according to Haitian
health officials. (AP)
BostonHaitian.com
March 2012
Boston Haitian Reporter
Page 3
Study: Violent crime has spiked in cities
By TRENTON
DANIEL
Associated Press
PORT-AU-PRINCE—
Haiti has seen a dramatic increase in violent
crime in the shanties of
its major cities over the
past six months, helping
undermine faith in the
country’s police force,
according to a study released this month.
The preliminary findings in the report titled
“Haiti’s Urban Crime
Wave?” speak to rising
concerns among Haitians that their country
is entering a period of political turmoil that could
thwart efforts to help
rebuild in the aftermath
of the powerful January
2010 earthquake.
Homicides in the heavily populated areas of
Haiti’s biggest cities
appear to have increased
sharply from August
2011 to last February,
according to the study
authored by social scientists Athena Kolbe
and Robert Muggah,
and backed by the Canadian government’s
International Development Research Centre
and the Brazil nonprofit,
the Igarape Institute.
While the homicide
rate in Port-au-Prince is
lower than that of some
other Caribbean cities,
Haiti’s capital saw 60.9
murders per 100,000
residents over the year
leading up to February 2012, the highest
recorded murder rate
since 2006, according to
the study. For example,
the Bel Air district of
Port-au-Prince saw homicides jump from 19 per
100,000 people in 2010
to 50 per 100,000 people
near the end of 2011.
“This murder rate
is not just high — it’s
enormous,’’ Kolbe said.
In comparison, New
York City’s homicide
rate was less than 7 per
100,000 in 2011, while
Oakland, California, had
23 homicides per 100,000
residents.
The bulk of the Haiti
murders happened in
densely populated areas
in the cities where there
are high levels of social
marginalization and
poverty, which included
Cap-Haitien, Les Cayes,
Gonaives, among others.
Police chief Mario Andresol said he needed
to review his crime statistics to see if they
reflected the findings of
the report but conceded
that Haiti has long seen
a spike in crime when
political instability takes
hold.
“When you have political turmoil you have
problems with insecurity,” Andresol said by
telephone. “There is a
kind of destabilization
of society.”
Haiti is at a fragile
moment in its history
with quake reconstruction effort advancing
slowly and hundreds
of thousands of people
still living in roughand-tumble camps. Also,
Haiti’s prime minister
abruptly resigned last
month because of infighting with President
Michel Martelly and it’s
unclear when a successor will be approved by
Parliament. Meanwhile,
thousands of supporters of former President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide
recently rallied in the
streets to bash Martelly’s reconstruction
efforts.
According to the authors of the study, there
is no single factor to explain the rise in violent
crime but they point
to a frustration that
stems in part from the
many international humanitarian groups that
came to Haiti after the
earthquake.
Many aid groups came
to urban neighborhoods
and pumped in money
and resources, before
withdrawing just when
they were needed most,
said Kolbe, a doctoral
candidate in social work
and political science at
University of Michigan.
This interrupted social
networks in these neigh-
borhoods, she said.
“You have people coming in from aid agencies,
giving money to some
groups within the community and not others,”
Kolbe said in an interview at her home in the
Port-au-Prince area.
“This disrupted the community, and then there’s
been this abrupt pull out
now of the funds.”
Muggah is a fellow of
international relations
at the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro
in Brazil. Kolbe and
Muggah collected their
data from interviews
with 3,000 households
in Haiti’s major cities.
The survey used random
sampling methods.
The study also noted
that for the first time
since 2007 confidence
in the Haitian National
Police force has plunged
among city dwellers,
which is in contrast to
the faith that was found
in the force in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Almost one in five
respondents expressed
concerns that police
officers were unable or
unwilling to protect them
from crime. (AP)
Former Central Bank chief slain
P O R T - A U PRINCE— A prominent
Haitian banker whose
son recently pleaded
guilty in a U.S. federal
bribery case has been
killed in the capital of
Port-au-Prince, police
said. Venel Joseph was
fatally shot late on
March 6 while at the
wheel of his car, according to police spokesman
Gary Desrosiers. He
said no one has been
arrested and that authorities have no further
details.
Joseph was director
of Haiti’s Central Bank
during former President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide’s second term
from 2001 to 2004. His
son, Patrick Joseph,
pleaded guilty to bribery
in a U.S. federal court
last month and agreed
to testify against others
accused of receiving kickbacks to obtain cheaper
phone rates from Teleco,
Haiti’s telecommunica-
tions company, owned
by Haiti’s Central Bank.
Patrick Joseph once
served as Teleco’s director. (AP)
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Page 4 Boston Haitian ReporteR
Editorial
Governor, legislators:
Put our Greenway on
your must-do list
The Patrick administration and its legislative allies
on Beacon Hill are once again pinning the future of
the long-delayed Neponset Greenway expansion on
winning a federal grant worth almost $12 million.
The state’s application for the federal grant is a
good one and we hope it is successful. But, it was
a good application last year, too, and the Obama
administration did not fund it then. US Transportation chief Ray LaHood bypassed the Greenway in
allotting tax dollars to dozens of other transportation
projects across the country -- including several in the
president’s home state of Illinois.
So it comes as a shock to learn that our governor
and our lawmakers have no Plan B to deal with
the fallout from a second turndown. Why is there
no other plan in place to fund the Greenway’s construction, which could start as soon as this June if
money is secured? Where is the sense of urgency
on the part of our elected leaders to follow through
on their commitment, particularly to the people of
Mattapan, who continue to be walled off from the
natural resources of the Neponset? Is there no one
at the State House who cares enough about this
project – and the people in this community who’d
benefit from it – to take the lead here?
You would think that our governor, the man who
will criss-cross the country over the next few months
preaching the virtues of the Obama government,
would be that up-front person, given his personal
ties to the president and the fact that this project is,
literally, right in his backyard. Yes, it would take a
hard ask from governor to president to wrest those
millions from LaHood’s grasp, but surely he is up
to that. Yet on that same basis, he evidently didn’t
make a push last year. Why?
The essence of political support implies a two-way
process. Voters in Mattapan give to Deval Patrick
(92 percent) and Barack Obama (95 percent). Should
not these same voters expect due consideration given
to federal help for a project involving a precious
natural resource that will breathe new life into their
neighborhood?
In the months since the last TIGER grant proposal
fell through, legislators have done nothing to advance
an alternative funding source in the state budget,
leaving everything to chance on this next round of
competitive grants from LaHood’s purse.
Contrast that inaction about a Mattapan initiative
with the efforts of lawmakers from another part of
Boston – the North End – who never stop advancing
their own legislation to get state funds for another
Greenway, the Rose Kennedy Greenway, which in
its short life has been lavished with millions in state
and federal dollars. But it’s not enough, the North
End delegation says as it members press for an additional $20 million over the next five years for the
downtown Greenway. Successful or not in the new
bidding, give them credit for giving it their best shot.
They know that by asking for anything, they’re likely
to get something.
It has become all too clear that the completion of
the Neponset Greenway is everyone’s second or third
priority, if that. It’s time for the men and women who
represent us at the State House – from Governor
Patrick on down – to take ownership of this special
project, make the hard asks to get it funded, and
then get it done.
No more excuses.
– Bill Forry
BOSTON HAITIAN
REPORTER
“An Exploration of the Haitian-American Experience”
A publication of Boston Neighborhood News Inc.
