Haiti`s Earthquake: Five Years After

GR FRE
AT E
IS
WWW.haitianvoice.com
FeBRUaRY 2015
Chaleureuse cėlėbration
De l’indėpendance
d’Haïti à Connecticut
volUme 9 • nUmBeR 1
Haiti’s Earthquake:
Five Years After
– Plus d’un miller de personnes ont vivement célébré
le 211ème anniversaire de l’indépendance d’Haïti dans l’aprèsmidi du 1er janvier en l’église de Saint Charles, à Bridgeport, CT,
à travers une messe Te Deum suivie d’ une réception culturelle.
Bridgeport, CT
L’Ėvêque Frank Joseph Caggiano a dirigé le service religieux,
avec l’assistance du Rév.Père Edicson Orozco, le Pasteur de Saint
Charles, de trois prêtres haïtiens: Père Churchill Penn (Saint
Charles de Bridgeport), Père Frantz Desruisseaux (Saint Joseph
de Norwalk) et Père Rony Jean Phillippe (de Haitian American
Community Center of Stamford) et d’autre prêtres.
On a clôturé la messe en chantant l’hymne national, La
Dessalinienne, dans un bain de drapeaux haïtiens.
Immédiatement après, le public était invité à déguster ensenble
la traditionnelle soupe au giraumon (soupe joumou) et un spectacle culturel qui mit en relief la richesse et la résilience de la culture haïtienne. Dr. Frantz-Antoine Leconte, un spécialiste en littérature, culture et politique, contextualisa dans un court exposé
le caractère unique de la révolution de 1804 et les multiples contributions de la première république noire à l’humanité entière.
“Cette activité commémorative, initiée il ya 17 ans, est un effort
de notre église pour garder vivante la mémoire de nos ancêtres
au sein de notre communauté et souligner du même coup l’importance de l’engagement civique”, explique Père Penn qui sert
le diocèse de Bridgeport depuis sept ans.
Suite page 9
Haiti's National Palace
Washington, D.C. –
Photo by Ghislaine Georges / Staff
Five years after Haiti’s devastating earthquake killed some 217,300
and displaced 1.5 million people, the international community still needs to act
to address ongoing urgent needs, Center for Economic and Policy Research
(CEPR) Co-Director Mark Weisbrot said today. While the international community
pledged over $10 billion for relief and reconstruction following the quake, much
of that assistance ultimately went to agencies and contractors from the donor
countries themselves, while Haitian organizations and the Haitian government
were largely sidelined. Hundreds of people continue to die from cholera each
year in Haiti as water and sanitation remain sub-standard, while fewer than
10,000 new houses have been built to house the hundreds of thousands who lost
their homes in the earthquake.
“This is a shameful milepost for the international community, as so many urgent
needs in Haiti remain a full five years later,” Weisbrot said. “Countries such as the
United States, France and Canada share a particular burden for these failures,
since these countries have trampled upon Haitian sovereignty and sidelined
Haitian institutions throughout the country’s history.”
L’Ėvêque Frank Caggiano
Photo by Emmanuel Doreste/HTN
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Continued page 9
From The Editor ............................................................................................................3
GOAL SETTING: Eating, Physical Activity & Weight Loss ....................................................4
Qu'est-ce que la schizophrénie ......................................................................................4
Finance: Will Your Kids Inherit Your Debt? ........................................................................5
French Discussion Rendezvous ........................................................................................6
Celebration of Haiti’s Independence Day in Connecticut ..................................................6
Kadras: Les Haitiens interdits de plage ............................................................................7
Département d’Etat des Etats-Unis Bureau du Porte-parole ..............................................8
Girls On The Move......................................................................................................10
INSERTION REQUISE ....................................................................................................12
Connecticut Summer Program Extended to Haiti ..................................................................12
Valentine’s Day Concert ..............................................................................................14
Soirée de Conversation Française ................................................................................14
Prof. Max Manigat:Un demi Siècle de Résilience Intellectuelle ........................................15
Dèyè PawòlGen Pawòl..................................................................................................16
Human Rights Violations by Les Cayes Police ................................................................17
Anseye Pou Ayiti Launches in Haiti, Partners with Global Teach For All Network ..............17
Mayor Walsh Announces Boston’s New Poet Laureate....................................................18
Rest in Peace Francois Andre Jean-Mary..........................................................................18
In Memoriam: Leslie François Manigat ..........................................................................19
R.I.P. Monsieur Fils Paul Joseph ......................................................................................19
2
THE HAITIAN VOICE
FEBRUARY 2015
HIRING NOW:
Newspaper Advertising Sales Representative
COMPANY
Founded in 2006, Connecticut Haitian Voice is a free monthly tri-lingual newspaper that prioritizes information that
conveys a message of pride, unity, tolerance, perseverance and responsible leadership.
