Haiti
Message from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Spiritual and Religious Leaders
In a note, Evens Souffrant, General Director of the Ministry of Religious Affairs presented his “Patriotic greetings to all spiritual and religious leaders” who exercise their Pastoral Ministry in Haiti.
While recognizing the right of every citizen to take a stand in matters concerning the future of the Nation, Suffering “[…] urges spiritual and religious leaders to encourage the faithful to choose moderation in order to preserve fragile peace, if necessary for the search for a concerted solution for the good of the country.” Continue reading
Something must really change here
Something has to change here. “This sentiment spoken by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Haiti on March 9, 1983. Indeed something did change, three years after the visit of the Holy Father, the Duvalier dictatorship ended. Thirty-six years later, we continue to live with this constant desire for change. Thirty-six years later, governments have succeeded one another without being able to quench this thirst for change. Thirty-six years later, we continue to sail in troubled waters. Continue reading
A legal solution to the political impasse
Haitians will speak with conviction of Article 134-1 of the nations’ Constitution (“the duration of the presidential term is five (5) years”). However, in the “amended” version of the Haitian Constitution of 1987, article 149 now reads: “In the event of the vacancy of the Presidency of the Republic either by resignation, dismissal, death, or in case of physical or mental incapacity duly noted the Council of Ministers, under the presidency of the Prime Minister, exercises the executive power until the election of another President.” Continue reading
The current crisis accentuates the vulnerability of the population
The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) is sounding the alarm about the humanitarian crisis in the country. According to its assessments, aside the complete paralysis of the country’s economy, insecurity is in full swing. At least 17 people have died and nearly 189 have been injured in recent demonstrations.
In analyzing the country’s situation, the IFRC stresses that the current cycle of protests has led to a near total paralysis of the country’s economy over the last four weeks, making it the longest since the beginning of the events in July 2018. Security in the country has continued to deteriorate in September and early October, causing the closure of hospitals, schools, humanitarian organizations, government institutions, embassies, and businesses. The current crisis has further aggravated the precarious humanitarian situation of more than half of the country’s population. Continue reading
Companies are closing their doors due to the collapse of the economy, according to Kesner Pharel
Several companies operating in the hotel sector announced this week that they will close their doors or reduce some of their staff. The officials of these institutions stated that the gravity of the socio-political troubles considerably affect their operations. “There is nothing surprising about what is happening to us today,” said Kesner Pharel. “This is happening to us because of the collapse of the economy. The entire supply chain is virtually blocked. There no longer is movement of goods from one area to another,” said the economist in an interview on Magik 9.
Kesner Pharel regrets the choice of radicalization by those who protest in the streets. Today, the economist points out, there are also protest movements in Chile, Ecuador and Barcelona, but they do not go to the radical movement stage, that is to say, they do not are not “locked” totally, he emphasized. Continue reading
New York
Artist fatally stabbed after argument outside his Brooklyn apartment
A Brooklyn artist was fatally stabbed after arguing with another man steps away from his apartment building Wednesday, police and neighbors said.
The victim, identified by neighbors as Jean Jocelyn Lareus, 48, left his apartment on E. 19th St. near Cortelyou Road in Flatbush on Wednesday morning after getting a string of text messages on his phone, neighbor Junelle Roderique said. Continue reading
Features
How Mobile Money Is Increasing Financial Stability
According to a 2014 survey of Latin American countries, 80 percent of Haitians don’t have a bank account. However, mobile phone ownership in Haiti has increased rapidly in the past decade, culminating in just under 60 percent of its citizens owning cell phones. Thanks to mobile money apps that can be accessed with a phone, many bankless Haitians have become more financially stable. This mobile money movement began in 2011, and is still going strong today. Continue reading