150 Mt. Vernon St., Suite 120 , Dorchester, MA 02125
Worldwide at www.bostonhaitian.com
Mary Casey Forry, President (1983-2004)
Edward W. Forry, Publisher
William P. Forry, Managing Editor
Manolia Charlotin, Business Manager/Editor
Steve Desrosiers, Contributing Editor
Yolette Ibokette, Contributing Editor
Patrick Sylvain, Contributing Editor
News Room Phone : (617) 436-1222 Advertising : (617) 436-2217
E-mail: [email protected]
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Next Issue: April 2012
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March 2012
BostonHaitian.com
Commentary
A Wobbly Cauldron Supported by Three Legs
By Patrick Sylvain
Contributing Editor
Following the demise of the Duvalier dictatorship
in 1986, Haiti enlisted a series of measures to heal
the wounds of its venomous past. A new, more
democratic constitution was written in 1987, Aléxandre Pétion’s red and blue flag
was hoisted to re-invigorate
the republic, and an electoral
process was attempted to
establish a representative
democracy. Unfortunately,
in Haiti, where power is
traditionally lopsided, the
practice of institutionalizing
participatory democracy is
often overtaken by leanings toward winner-take-all
mentalities and practices.
Despite preventive actions,
Voices of
the landscape unwittingly
inclines toward dictatorship
Boston
and corruption.
One fundamental problem
with governance is the fact that Haiti has never
been fully democratic. The subjugation of the
masses has been perpetuated by not only the policies and practices of Haiti’s elite (both political and
economic) but also by members of the international
community. Foreign hands are perpetually mired
in the workings of the nation’s governmental, economic and social affairs, often to their own benefit,
as they propel Haiti to an unstable future.
Bill Clinton
Former US President Bill Clinton is the purse
holder and most experienced politician and technocrat operating in Haiti today. He wields a formidable power to calibrate and recalibrate political
outcomes in Haiti due in large part to the nation’s
social fragmentations, structural deficiencies, and
vulnerability to the imposed will of members of the
international community.
Furthermore, his designations as UN special
envoy and Co-Chair of the Interim Haiti Recovery
Commission give credence to his role as interlocutor and power broker in the Haitian political and
economic milieu.
While Clinton’s intentions for Haiti can easily give
way to negative speculation given his past actions
(in his own mind, his intentions may be of benefit
to the Haitian people), there is much to say about
the incapacity of a nation to exercise its own sovereignty. The failures of Haitian government have
diminished its potential to have a true stake in its
self-governance is unfortunate and is a direct result
of its inability to uphold the principles of democracy.
Regardless of intention, if we had been benevolent
guardians of our sovereignty, and respectful of all
social strata within the nation, Bill Clinton would
have never been considered a factor in the affairs
of an independent nation.
Nonetheless, Haiti has become the new political
laboratory for technocrats, politicians, and musicians with inflated egos who want to usurp national
power. In the Haitian lab, Clinton is one of the chemists who concocted a ghastly potion for the nation.
One then has to wonder, is there a role that Bill
Clinton plays in Haitian politics that extends the
scope of his U.N. mandate? Does he serve as the
de-facto president of the country given his unbounded reach into Haiti’s internal affairs? Is the
return of Duvalier a return fraught with symbolic
connotations to the political order that Clinton experienced when he visited Haiti in the mid-1970s?
Or, is Clinton simply animated by the prospects of
redemption following his role in the devastation
of Haitian rice crops for the benefit of American
agribusiness?
Certainly, as Paul Farmer noted in his latest book,
Clinton was instrumental in getting much needed
medical supplies to the earthquake-ravaged zones of
Haiti. His power opened a lot of avenues, “Clinton
had brought the surgical supplies and generators
and anesthesia, as we’d asked”. Clinton is indeed a
mover and a shaker, a power broker who gets things
done, although he has in the past, enacted policies
that were utterly devastating to Haiti.
So, what now? Clinton’s latest aspirations for
Haiti are noble to say the least. In Back to Work,
his latest publication, he sets out “to rebuild and
diversify the economy there in the aftermath of
the earthquake.” He aspires the materialization
of a relevant system of education, healthcare, government services, etc… so that the system might
“provide predictable rewards to citizens for hard
work and honest dealings. Haiti is now trying to
build such systems.”
However, the likelihood of a substantial manipulation of Haiti’s fragile system remains unlikely.
Jean-Claude Duvalier and Michel Martelly
Former dictator, Jean-Claude Duvalier, who once
held the seat of state-sponsored corruption and
terror in Haiti, returned from his exile one year
following the 2010 earthquake. Today, Duvalier
roams freely in Haiti and even holds court with both
Bill Clinton and current President Michel Martelly.
Strangely enough, the international community,
led by the purported champions of democracy, has
remained silent on this issue.
Martelly is known to be a proud Neo-Duvalierist.
His election to the presidency during a time of national crisis is argued by many to have been forced
and mathematically re-numbered by the international community with the hopes of establishing
Haiti as a source of cheap labor and a site for the
extraction of its already meager natural resources.
The government of Haiti under Martelly is so entrenched in the old Duvalier paradigm, that even
former Prime Minister Garry Conille found himself
unable to function within it. Where governance is
concerned, Haiti has reached a new low in its level
of disrespectability.
That Martelly has sympathies with Duvalier is
discouraging, but it is perhaps more troublesome
that appointed arbiters and intermediaries are also
bedfellows with such a contemptible fixture of Haiti’s
past. In a sense, rekindling that savage past has
launched an assault on memory, and on decency.
Countless disappearances and state-sponsored violent acts committed against the Haitian population
during the Duvalier regime poses questions about
the promise of an equitable and just society in light
of Duvalier’s uncontested return. Some attribute
his reemergence to the actions of Bill Clinton, who
perhaps seeks to publically and politically castrate
Martelly’s predecessor, René Préval.
Re-orientation for perceived stability
The cordiality displayed in the interactions between Clinton, Martelly and Duvalier may indicate
the centralized nature of power while sending a
message that the shenanigans of the Lavalas and
Inite camps will not be tolerated. Yet, the Lavalas
camp is trying to display its legitimacy as a power
broker by occupying the streets and reminding the
world that Aristide is also a political force on the
terrain.
The importance of this tri-persona power relation in the political affairs of the state and nation,
has to do with the re-orientation, a reshaping of
the political landscape so “stability” could pave
the way to foreign investments and the purported
aggrandizement of the economy for a potential
middle-class that will be geared towards a lasting
and meaningful societal re-foundation.
Therefore, is Bill Clinton the supreme engineer of
the Haitian political landscape? Is the presence of
Duvalier necessary to buttress the Martelly presidency that proclaimed Haiti is open for business?
If so, what business? The assembly lines of women
who work under the most denigrating conditions
because respectable and adequate alternatives are
not even an option, to provide for their children.
We’ve moved from the plantations to the factories
under the heat of the strongmen economic whips,
where the dignity of an entire nation is soiled for the
interests of morally corrupt elites that erroneously
refer to themselves as members of the bourgeoisie,
when they are nothing short of high-end resellers.
A possessing-class that corruptively dominates
politics, but does not produce anything that could
create a middle-class, and sadly, they are as dependent on foreign aid as the exploited poor who
is forced to accept the most inhumane of conditions
because the national purse is dependent on the
international community that never cared.
“I didn’t succeed in every endeavor, and I made
some mistakes in trying,” said Clinton.