This growing newspaper reaches more than 50,000 readers in the Tri-state area, Haiti and beyond. Our positive
influence has been highlighted by major News outlets such as the Associated Press, Connecticut Post, News 12, The
Stamford Advocate and Norwich Bulletin.
JOB DESCRIPTION
We’re looking for a Sales Representative to market our print and online advertising solutions to small and medium
size businesses. In this role you will be expected to develop new business clients using outbound sales calls. At the
close of sale, this position requires you to complete detailed paperwork to fulfill orders that include placement of
ads, creative messaging and reports to communicate campaign performance.
Some of our advertising products include ads in the print, and online editions, direct mail, email marketing, search
engine marketing (SEO/ PPC), and social media management.
QUALIFICATIONS
Ideal candidates will have a successful track record of business-to-business sales in marketing or advertising. We
work in a fast paced, deadline driven environment, organizational skills required. Our sales reps use a consultative
sales approach and have strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills. Basic computer skills required
for Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and Google business solutions for email, calendaring and documents.
Bachelors preferred, although a high school diploma and 2 years of advertising sales experience may be substituted for a degree.
This is a 32-hour position, offering an hourly pay rate plus monthly commissions.
Application:
Connecticut Haitian Voice LLC is an affirmative action employer, and encourages applications from all qualified
candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability.
Please submit cover letter and resume with at least three references to admin@haitianvoice.com; reference
“Advertising Sales Representative” in subject line.
FEBRUARY 2015
THE HAITIAN VOICE
From The Editor
Le Mot du Directeur
Ce journal, qui a à-peu-près neuf ans, commence cette nouvelle
This nine-year old free publication is starting this
new year under a slightly-changed name: THE
HAITIAN VOICE, as to reflect the ever-growing
magnitude of our work.
année sous un nom légèrement modifié : THE HAITIAN VOICE,
comme pour refléter notre lourde responsabilité d’agent de
développement communautaire.
When I depleted my family savings to launch this
newspaper, my goal was to create an organizing
tool to move forward the Haitian community of
Connecticut. I had in mind just a local endeavor,
in the tradition of the American media business
models (Connecticut Post, Boston Globe, Los
Angeles Times, The Hartford Courant etc…).
But very early on, other communities such as Massachusetts, New Jersey,
New York and Pennsylvania embraced us as their own.
The Haitian Voice is now widely distributed in Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey and in a dozen cities in Haiti, as part of our commitment to provide
reliable information, to promote literacy and to enhance the image of Haiti
and its diaspora, in the context of the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake that
claimed more than 200,000 lives and left one million people homeless.
In addition to serving new communities, we are also working hard in
improving the quality of our work. We are proud to report that the following three scholars have recently joined our staff:
• Ronald Gabriel, a proven expert in the fields of macroeconomic
analysis, monetary policy and public finance. He earned a master’s
degree in economics from University of Montreal. He is the chief economist of Haiti’s Central Bank.
Lorsque j'ai épuisé mon épargne familiale pour le lancement de ce
mensuel, mon but était de créer un outil d'organisation pour faire
avancer la communauté haïtienne de Connecticut. J'avais à l'esprit
juste une entreprise locale, dans la tradition du modèle d'affaires
des médias américains (Connecticut Post, Los Angeles Times,
Boston Globe, The Hartford Courant etc....). Mais dès notre
parution, nous avons attiré l’attention et l‘appréciation des
compatriotes des états de Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey et Pennsylvanie.