Well, the Martelly endeavor is proof that the
Clinton equation has failed in so many measurable ways as the Martelly administration chokes
democracy to reinvigorate the Duvalier doctrine
of a strongman politic that runs counter to the nation’s needs to build institutions that would move
the country toward a viable future.
One could hope that foreign intervention for the
presumed intent to uphold democracy would yield
results that could have the semblance of actual
democracy, but involvement by these power players
is inevitably marred by contradictions. Haiti must
not only build back better. It must be governed by
ethical Haitians – properly chosen by the sovereign
citizens of Haiti.
Patrick Sylvain is an Instructor of Haitian Language and Culture at Brown University.
BostonHaitian.com
March 2012
Boston Haitian Reporter
Some light at the end of the tunnel
By Marjorie
Dumornay and Elise
Young
In defiance of the usual
dismal news coming out
of Haiti, rays of progress
are emerging in the country’s reconstruction. In
large part, this forward
movement is a result of
the ‘Je Nan Je’ platform
(Creole for ‘Eye to Eye’),
a recent uprising of several thousdand of the
poorest and most vulnerable Haitians reclaiming their constitutional
rights and advocating
for land and housing.
The passion and enthusiasm of this platform,
consisting of a dozen
grassroots, peasant and
women’s networks from
each corner of the country, is a serious force to
be reckoned with.
The ‘Je Nan Je’ Platform, with support from
ActionAid, was created
in October of 2011 out
of deep concern for the
reconstruction process
taking place in Haiti.
The platform is made
up of 11 grassroots networks, social movements
and women’s groups.
These include: KROS
(Regional Coalition of
Southern Organizations,) RENHASSA (National Haitian Network
of Food Sovereignty &
Security ), KONAFAP
(National Coordinating
Committee of Peasant
Women ), KPGA (Peasant Organizations of
Grand-Anse,) COSADH
(Coordination of Actions
on Health & Development in Haiti,) APV
(Association of Peasants
of Vallue,) MPP (People’s
Movement of Papaye,)
COZPAM (Platform for
Community Associations of the Metropolitan
Zone of Port-au-Prince,)
FANM DESIDE (Women
Decide,) KABAGRANGOU (Hunger Free Coalition,) MPNKP (National Congress of Papaye
Peasant Movement).
One day before the
two year commemoration of the devastating
earthquake, over 10,000
‘Je Nan Je’ members
marched across Portau-Prince to Parliament
with a list of recommendations for improving
land and housing rights,
reducing gender-based
violence, and incorporating more grassroots
groups into the recovery
process. These peaceful
protestors are no longer
accepting the current
inertia behind both Haitian and international
reconstruction efforts
and are speaking up with
demands for tangible,
specific changes.
The march was such a
success, and the Presidents of each chamber
of Parliament welcomed
‘Je nan Je’ into a special
session of the General
Assembly to review their
charter of recommendations. Senator Andris
Riche stated that it was
one of the first times in
his 30 years as a Senator
that he can remember
a group of protestors
delivering a specific list
of recommendations and
he welcomed the opportunity to collaborate.
As a result, Parliament
has now formed a new
bi-cameral commission
to address the ‘Je nan
Je’ charter and to work
collaboratively to incorporate the land and
housing rights recommendations into a viable
piece of legislation.
One thing is clear
from the recent ‘Je nan
Je’ movement. The dis-
Lawmakers should pay more attention
to addressing the nation’s problems
By Reginald Toussaint
Currently, the Haitian legislature is spending
much of its time and energy lobbing personal attacks
at President Michel Martelly. Though well founded,
by investing in personal attacks the legislature is
missing an important opportunity to explore the
gaps in the President’s policies. And perhaps more
importantly the Parliament is showing itself to be
out of touch with the needs of the public, which
may in the end, have the unintended consequence
of granting Martelly more power.
President Michel Martelly, so far, has proven to be
more adept at politics than expected. In a relatively
short period, he has already put his stamp on Haiti
and he has done it his way. Whereas his predecessors consolidated power through coalition building,
Martelly prefers to go it alone. So far, his approach
has yielded mixed results. However, he is winning
the battle of ideas and remains very popular; if he
survives the current challenges from the legislature,
he may emerge as the most powerful executive since
Francois Duvalier.
Martelly, from the moment he was inaugurated,
made it clear that he was not comfortable working
around the legislative branch. First, he nominated
a Prime Minister (Daniel-Gerard Rouzier) without
consulting with INITE, the majority party, or any
other of the major political parties. (It is unclear
in the constitution if the Prime Minister should be
nominated by the executive or legislative branch
but it angered many legislators from larger parties
who felt as though they should have been part of
the process of choosing the person who will lead the
government). It took two more rounds of nominees,
and several months, for the government to reach a
compromise on a Prime Minister.
Shortly after the Prime Minister’s inauguration,
tensions flared, once again, after a member of the
lower house, Arnel Belizaire, was illegally arrested.
The arrest seemed as payback as it happened
days after Belizaire engaged in a public argument
with President Martelly. The lawmakers viewed
Belizaire’s arrest as an attack on their institution
since, as a deputy, he enjoyed partial immunity.
They began an investigation on who ordered the
arrest, which sputtered after the resignation of the
Minister of Justice.
Nevertheless, tensions remain high between the
executive and the legislative branch, and they seem
to be on another collision course. Several lawmakers
have accused Martelly’s administration of nepotism
and misappropriation of funds. Most importantly,
they have also alleged that Martelly and several
members of his cabinet hold dual citizenship (unconstitutional in Haiti), which they are currently
investigating. If any of these allegations prove to be
true, they would most likely move toward impeaching the president.
The strategy of challenging the legitimacy of a
president and blocking his initiatives is common
practice in Haiti. Traditionally this has resulted in
gridlock, and frustration from the electorate, thus
opening the door for drastic measures such as a coup
d’etat. However, it may backfire this time around.
While the legislative is conducting business as usual,
Martelly has casted himself as a new kind of leader,
a man of action. He is constantly touting the work
his administration has done thus far despite a hostile
legislative: providing free education to more than
900,000 impoverished children, encouraging foreign
investment, inaugurating the Caracol Industrial
Park and promoting tourism.
Martelly’s approach seems to be working. He
enjoys historically high approval ratings. A recent
Gallup poll suggests that
confidence in the government has tripled since he
became president and 67%
of Haitians approve of his
performance. Furthermore,
he enjoys a good working relationship with the
international community.
Unlike his predecessors,
there has been no international pressure for Martelly
to collaborate with opposition parties. With elections
scheduled later this year
to renew a third (10) of the
senate
seats, we can expect
Voices of his popularity
will undoubtedly result in electing senaBoston
tors who are friendlier to his
administration. When we
take into account that there are several judicial
seats to be filled one can conclude that in a very
short time, Martelly will have a lot more leverage.
Most people would agree it is not in Haiti’s best
interest to have an executive that is too powerful.
Especially one who is a known Duvalier sympathizer.
It is absolutely critical that there is strong legislative checks and balances on President Martelly. In
order to do that, they will need to stop conducting
business as usual.
Martelly was elected because Haitians grew tired
of politicians who seemed more concerned about using their positions “to play politics” while ignoring
the country. The current legislature indicates they
are out of touch with the electorate by investing a
disproportionate amount of their time and energy
investigating Martelly instead of addressing the
country’s myriad problems. This is a missed opportunity to truly hold the president accountable,
since the overall effect of Martelly’s initiatives are
debatable. Some experts have argued that tourism
and foreign investments will have, at best, a minimal
impact on the local economy.