The Haitian Voice est maintenant distribué à Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey et en Haïti, pour réponde à notre engagement de fournir des informations
crédibles, de promouvoir l'alphabétisation et de sensibiliser l’opinion publique
sur la nécessité de mieux gérer l’image de nos communautés. Ce journal se veut
un partenaire fiable dans le processus de la reconstruction d’Haïti, après le
séisme de 2010 qui a tué plus de 200 000 personnes et a fait un million de sans-abris.
En plus d’agrandir notre lectorat, nous travaillons également d’arrache-pied à
améliorer la qualité de notre travail. C’est pourquoi il nous plait d'annoncer que
récemment trois personnalités imposantes de l’intelligentsia haïtienne ont grossi
le nombre de nos collaboratrices et collaborateurs:
• Ronald Gabriel, un expert dans les domaines de l'analyse macroéconomique,
la politique monétaire et des finances publiques. Il a obtenu une maîtrise en
économie à l'Université de Montréal. Il est l’économiste en chef de la
Banque centrale d'Haïti.
• Dr. Rozevelt Jean-Baptiste (Wozvel Jan Batis), a linguist trained at
University Paris V ( la Sorbone). He specializes in lexicology and lexicography, and teaches in the New York public school system.
• Dr. Rozevelt Jean-Baptiste (Wozvel Jan Batis), un linguiste formé à
l'Université Paris V ( la Sorbone). Il s’est spécialisé en lexicologie et
lexicographie. Il enseigne à New York.
• Charlot Lucien, a cartoonist, painter, master-storyteller, community
leader and a mental health administrator for the state of Massachusetts.
As you can imagine, it costs in many ways to dare being creative, positive
and hopeful. At The Haitian Voice, we prioritize the collective interests of
the people we serve. We rely solely on the generosity of concerned citizens
and businesses to keep this dream alive.
We urgently need your help to reach our goal. We ask that you will make
a commitment to financially support The Haitian Voice, and hope that we
can count on your solidarity. Let’s be the change that we want for our
communities!
Best wishes to everyone!
• Charlot Lucien, un caricaturiste, peintre, conteur, dirigeant communautaire
et spécialiste en santé publique.
Comme vous pouvez l'imaginer, c’est toute une gageure de vouloir faire du neuf
tout en s’accrochant à la déontologie du journalisme. Nous avons besoin de
votre support actif pour survivre. Nous comptons uniquement sur la générosité
des citoyens et entreprises soucieux de progrès social.
Nous vous prions de bien vouloir vous engager à soutenir financièrement The
Haitian Voice. Soyons le changement que nous voulons pour notre peuple!
Nos meilleurs voeux à tout le monde!
—Angelucci Manigat, Jr.
Fondateur et Directeur Général
—Angelucci Manigat, Jr.
Pubisher and Editor in Chief
—Angelucci Manigat, Jr.
Publisher & Editor in Chief
Publisher and editor in chief
Angelucci Manigat, Jr.
USa
P.O. Box 1174
Stratford, CT 06615
( 203) 981-5527
admin@haitianvoice.com
haiti
Boite Postale 19265
Angle Rue Capois & Ave. Nicolas
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
( 509) 38317065
Business managers
Marike Louis ( USA)
Alix Manigat ( Haiti)
Staff Writers
Evelyn Avoglia, PHD
Phara Bayonne
Jeanie Bogart
André Fouad
Ronald Gabriel
Sabine Januski
Dr. Rozevelt Jean-Baptiste
Charlot Lucien
3
Connecticut Haitian Voice welcomes signed letters, poems, essays,
and photos sent with a return address and telephone number.