It is time for Martelly’s opponents to present themselves as a true check and balance on the presidency.
The legislature must demand greater transparency
and accountability of this President’s initiatives
and present their own solutions to the country’s
problems. If they continue to spend so much of their
time and resources on personal attacks against the
populist Martelly it may result in a consolidation
of his power, and we may end up with a presidency
that resembles a dictatorship.
placed camp members
and peasant farmers,
the majority of whom
are women, are ready
to boost themselves out
of poverty, and they
have some clear ideas
on how to get there.
They are calling for an
end to shelter strategies that put vulnerable
people at further risk
and a renewed commitment to free up land
and advance aid dollars
for permanent housing.
They are speaking out
for the government to
increase investment in
agriculture from the
current meager three
percent and for international NGOs and governments to prioritize the
needs of smallholder
farmers, not just export
interests. They want a
formal, consistent place
for grassroots groups
and poor and vulnerable populations in the
reconstruction process
so development can be
sustainably led by the
people.
Women, as well as
the overarching theme
of women’s rights, play
an important role in the
movement. Despite the
active participation of
women’s groups in the
movement, women’s networks have been marginalized from the overall
reconstruction process.
The ‘Je Nan Je’ platform
is changing this. To further their message and outreach, several members of the ‘Je
Nan Je’ campaign, as
well as other Haitian
grassroots leaders, traveled to Washington, DC
two weeks later to tell
their story to U.S. officials and members of
Congress.
As part of a three day
advocacy week sponsored by five members of
Congress and promoted
by the Haiti Advocacy
Working Group, these
grassroots leaders testified on the current
realities of gender-based
violence, IDP camps,
cholera, agricultural
development, overall aid
disbursements and the
legislative, judicial and
Page 5
democratic reforms that
are needed to change
people’s lives. One of
the members was Marie
Ange Noel, coordinator
of the women’s grassroots movement Fanm
Deside (Women Decide),
who testified on the
extreme need to reduce
gender-based violence
throughout the country.
USAID, US State
Department and Congressional members all
took these testimonies
seriously and vowed to
follow suit.
Although U.S. intentions towards Haiti are
well-meaning, and the
recommitments of several participating US officials and Congressional
members are promising,
this is no time to sit
and wait for the U.S.
to change its approach.
Haiti advocates must
speak up to our Members of Congress, to the
Obama administration,
to USAID and the State
Department, and ask for
a different type of foreign
aid plan towards Haiti—
one that prioritizes the
needs and voices of the
most vulnerable. We
cannot fully progress
towards a complete and
holistic reconstruction
in Haiti until we, as a
nation, embrace the Haitian people for what they
truly are: equal partners.
If Haiti wants to rebuild effectively, government officials, international donors and international relief agencies
need to listen to the
voices of the poor, who
constitute the majority
of the population. The
‘Je nan Je’ movement
represents an opportunity to strengthen Haiti’s
redevelopment process
in a way that gives ownership to the Haitian
people. The people of
Haiti will no longer settle
for less.
Marjorie Dumornay
is the coordinator of the
‘Je Nan Je’ grassroots
campaign at ActionAid
Haiti. Elise Young is
a senior policy analyst
for Haiti advocacy at
ActionAid USA.
School choice meetings
underway in Boston
The Boston Public Schools will continue a series
of community meetings to discuss improvements to
the student assignment/school choice process. The
first such meeting is set for Thursday, March 22,
a meeting is planned for the Irving Middle School,
105 Cummins Highway, Roslindale, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The will be four meetings on Saturday, March
24: Shelburne Community Center, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.,
Roxbury (Cape Verdean Creole and Somali interpreters.); East Boston High School, 9 a.m.-Noon,
(Spanish interpreters); Jackson/Mann K-8 School,
11 a.m.-2 p.m., 40 Armington St., Allston (Mandarin
and Spanish interpreters); Harbor School, 9 a.m.Noon, Dorchester (Vietnamese interpreters).
There are another four meetings scheduled for
Saturday, March 31: The first is from 9 a.m.-noon,
at the Mildred Avenue K-8 School in Mattapan
(Haitian interpreters); others include West Roxbury Education Complex, 9 a.m.-Noon (Spanish
interpreters); English High School,11 a.m.-2 p.m.,
144 McBride St., Jamaica Plain (Mandarin, Somali
and Spanish interpreters); and East Boston High
School,11 a.m.-2 p.m., 86 White St., East Boston
(Spanish interpreters).
Page 6 Boston Haitian ReporteR
March 2012
BostonHaitian.com
Gabel delivers the real deal; T-Micky impresses in debut
By Steve Desrosiers
Contributing Editor
Gabel
“Gon Jan Pou Ye”
The restless band Gabel returns with a fresh
batch of songs in their latest effort for the hearts of
concert goers. The album, “Gon Jan Pou Ye” is an
independent release hosting 14 original compositions
from one of the industry’s up and coming ensembles.
Gabel is earning its keep the old fashioned way.
Whatever they’ve enjoyed in terms of fame or success
has been the result of relentless effort on their part.
They’ve learned from their lackluster albums and
gradually produced better products. They’ve spent
an incredible amount of energy on the road playing
before diverse audiences and effectively showcasing
their adventures on industry websites. They’ve yet
to lock in the hit album that will catapult them fully
into the mainstream but one thing time on the road
gives any commercial artist is some significant insights on what their audiences want. So far, Gabel’s
slogans are more popular than their songs; can the
new album change all that?
If there are two words I could use to describe this
album they would be: “hard hitting”. “Gon Jan Pou
Ye” means business in every sense of the word,
especially with numbers like, “Pa Kite…” an aggressively played tune that settles somewhere between
a T-Vice and CaRiMi product but with a stronger
set of synth effects, heart stopping percussion arrangements, pleasant choruses and a killer guitar
groove section. The band’s two lead singers, Katalog
and Flav, deliver like pros on the romantic “Don’t
Cry” another number that screams for approval
with its own set of captivating instrumental attack.
Former Zenglen musician, Ritchie shares his magic
on drums and the horn arrangements for the band’s
title track, “Gon Jan Pou Ye” which definitely ranks
high among the album’s many exciting moments.
Gabel delivers big with “Gon Jan Pou Ye”. The
album is definitely the band’s most consistent and
well balanced release. The overall mix is nice and
heavy , song arrangements are exciting, strong
grooves abound, the singers deliver their best on
every song, most choruses are memorable and the
quality of the songwriting has vastly improved from
that of previous albums. Gabel didn’t go light with
guest appearances either, none other than the “Met
beton” himself, Roberto Martino leaves his mark on
the album’s first track on vocals and guitar. Other
heavyweights like Shedly Abraham, Gerald Kebreau,
and a host of lesser known talents combine to make
this album quite a treat.
If you have yet to purchase a release from this band,
make it a point to start with this one. This may
well be album that takes this band to the next level.
T-Micky
Pa Chache’m
The industry’s latest sensation, T-Micky, makes his
debut appearance with the album, “Pa Chache’m”.
The artist’s first release is being distributed by Altino Music Productions and hosts an ambitious 14
original compositions.
Life’s not fair. I too want a famous father to precede me into the music industry. I want to anchor
my small feet in the path he has successfully carved
as a musician and be seen as his natural heir. I’d
also like him to be the leader of my home country in
the prime of my life. Talk about lucky sperm club,
I want to be in T-Micky’s shoes right about now. Of
course, I’m kidding we all know the pressures that
come from dealing with the legacy of accomplished
parents. Just ask the Marley children, while there
may be many sweet moments, the pressure to live
up to or surpass the standard of the “Pharoah” can’t
be easy. But never mind all that. Does the boy have
talent?
In a word- Yeah! If young Micky delivers live
what he has created on his very first release he
will definitely rival his father’s achievements in
music. The album is filled with the energy of youth
especially in songs like the groove laced “Yo Sezi”
where Sandro shows off some of his father’s vocal
traits and a greater portion of the elder’s theatrical
charm. The song boasts an inventive melody, catchy
choruses, sparse but aggressive guitars and pulsating backing rhythms. The breathtaking “Atache”
presents something totally new in the pace of lyrical
delivery on a Konpa composition; fed as it is with
influences ranging from the work of Mika Benjamin
to CaRiMi. The sensuous “Marya” showcases the
artist’s flair for great melodies and a certain risk
taker mentality with song arrangements. Other
noteworthy tunes include hard hitting “Pa gen sa”
and the romantic “Pou’n Ale” for which the artist
has already released a video.
T-Micky is off to a very good start with “Pa
Chache’m”. Sandro Martelly has inherited his father’s wild show-biz persona, his taste for beautiful
melodies and further, is steeped in modern musical
trends. The sound of the album overall will remind
you of the work of Dega, T-Vice and CaRiMi and
not necessarily the elder’s (Sweet Micky’s) style.
The quality of the songwriting is very good and the
musical ideas explored here are interesting. The
instrumental charms of the album are plentiful and
range from the robust guitar stylings that bejewel
most songs, to inventive percussion arrangements,
to the catchy synth work that grabs the listener on
many tunes. Of course there are weaknesses, Sandro’s vocals, while good, have to be further developed
if he is to maintain a strong foothold in the industry
and although I thoroughly enjoyed the rapid, wordy
and melodic songwriting, too much of a good thing
can take away from its novelty.
T-Micky will definitely surprise you with the extent
of his talent. This album is as much theater as it
is music; discover this little gem today! And no I’m
not saying that because his father happens to be the
President and I’m itching for a cabinet appointment.
I, Steve Desrosiers, approve this message!
The Reporter Thanks: Patrick St. Germain of
Parfumerie International for availing these albums for review. The CDs are available at 860 Morton
Street, Dorchester or by calling 617-825-6151.
BostonHaitian.com
March 2012
Boston Haitian Reporter
Page 7
Boston Haitian RepoRteR
page 2
Page 8 Boston Haitian ReporteR
March 2012
BostonHaitian.com
Should Haitian artists truly “crossover” into American market?
Ruth’sBGreen
Peas Sauce
S
D
C
E
(Sos Pwa Frans)
adapting your music to gain more fame? Shed your over situation.
skin! Change your nose, chisel in a cleft on that chin
America presents us with a more potent cross-over
for
that
special
Hollywood
“Je
ne
sais
crois.”
opportunity.
It is the opportunity to adopt American
Without fail, every year I get into a heated disAs Haitians we are heir to musical traditions that business practices and attitudes where it comes to
cussion about Haitian music crossing over into the
American market. I’m usually on the side of the were ushered in with the appearance of mankind cultural self promotion. Haitians should educate
argument that
hasfour
to do
further developing on earth. The amusement of pre-historic man in themselves to value their own cultural treasures and
Makes
to with
six servings
music trends that are
native
to
Haiti.
My opponents Africa runs through our rhythms, her joys and to invest in the development of those treasures (A
8 cups water
are often anxious to see Haitian music adapt itself frustrations are the alphabet for our songs and all la Cuba) and promote them globally – as Americans
4 cups
sweetmarket
peas to increase it’s this we are willing compromise for two minutes of do. Further, in this nation of laws, we can build and
to the tastes of the
American
4
whole
cloves
popularity. They want their Haitian Ricky Martin a fabrication that has as its true ambition its own regulate our own institutions (Clubs, theatres, Halls
small
green onion
or whole
fresh
scallion
or 1J-Lo
moment,
I suppose.
Perhaps
Wyclef
is not self-preservation? Because in the end, crossing over of Fame, Museums). Instead of applying ourselves
will not be about Haiti or Haitian culture…but sales to American institutions that have a set of values
cross-over success
enough!
2 fresh
garlic cloves
your American investors.
(Including racism) that are often foreign to us, we
How realistic is the
expectation
1 sprig
thymethat Haitian music, forIt’s
a simple matter of mathematics: there will should be looking to build institutions where we can
once Americanized1enough,
is
going
to
cross
over
and
sprig parsley
be a viable part of the American mainstream? Let’s simply be more American palates to satiate than experience our culture on our own terms.
1 whole
green hot pepper
Haitian ones. The needs of the American listener
flip the script
for a moment.
teaspoon
adobo
Imagine 1that
Haiti is
what seasoning
America is now and (the consumers) have to be prioritized in a crosschicken bouillon
cube
impoverished1 Americans
living in
relatively small
numbers in Haiti
are hopingbutter
that American Hard
1 tablespoon
Rock, R&B2or
Country
or Hip-Hop
can be
table
spoonmusic
vegetable
oil
adjusted to
satiate
the musical
of the reignblack
pepper
and salttastes
to taste
ing Haitian Konpa and Racine (Roots) mainstream.
How do they adopt their drumming traditions to
pot bring
to a in
boil
cups
of water
and addthe
everything
swing
a8
way
that
will approach
effect andexcept for the salt,
utter. Cook
covered
on medium
high
to they
highincorporate
temperature for 1 hour and 45
swing
of the Konpa
cymbals?
Can
congas
intoand
some
of at
their
music
orcrush
some of
n bring fire
to low
stir,
thisGrunge
point you
can
some of the peas with
their
to meet butter
the polyrhythmic
needs
on as you
stir.Punk
Addmusic
salt, pepper,
and simmer
for 15 minutes. Always
of the
average
Haitian
without
alienating
warm, goes
well
with white
ricelistener
and any
poultry
or fish. Bon Appetit!
their core audiences? Should they incorporate more
horns to sound like Septen or Tropicana or should
after the
of the
leaders
the Konpa
mash
the of
removed
peas, dilute the mashed peas
ns retainthey
the go
tradition
of style
having
scene,
Djakout
Mizik
style
or
T-Vice
style.