E-mail: admin@haitianvoice.com
Mail:
Connecticut Haitian Voice • P.O. Box 1174, Stratford, CT 06615
Photographers
Joseph Pierre Paul
Rosemay Caman
Luthernex H. Garçon
Project managers
Damicia Manigat
Johnny Tranquille
Jean-Robert Pierre
circulation
Pascale Millien-Faustin
Emmanuel W. Doreste
Graphic Design
Lisa Richards
the haitian voice is a publication of Connecticut Haitian Voice LLC.
the haitian voice reserves the right to revise or reject any advertisement. Only
publication of advertisement should constitute acceptance of the advertisement.
The Haitian Voice shall not be responsible for the omission, in whole or in part, of
any advertisement or any typographical or other error. The Haitian Voice shall be
limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for the first insertion only. In no event
shall The Haitian Voice be liable for consequential damages of any kind ( including
damages for lost profits).
the haitian voice welcomes press releases, unsolicited articles, poems, essays,
photos and signed letters sent by email, with a telephone number where the
sender can be reached. Letters should be limited to 250 words. The Haitian Voice
reserves the right to edit submitted letters and articles for space and clarity. The
opinions and advertisements published herein do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of the newspaper.
© The Haitian Voice LLC, 2015. All rights reserved.
THE HAITIAN VOICE
Health • Santé
4
FEBRUARY 2015
GOAl SEttInG:
Eating, Physical Activity &
Weight loss
Qu'est-ce
que la
schizophrénie
No matter what your weight loss goal is, the key to reaching it is to make
La schizophrénie est une maladie
changes to your lifestyle like eating and physical activity. This involves setting
realistic expectations and making a plan.
du cerveau qui affecte la pensée, les
sentiments et les émotions, tout
comme les perceptions et les comportements des personnes qui en
sont atteintes. Toutes ces fonctions
ne sont cependant pas perturbées
au même moment et dans la même
mesure. De nombreuses personnes
souffrant de schizophrénie peuvent
avoir un comportement parfaitement normal pendant de longues
périodes.
Expectations about Eating and Physical Activity:
Calories In & Calories Out
Whether we forget to count that fancy coffee or extra-large soda as “calories in”
or we assume that taking the stairs instead of the elevator burned an extra 250
“calories out,” sometimes our expectations about how much we’re taking in or
how much we’re burning off can be, well, a little off.
Here are some rough estimates of how much exercise
it takes to burn off the calories of some favorite treats:
Calories IN
Balancing Calories OUT
½ a bag of regular M&Ms
Briskly walking 1 hour
Snack size bag of chips
1.5 hours of strength training
Medium order of fries
Biking 1 hour and 35 minutes
Energy bar
Climbing (up!) stairs for 25 minutes
Large vanilla latte with whip cream
Large frozen yogurt –
no toppings
Jogging 50 minutes
1 hour and 5 minutes
on the elliptical
Setting Eating and Physical Activity Goals
One of the important things to remember is that eating healthier and being
more physically active is good for your health, even if you don’t lose weight. So
when setting goals for eating healthier it may help to focus on other things that
healthy eating might do for you – like trying new (healthy)
foods or learning how to cook for the first time. Also, when
setting physical activity goals, you may want to think
about how being more active will help you regain
energy or provide you with a fun physical
activity challenge to work toward over
time, like walking or running a 5K.
(www.smokefree.gov)
Bien qu'elle n'affecte pas l'intelligence proprement dite de la personne, la schizophrénie occasionne souvent un certain nombre de déficits
cognitifs qui perturbent notamment
l'attention, la mémoire, l'apprentissage et le traitement de l'information. Ces déficits sont souvent
présents dès le début de la maladie
et diminuent la capacité de la personne à réagir de manière appropriée avec son milieu.
Le cerveau contient des milliards de
cellules nerveuses. Chacune d'entre
elles émet des prolongements qui
transmettent des messages aux
autres cellules nerveuses ou en
reçoivent de ces dernières. Ces prolongements libèrent des substances
chimiques appelées neurotransmetteurs qui acheminent les messages
d'une cellule à l'autre. Chez les personnes atteintes de schizophrénie,
ce système de communication fonctionne mal.