Should
with
some
of
the
cooking broth and squeeze the
green peas sauces only on certain
the restaurants
distortion out of
their guitars
and
mixture
through
a use
strainer back into the cooking
ou go tothey
any take
Haitian
more
chorus, etc.,
you see
where
this is headed!
pot
for further
cooking, when you get to this step
n a random
Tuesday
and etc.,
ask for
Of course,
can’t
minimize
suc- the other ingredients, the
you the
alsocross-over
have to add
reen peas sauce,
youone
most
likely
cesses
of
other
nationalities
in
the
American
market.
spices
etc…
That’s
just too much sometimes. One
You will get the typical what are
Remember Shabba Ranks? Once
one
of the reigning
day
I
decided
that
I didn’t have to follow all the
t look with the following: “pwa
kings of Jamaican Dancehallabove
music,steps
he was
to lured
have by
green peas sauce, I wanted it
a frans, lé
dimanche sèlman, wap
the prospect of a bigger famebut
through
American
didn’tan
have
the availability to follow the whole
Translation:
“Green
peas
sauce?
deal that led to some short-lived
national
recogni-it all in one step. The sauce
so I cooked
een peastion.
sauce,
only on Sundays, shebang,
Jamaica’s Super Cat, another
phenomenon
of from the traditional verdid
look
a
little
different
beans sauce.”
the early 90s Jamaican scene
tried
his
behind
on
sion but it was as delicious and satisfying. If it is a
cookingthe
beans
andAmerican
peas sauces
is rodeo
great
fame
with and
someyour
limited
weekday
taste buds are craving sos pwa
olves such
a
cumbersome
process,
success. The closest Haitians
haveyou
come
tohave
the sucWomen
marched
to mark International Women’s Day on March 8.
frans,
can
it. Simply
cook
it by following
you cook
you
just
want
to
“set
cess of Jamaicans like Bob this
Marley
orrecipe,
Latinos
like can’t buy it, make it!
easy
if
you
ity for cholera and sexual violence.
ike the famous
roasting
machine
by Alexis Erkert
Ricky Martin
and
J-Lo are the
Fugees and Wyclef
Enjoy!
Women head nearly half of Haitian households
o cook Haitian
peas sauce,
Special to the Reporter
Jean ingreen
particular.
Pretty damn
good
if
you
ask
me.
Do you have a question for“As
Ruithor maybe
ancommemorate
idea
and account for most of the country’s subsistence
u first haveIttofeels
cookgreat
the peas
with
activists,
we
this
as
a
day
when a fellow Haitian earns the
for a recipe? Send an e-mailoftostruggle,
Ruth at ruthsrecipes@
farmers. As traditional caretakers of children, the
a
day
to
make
our
voices
heard
until
ired ingredients
for
a
long
time,
American spotlight, shines a positive light on Haiti
yahoo.com.
elderly and the sick, the burden on women has
someone
pays
attention
and
helps
provide
soluve to drain
some
of
the
peas
(not
and brings attention to its music. That feeling has to
increased since the January 2010 earthquake. In
tions
to
our
problems,”
said
Rachelle
Fondechaine
oking broth.
Next
you
have
to
be what Italian-Americans feel when they consider
displacement camps, where nearly 500,000 still live,
of
Haitian
Women’s
Solidarity
(SOFA).
the life and career of Frank Sinatra.
women continue to face alarming rates of rape and
As
she
faced
the
Haitian
parliament
with
a
Cross-over success, however, does come at a price.
gender-based violence.
throng
of
banner-waving
and
singing
women
at
All of the artists we’ve named share a commonality.
A recent report from Gender Action reveals
her
back,
continued,
“Today
is
March
8th!
It’s
a
They didn’t make it in America promoting nonthat
post-earthquake investments in Haiti have
day
when
women
workers
in
New
York
first
took
Americanisms. Jamaicans are practically students
of American Rhythm and Blues. If you strip Bob to the streets in to demand their rights in 1857. largely neglected issues of gender equality.
This day is marked in our memories, and as women But over the years, Haitian women’s groups have
Marley’s
albums
of Matmusic, leaving
onlyfor
histhe
vocals,
eness day,
sponsored
by the
and games
kids will
available.
in be
Haiti,
we have no support, we are left in the made important gains including legal equality for
he revealswill
himself
an astute
of the American
c Ed Partnership,
be held
on disciple
The public
in invited tostreet,
participate
in thisdon’t
free have access to school...” women within marriage and the criminalization
our
children
Blues tradition.
face it,event,
Sinatra
wasn’t
singing
om 10 a.m.-1p.m.
at the Let’s
Church
part
of the
citywide
adult
education
and of women converged in of rape. Significant legislation is currently being
Hours
earlier,
hundreds
although
he grewweek,
up in awhich
Haitian
parkingOpera! Wyclef
lotJean,
(corner
of
literacy
begins
May
15
with
a
celebrafront of the Ministry for the Status and Condition of drafted to provide increased protection from genderchurch, is first and foremosttion
a soldier
of Hip-Hop.
d River St).
at Boston
City Hall Plaza
at and,
11 a.m.
For more
dancing
to the rhythm of an all-women based violence. If passed these new laws would
So, toESOL,
credit Premy detractors,
they see this
are Women
students from
GED
information
or toand
volunteer,
contact
Brunir
O.their
Shackstreet
band,
wove
way through the streets of provide a legal framework to place more severe
willing
to strip themselves
of their
cultural
treaabout their
experiences
in Mat- bare
leton
at the
Mayor‚s
Office
of Jobs Port-au-Prince
& Communityto the Haitian parliament. sanctions against all forms of physical violence
downtown
sure for the
that Haitian
culture
or Haitians
Enjoy homemade
foodillusion
and refreshServices
at 617
918-5244 orSupported
brunir.shackleton.jcs@
by more than a dozen local human against women and could result in better training
will somehow
beto
onenroll
the American
map.
Now
re information
about how
cityofboston.gov.we can rights organizations and activist groups, protest- for officials involved in sexual assault cases.
all
really
understand
Michael
Jackson.
Why
stop
at
with educational materials. Books
And this year, on International Women’s Day,
ers’ demands ranged
widely from pros- women marched in the streets to remind onlookers
ecution of former of their power, singing, “Women, we are reeds. You
dictator Jean-Claude can cut off our heads, you can burn our roots, but
“Baby Doc” Duva- when it rains, we will grow again.”
Her
Alexis Erkert is the Another Haiti is Possible Colier, to better condiordinator
for Other Worlds. She has worked with
tions
in
factories,
gency
to UN accountabil- Haitian social movements since 2008.
y teve esrosiers
ontributing ditor
International Women’s Day observed
cy day in Mattapan Sq. on May 19
c.
e
nce
Homomobile
e than a
reliable
rchester
unts
me
r Ave.
MBTA
0
lates”
BostonHaitian.com
March 2012
Boston Haitian Reporter
Page 9
Caring teachers are key to child’s success in the classroom
By Yolette Ibokette
Contributing Editor
Thank goodness the
Obama administration
recently gave Massachusetts a waiver from the
No Child Left Behind
(NCLB) law. Now the
state can work on creating No Human Left
Behind schools (NHLB).
NCLB had very noble
intentions. Enacted
upon the principle that
“every child can learn,”
the 2002 law mandated
that schools be held accountable for results;
that states and school
districts had flexibility
in how they spent federal
money; that schools used
scientific research to
guide classroom practice; and that schools
involved parents by giving them information
and choices about their
children’s education.
One of the drawbacks of the law was
that it didn’t mandate
a principle of caring
in classrooms. Most, if
not all, teachers would
adamantly argue that
they do care about their
students because they
work hard to plan and
teach what’s necessary
for children to be successful. Nevertheless, many
teachers are not able to
convey to their students
that they are cared for.
In a 2005 article on
the website infed, Nel
Noddings addressed this
principle.
“It is not enough to
hear the teacher’s claim
to care,” said Noddings,
a leading figure in the
field of educational philosophy and Professor
at Teachers College at
Columbia University.
“Does the student recognize that he or she is
cared for? Is the teacher
thought by the student
to be a caring teacher?”
One might wonder
how important is teacher
caring. It turns out
that teacher caring is
very important for all
students to succeed, but
it’s even more critical for
low-income, culturally
diverse students from
diverse linguistic, racial
and ethnic backgrounds.
“Teacher caring is
important because it
encourages student commitment to school and
their engagement in
learning,” says Perez. “It
can be a source of motivation for all students, but
especially for culturally
diverse students who
may be at risk of failing
or who may be disengaged from schooling.
A lack of connection
is often a consequence
of feeling ‘invisible’ or
anonymous in the school
setting. For many culturally diverse students,
this lack of belonging
or personal connection
in school is mirrored in
their out-of-school lives,
thus amplifying the importance of a personal,
caring relationship with
teachers in school.”
A number of studies
show that when students
believe that their teachers care, they tend to behave better and perform
better academically.
“Culturally diverse
students have a tendency not to separate A
as a person from A as a
teacher as clearly as other students,” continues
Voices of
Boston
Perez. “For this reason,
they need a relationship
with their teachers that
is mutually caring and
respectful if they are to
learn.”
It’s a catch 22. Due to
the demands made on
teachers, it’s hard for
them to find the time and
energy to form trusting
and caring relationships
with their students. Yet,
unless teachers find the
time to form caring relationships, their students
will not be successful.
Noddings notes that
when teachers have time
to talk to their students,
there are many rewards.
“First, as we listen to
our students, we gain
their trust and in an
ongoing relation of care
and trust, it is more likely
that students will accept
what we try to teach,”
she said. “Second, as we
engage our students in
dialogue, we learn about
their needs, working habits, interests and talents.
We gain important ideas
from them about how to
build our lessons and
plan for their individual
progress.”
It’s no secret that with
BRA
REQUEST FOR NOMINATIONS
FAIRMOUNT INDIGO PLANNING
INITIATIVE CORRIDOR-WIDE
ADVISORY GROUP
The Boston Redevelopment Authority (“BRA”) is seeking nominations from:
Residents
Non-profit organizations
Community groups
Institutional establishments
Business owners / Business Organizations
for a Corridor Advisory Group (“CAG”) for the Fairmount Indigo Planning
Initiative. The CAG will assist the BRA, other city agencies, and a designated
multi-disciplinary planning consultant team toward a corridor-wide
community planning effort for the Fairmount Indigo Corridor.
The Corridor-wide community planning process will begin in Spring 2012, and should
take approximately two years. Meetings will typically be held in the evening at various
locations in neighborhoods along the Fairmount Corridor. It is anticipated that between 20-30
members will be appointed to the CAG by Mayor Thomas M. Menino.
Nomination forms are available at www.fairmountindigoplanning.org, by request
via email to [email protected] or by phone (617) 918-4434
You may also submit a nomination without a form stating the name of the individual, his or her street address, email
address, and any affiliation to neighborhood groups or institutions. Each submission should also include a statement
as to how this person would be qualified to serve on the CAG.
ALL NOMINATIONS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED NO LATER
THAN 5PM ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7TH 2012
mail to:
Inés Palmarín
Boston Redevelopment Authority
1 City Hall Square, Room 910
Boston, MA 02201-1007
email:
[email protected]
or via fax: (617) 367-6087
NCLB, student progress
is constantly being tested in one subject matter
or another. Is it possible that teachers are
required to administer a
lot of tests because parents and policy makers
don’t trust teachers to do
their best for students?
And does that lack of
trust stem from a belief
that many teachers don’t
truly care for the kids
they’re teaching? Noddings thinks so.
“The present insistence on more and more
testing—even for young
children—is largely
a product of separation and trust. When
parents do not know
the teachers of their
children, and teachers
have not formed caring
relationships with their
students, it is predictable that demands for
‘accountability’ would
be heard. If no adult
has time to spend with a
child—shared time that
yields dependable and
supportive evaluation—
then society looks for an
easy and efficient way to
evaluate: test, test, and
test year after year.”
Noddings makes a
number of suggestions
including restructuring
the school day so that
teachers and students
spend more time together to develop a relation of care and trust,
making classes smaller,
reducing the pressure
of standardized testing
so that teachers and
students can explore
topics of mutual interest
more deeply, and giving
more attention to students’ interests. In other
words, give teachers the
time and opportunity
to treat students more
humanely.
Page 10 Boston Haitian ReporteR
March 2012
BostonHaitian.com
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BostonHaitian.com
March 2012
Boston Haitian Reporter
Dr. Michele David joins Harvard Vanguard
By Manolia Charlotin
Editor
Dr. Michele David, an acclaimed clinician, community health educator and public health practitioner,
joins the Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
– serving in their internal medicine department
in Cambridge. Harvard Vanguard is a nonprofit
medical services group that provides care to almost
500,000 patients at more than 21 offices across eastern Massachusetts. Dr. David received her medical
degree from the University of Chicago’s Pritzker
School of Medicine, holds an MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University
of Illinois and an MPH from the Harvard
University School of Public Health.
Prior to joining Harvard Vanguard, Dr.
David was the internal medicine department medical director at Medical Legal
Partnership in Boston. She also worked
at the National Center of Excellence in
Women’s Health at Boston University
as director of the Community Health
Programs. She is a Mattapan resident
who currently serves as board chair for
Youth and Family Enrichment Services
Inc (YOFES) – a Hyde Park-based community organization that addresses health disparities.
In 2007, Dr. David was appointed to Governor Deval Patrick’s Public Health Council. She has received
numerous awards, including the 2010 William A.
Hinton Award given to her by the Massachusetts
Commissioner of Public Health in recognition of her
activism, commitment to public health and tireless
work to educate others on health inequities.
The Haitian community makes up a significant
number of clients that utilize health services at
Harvard Vanguard’s Cambridge clinic. This was a
major draw, says Dr. David.
“One of the reasons I was happy to be at this practice, I really wanted to continue serving a diverse,
multicultural population…and to continue providing
quality care to the Haitian community,” said Dr.
David. “Harvard Vanguard is a premier healthcare
institution, very supportive, well-respected for clinical work [and I] wanted a place that would support
a clinician 100 percent.”
“I was at Boston Medical Center for a while, focusing on research. So I wanted to transition from
research to clinical care and community care.”
Dr. David’s specialty care and research was in area
of breast and cervical health for women, particularly
from low-income, immigrant communities. Her focus
was on reducing health disparities in the state, and
she spearheaded many projects to increase access
to screenings and quality culturally
sensitive health care.
“I had a specialty clinic at Boston
Medical Center for 9 years,” said Dr.
David. “The mortality rate of women
of color with breast cancer is significantly higher. The preventative aspect
of women’s health is important to me.
I want to create awareness in the community around this pressing issue”
She hopes to help restructure that
practice at Harvard Vanguard and looks
forward to more time with her patients
in this new role.
“I am dedicated to seeing patients,
have more clinical hours, so that they can have more
access to me,” says Dr. David.
Her message for Womens History Month is simple.
“Women tend to be the caretaker of the house, do a
lot for others. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself.
When you’re in an airplane, they tell you to put on
your oxygen mast first, before you help someone
put on theirs. It’s the same with healthcare. It’s
important for women and mothers to take care of
their health.”
Dr. David holds clinical hours from 10a.m.5:30p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Fridays at Harvard Vanguard’s Cambridge practice,
located at 1611 Cambridge Street. For more information call 617-661-5500 or visit harvardvanguard.org.