Une personne atteinte de
schizophrénie peut:
•
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éprouver des difficultés à établir
un contact avec son entourage ;
être envahie par des idées et des
impressions étranges ;
avoir l'impression d'entendre des
voix qui, bien que n'existant pas
réellement, font partie de sa réalité ;
être prisonnière de ses hallucinations et de son délire ;
avoir une perception de soi partiellement, voire totalement
altérée ;
avoir beaucoup de difficultés à
distinguer ce qui est réel de ce
qui ne l'est pas ;
avoir la conviction que certaines
personnes lui veulent du mal ;
se replier sur elle-même et se
comporter d'une façon bizarre ou
imprévisible ;
se désintéresser de nombreuses
FEBRUARY 2015
•
•
•
THE HAITIAN VOICE
choses: habillement, ménage, hygiène corporelle, gestion de ses biens ;
avoir des réactions émotionnelles étranges et incongrues ;
percevoir son entourage comme hostile ;
ressentir une insécurité permanente.
La schizophrénie n'est pas une maladie rare. À l'échelle mondiale, la schizophrénie touche 1 % de la population. Elle survient chez les jeunes à la fin
de l'adolescence ou au début de la vie adulte, habituellement entre 15 et
30 ans. Exceptionnellement, elle peut apparaître parfois pendant l'enfance
ou après 30 ans. On parle alors de schizophrénie juvénile ou de schizophrénie à début tardif, selon le cas.
La schizophrénie est une maladie mentale qui peut être sévère et persistante. La maladie se manifeste par des épisodes aigus de psychose, suivis
de divers symptômes chroniques. Le début de la maladie peut être progressif, s'étalant sur quelques semaines ou quelques mois. Dans bien des
cas, la schizophrénie fait son apparition de façon tellement insidieuse et
graduelle que les personnes qui en sont atteintes, ainsi que leur famille,
prennent parfois beaucoup de temps à s'en rendre compte. Elle peut aussi
apparaître très soudainement.
La schizophrénie est reconnue comme étant la maladie la plus invalidante
chez les jeunes. Elle frappe autant les garçons que les filles, sans distinction
de races, de cultures, de croyances ou de niveaux socio-économiques.
*(www.schizophrenie.qc.ca)
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5
Finance
Will Your Kids Inherit
Your Debt?
By Jason Alderman
Many people finally get around to writing a will in order to safeguard their
assets for their heirs. But what if you’ve got the opposite problem: Your nest
egg was decimated by the recession, bad investments or simply living longer
than expected and now you’ve got a mountain of bills you can’t pay off.
Will your kids inherit your debts after you die?
The short answer is, not in most cases. But there are situations where someone could be legally responsible for paying off your bills after death. Plus,
aggressive creditors have been known to coerce heirs into paying off debts
for which they’re not responsible, just to be left alone.
If you’re afraid that your financial legacy will be a heap of unpaid bills, here’s
what you need to know and prepare for:
In general, children aren’t responsible for paying off their parents’ unsecured
debts – things like credit cards, personal loans and medical bills, which
aren’t collateralized by physical property. If there’s not enough money in the
estate to pay off those bills, creditors will have to write them off.
There are several exceptions, however:
• If your child, spouse or other acquaintance is a cosigner on a credit card
or loan (e.g., mortgage, car, personal loan), they share equal responsibility for paying it off. This is why you should always think twice before
cosigning anyone’s loan.
• If someone is a joint account holder – that is, their income and credit history were used to help obtain the loan or credit card – they’re generally
responsible to pay off the balance.
• Widows and widowers are responsible for their deceased spouse’s debts
if they live in a community property state.
Note that authorized users on your credit cards aren’t liable for repayment
since they didn’t originally apply for the credit. Chances are they were simply “piggybacking” on your credit record to help build their own. However,
to protect authorized users from being bothered by creditors after your
death, you may want to remove them from your accounts.