KOMONNWÈLT MASSACHUSETTS
DEPATMAN TRANSPÒ MASSACHUSETTS – DIVIZYON TRAFIK SOU GRANWOUT
ANONS POU YON ODISYYON PIBLIK POU ENFÒMASYON
Nimewo Dosye 605511
MassDot ap òganize yon reyinyon piblik pou enfòmasyon, kote yo pral pale sou Etid Planifikasyon yo
pwopoze pou ranplase pwojè Pon Monsignor Casey a nan Jamaica Plain, nan Massachusetts.
KI KOTE:
KILÈ:
English High School Auditorium
144 McBride Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Jedi 29 mas 2012, depi 6:00 pm rive 8:00 pm Odisyon Piblik pou Enfòmasyon
REZON:
Rezon reyinyon sa a, se pou prezante modèl altènativ yo chwazi pou ranplase Pon
Casey ki la kounye a, ki pral rive nan 25% etap konsepsyon li, ansanm ak plan yo prevwa pou
patisipasyon piblik la ak pou kontinye devlope lide pou pwojè a. Seleksyon altènativ sa a, se rezilta
yon etid planifikasyon avanse yo fè pandan lane ki fenk pase a, nan yon travay kolaboratif ant
MassDOT, DCR, Vil Boston, MBTA , ak yon Gwoup Koseye pou Travay piblik yo te chwazi pou sa.
PWOPOZISYON:
Etap yo fini nan pwojè a, se planifikasyon ak etid pou wè ki altènativ yo
vle chwazi pou ranplase pon ki la kounye a, pou rive òganize mobilite miltimodal ak reponn plizyè
bezwen vital moun nan zòn lan genyen. Etap pou etidye planifikasyon an pral genyen ladan l anpil
efò pou kontakte piblik lan toupatou pou konnen kisa moun vle, epi li pral etidye solisyon estriktirèl
ak materyo adapte. Yo pral pouse altènativ ki rekòmande a nan etap konsepsyon an, pou rive nan
konstriksyon, dapre kalandriye Pwogram Akselere pou Pon nan Komonnwèlt la.
Opinyon MassDOT pral resevwa apre dat anons sa a, jiska senk (5) jou anvan dat odisyon an, pral
afiche pou piblik la wè oubyen kopye yo, nan lè ak nan dat ki ekri pi wo la a. Yo pral afiche plan yo
pou moun wè trant minit anvan odisyon an koumanse, epi pral gen yon enjennyè ki la pou reponn
kesyon sou pwojè a. Pral gen yon fèy enfòmasyon sou pwojè a k ap afiche nan sit MassDot ki nan
adrès pi ba la a.
Si yon moun pito voye yon opinyon ekri, oswa soumèt lòt kalite dokiman, pase pou li ta fè kòmantè
oral nan Odisyon Piblik pou Enfòmasyon an, oswa si moun lan vle voye yon papye anplis kòmantè
oral li pral fè sou sa yo pwopoze a, li dwe voye yo nan adrès sa a: Thomas F. Broderick, P.E., Chief
Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, ATTN: (Paul King, Project File No.
605511). Yo pral aksepte opinyon ekri oswa dokiman sa yo tou nan odisyon an. Opinyon ekri ak
dokiman yo voye pa lapòs pou retranskri nan dosye Odisyon Piblik la dwe gen yon so lapòs sou yo, pa
pi ta pase dis (10) jou davans, anvan Odisyon Piblik sa a. Si w gen kesyon sou pwojè a, ou mèt voye yo
nan adrès elektwonik [email protected].
Kote sa a gen enstalasyon pou moun ki andikape kapab antre. MassDOT fè aranjman rezonnab,
epi li bay asistans pou tradiksyon gratis si yon moun mande sa (tankou entèprèt nan Lang ki pale ak
Siy nan Etazini, ak nan lòt lang pase angle, oswa soutit ouvri oubyen fèmen pou videyo, aparèy pou
ede moun koute, ak fòma altènatif tankou anrejisreman odyo, Bray, ak tèks an gwo lèt), oubyen lòt
altènativ ankò, si genyen yo ka jwenn. Pou mande aranjman oswa asistans pou tradiksyon, ou mèt
kontakte Direktè pou Dwa Sivil MassDOT la nan nimewo telefòn (617) 973-7171, oswa TTD/TTY (617)
973-7715 pou moun ki pa tande byen, oswa (617) 973-7311 nan faks, oswa nan adrès elektwonnik
[email protected]. Ou dwe fè demann lan pi bonnè ou kapab anvan reyinyon an; si
w ap mande sèvis ki pi difisil pou jwenn yo, tankou entèprèt ki pale ak siy, oswa CART, oswa tradiktè
ak entèprèt, ou dwe fè demann lan omwen 10 jou ouvrab anvan dat reyinyon an. Si pral gen move tan, ap gen yon anons pou anile odisyon an k ap afiche sou Entènèt nan adrès
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Highway/
FRANCIS A. DEPAOLA, P.E.
THOMAS F. BRODERICK, P.E.
ADMINISTRATÈ DIVIZYON TRAFIK SOU GRANWOUT
ENJENNYÈ AN CHÈF POU PWOJÈ A
Boston, Massachusetts
Page 11
Page 12 EDitor’s
Note
Boston Haitian ReporteR
The Boston Haitian
Reporter is pleased to
present the second installment of Tents Beyond Tents, the work of
Haitian cartoonists and
journalists. Their work
has been brought to
our attention through a
groundbreaking project
led by an international
organization called the
Cartoon Movement.
We encourage our readers to learn more about
the background of Cartoon Movement and their
Haiti project by going to
their website, CartoonMovement.com. You can
also view more work from
very talented Haitian artists, cartoonists and journalists who have teamed
with Cartoon Movement
in recent months. There
is also a video that documents the month that
the Cartoon Movement’s
editorial team spent in
Haiti last July.
On January 12, 2012,
the second anniversary of
the earthquake, Cartoon
Movement published the
first chapter of the 75page comics journalism
project focused on life in
Haiti— the first section
of which is printed here
in the Reporter.
Written by Port-auPrince reporter Pharés
Jerome, and illustrated
by Chevelin Pierre, Tents
Beyond Tents takes us
down to the Champ de
Mars in front of the
crumbled presidential
palace to the squalid
conditions in tent camps
on the outskirts of town.
Jerome tells us of the
forced evictions by state
authorities and the modest progress that is finally
allowing some families to
relocate.
Cartoon Movement will
be publishing installments throughout 2012
written by various Haitian journalists, focusing
on such issues as Haitian
politics, the role of NGOs,
and what exactly happened with all the relief
money that came flooding
in after the earthquake.
The entire series will
be drawn by perhaps
the most talented comic
artist working in Haiti
today, Chevelin Pierre.
“This is an opportunity
to express my frustrations, and those of my
countrymen, with the
recovery after January
12 through my drawings,”
says Pierre. “And comics
journalism lends itself
perfectly to the subject.”
The Boston Haitian Reporter will publish more
panels over the coming
months.
“We are very excited
to team with Cartoon
Movement to bring our
readers a new Haitian
perspective on life in the
post Jan.12 world,” said
Managing Editor Bill
Forry. “This is exceptionally good work, done
by Haitians living and
working in Haiti. We are
pleased to bring them to
an American audience for
the first time in a U.S.
publication.”
March 2012
BostonHaitian.com