If you have outstanding secured debts upon death, such as a mortgage or
car loan, your estate must pay them off or the creditor can seize the underlying asset. For example, if you were planning to leave your house to your
kids, they’ll need to either pay off or continue making payments on any outstanding mortgage, property taxes and insurance, or risk foreclosure.
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Depending on your state’s laws, there are a few types of assets, like life
insurance proceeds and retirement benefits, which you can pass along to
beneficiaries that generally won’t be subject to probate or taxation and thus
may be safe from creditors.
Just be aware that if you name your estate as beneficiary for an insurance
policy or retirement account, creditors can come after the money to pay off
your debts. Thus, it’s usually wise to name specific individuals as beneficiaries – and back-up beneficiaries, in case they die first. Also, if your beneficiary
is a cosigner on any of your debts, creditors can pursue him or her for any
balances owed.
Check with a probate attorney or legal clinic familiar with your state’s inheritance and tax laws. Free or low-cost legal assistance is often available for
lower-income people.
Bottom line: If you expect to leave unpaid debts after you die, alert your
family now, so that together you can plan a course of action. You don’t want
to blindside your loved ones in the midst of their grief.
Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on
Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.
6
THE HAITIAN VOICE
French
Discussion
Rendezvous
The Stratford Public Library is
enriching its multicultural outreach
efforts by hosting a monthly
French discussions program, in partnership with the newly founded The
Stratford Francophone Group. The
first gathering of this French forum
took place last November.
Initiated by two language aficionados, Angelucci Manigat, Jr. and
Elizabeth Cole, The Stratford
Francophone Group intends to
foster friendships, cultural exchange
and a convivial environment to
practice French.
This club will meet on the 3rd
Thursday of the month at
6:30 pm. Meetings are free and
open to anyone with interest in
speaking French regardless of
levels. The next two meetings
will be on February 19
and March 19.
For reservation and additional
information, please feel free to
contact The Stratford Francophone
Group at (203) 981-5527 or by
email: admin@haitianvoice.com.
FEBRUARY 2015
Celebration of Haiti’s Independence Day
in Connecticut
H
BRIDGEPORT, CT – aiti emerged as the first independent black
republic in the western hemisphere after defeating the Napoleon
Bonaparte’s army on January 1, 1804. That victory helped end
slavery everywhere, and empowered the United States, with the
purchase of the state of Louisiana, a French territory then.
More than one thousand Haitians congregated at Saint Charles
Church in the city on New Year’s Day for a special religious service
and a cultural reception in celebration of the independence of
their homeland. This gathering held annually in the past 17 years,
has become, in fact, an anticipated affair among local Haitians of
all walks of life.
Dr. Frantz-Antoine Leconte
Bishop Frank Joseph Caggiano celebrated the special mass, with the assistance of the Pastor of St. Charles
Borromeo, Father Edicson Orozco and three Haitian priests: Father Churchill Penn (Saint Charles Church/
Bridgeport), Father Frantz Desruisseaux (Saint Joseph Church / Norwalk) and Father Jean Rony Phillippe (Haitian
American Community Center of Stamford) as well as other priests.
Immediately after the mass, the audience moved to the adjacent McGivney Center for refreshments (the traditional pumpkin soup, patés, Kola), the keynote address by Dr. Frantz-Antoine Leconte, a scholar specializing in
culture, history and literature, and some well-executed patriotic songs and folk dance choreographies.
“This commemorative activity is our church’s effort to keep the memory of our ancestors alive in our community, and to reflect as well on
our potentials as a people”,
explains Father Penn, who
has been serving the
diocese of Bridgeport for
seven years.
Some 35,000 Haitian
Americans live in
Connecticut,
predominantly in Fairfield
County and Norwich
County.
Photos: Emmanuel Doreste/HTN
PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETATION
& TRANSLATION SERVICES
(Haitian Creole, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese)
Deposition • Immigration • Business Meeting
Medical Appointment • Cross-cultural Training
Translation of official documents such as:
Birth Certificate • Death Certificate • Marriage Certificate
Divorce Certificate • School Records • Literary Translation
Speech Writing • And Much More!
Contact us now at:
Phone: 203-981-5527 Email: admin@haitianvoice.com
FEBRUARY 2015
THE HAITIAN VOICE
7
Kadras: les Haitiens interdits de plage
Par louis-Philippe Dalembert
Au train où ca va, bientôt il n’y aura plus de belles
plages disponibles pour les locaux en Haïti. La
mésaventure vécue le 29 décembre dernier sur la
plage de Kadras, près du Cap, en est un exemple
scandaleux.
Kadras, j’en avais entendu parler avec beaucoup
d’enthousiasme, avant que l’occasion ne me soit
donnée d’y aller. Avec l’une des managers de l’hôtel où je suis descendu au Cap-Haïtien, en famille,
la discussion porte très vite sur les divertissements
de la ville et de ses environs. Les plages en font
partie, même si la plus connue d’entre elles,
Labadie, reste interdite aux Haïtiens – nous le
regrettons tous les deux –, même les jours où il n’y
a pas de bateaux de croisière à quai. Sauf, bien sûr,
en tant qu’employés. Ou bien munis d’un pass,
pour de rares élus, parce qu’on connaît un des
dirigeants. « Mais, me dit la jeune manager, il y a
d’autres plages tout aussi belles dans le coin. À
commencer par celle de Kadras, libre d’accès. »
Le lendemain matin, nous voilà partis, bien
décidés à aller profiter de la plage tant vantée. À
Labadie, par où il faut passer pour accéder à
Kadras, un énorme paquebot de croisière est à
quai. Les plaisanciers débarqués du bateau profitent de la plage et de ses infrastructures, sous l’œil
des locaux qui les observent derrière des grillages.
L’image est choquante. Néanmoins, on essaie de se
persuader que cette manière de ségrégation a
apporté quelques emplois à une population au
chômage chronique. Et puis, on n’est pas venu
pour Labadie, mais pour Kadras.
Avec notre petit groupe de huit, on prend un
bateau-taxi pour nous rendre à la plage de Kadras,
avec en tête les mots de la manager de l’hôtel et
d’autres, intarissables sur la beauté du site. Durant
la vingtaine de minutes de la traversée, on a tout le
temps d’apprécier la véracité de leurs propos. Un
paysage à couper le souffle. À l’approche de la
petite crique qui héberge la plage, notre joie est à
son comble. Le bateau-taxi n’a pas fini de s’arrêter
qu’un monsieur s’enfonce dans l’eau à notre rencontre pour nous dire qu’on ne peut pas débarquer. La question fuse, spontanée, de nos lèvres : «
Pourquoi ? »
Un avocat de notoriété
internationale
PHILIP BERNS
(203)324-2133
440 Bedford Street, Stamford, CT
Le monsieur ne sait pas trop nous répondre. Il est
d’autant plus embarrassé qu’un groupe de personnes sont éparpillées sur la plage, qui dans des
transats, qui les pieds dans l’eau, qui d’autres
sirotant une boisson. On réitère notre demande,
en insistant sur le fait qu’il s’agit d’une plage libre
d’accès, que des gens, tous Blancs, y sont déjà
installés. Pourquoi pas nous ? D’où vient cette
interdiction, lui demande-t-on, alors que le littoral
relève légalement du domaine public ? L’homme
finit par répondre qu’il obéit aux ordres. Son
patron lui a demandé d’interdire l’accès à la plage
à toute personne autre que les croisiéristes les
jours où les paquebots sont à quai à Labadie.
Forts de notre bon droit, nous débarquons tout de
même sur la plage, sous le regard interrogateur
des touristes, sans doute incapables de comprendre ce qui se passe. Conciliants, nous proposons de
consommer des boissons au bar installé dans un
coin de la plage. Mais, après un rapide aller retour,
l’homme nous apprend que son patron lui interdit
de nous servir. À l’heure du déjeuner, les plaisanciers finiront par remonter sur un bateau, « La
Belle Kreyòl », pour rejoindre le paquebot de
croisière. Rendus après nous trois jours plus tard,
des amis y feront la même amère expérience. Eux
seront carrément priés de débarrasser les lieux,
une fois les croisiéristes en vue.
Ce qu’il s’est passé à Kadras est aussi scandaleux
que caractéristique de certaines pratiques du pays.
Des gens, étrangers et nationaux, décident de leur
plein gré de l’accès ou de l’interdiction à la plage
qui borde leur propriété. Les raisons peuvent aller
du simple caprice – envie d’être seuls, entre soi – à
la « défense » de leurs intérêts exclusifs, passagers
ou permanents. Dans le cas de Kadras, ces gens-là
ont décidé de profiter du système Labadie pour
mettre sur pied leur propre business en interdisant
au passage l’accès à la plage aux locaux. Ils
feignent d’oublier que le littoral reste et demeure
public. Autrement dit, n’importe quel citoyen a le
droit d’y aller et de se baigner. Il revient à l’État de
clarifier une bonne fois pour toutes la chose à leur
intention.
(www.alterpresse.org)
8
THE HAITIAN VOICE
FEBRUARY 2015
Département d’Etat des Etats-Unis
Bureau du Porte-parole
Déclaration du Secrétaire Kerry
Le 9 janvier 2015
Commémorant cinq années depuis le tremblement
de terre de 2010 en Haïti
Lundi, Haïti et le monde entier commémorent cinq années depuis que le tremblement dévastateur de 2010
a frappé le pays. Le 12 janvierLe
2010,
ami proche
voisinami
a souffert
un coup
inimaginable:
le tremble12 notre
janvier
2010, etnotre
proche
et voisin
a souffert
un coup
ment
de
terre
a
fait
environ
230.000
morts,
300.000
blessés,
causé
la
destruction
d’un
nombre
incalculable
i
de maisons et d’entreprises, et a laissé 1.5 million d’Haïtiens sans abris. Nos pensées et nos prières sont avec
les victimes Nos
et à tous
les êtres
qu’elles sont
ont laissés
elles. et à tous les êtres chers qu’elles ont
pensées
et chers
nos prières
avec derrière
les victimes
l
Après que les répliques aient cessé, les Haïtiens ont travaillé inlassablement pour rebâtir leur nation. Les
décombres ne gênent plus la reconstruction. Le nombre de personnes dans les camps de déplacés est
Il y adeplus
d’enfants qui
sontles
scolarisés
L réduit de plus de 90%. Les indicateurs de santé de base s’améliorent.
Le nombre
personnes
dans
camps de
quotidiennement.
a atteint
une croissance
d au niveau primaire. De nouveaux emplois sont
Les créés
indicateurs
de santé EtdeHaïti
base
s’améliorent.
Il y a plus
années.
d économique positive tout au long de chacune des quatre
Dedernières
nouveaux
emplois sont créés quotidiennement.
E
Je suis fière que des millions d’Américains aient participé aux efforts de secours en Haïti, y compris Len and
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry
Cherylann Gengel – deux originaires du Massachusetts qui ont ouvert un orphelinat à Grand Goave en
mémoire de leur fille, Britney, qui est morte dans le tremblement de terre. Le gouvernement des Etats-Unis a travaillé également avec le gouvernement
haïtien, les Organisations Non-Gouvernementales (ONGs), et le peuple haïtien pour aider à faire une différence. Au cours des cinq dernières années, les
Etats-Unis ont mis quatre milliards de dollars à la disposition des efforts de secours et de reconstruction à long-terme. Ce support a assuré que 70.000
agriculteurs haïtiens aient des rendements et des revenusavec
supérieurs;
que 328.000 personnes
déplacées
soient relogées dans des abris provisoires; qu’envle gouvernement
haïtien, les
Organisations
N iron la moitié de tous les Haïtiens ait accès aux services de santé de base dans une infrastructure medicale
Au coursfinancée
des par le gouvernement américain; que
c 3.300 nouveaux officiers de police soient formés et affectés à des postes, et qu’environ 5.000 emplois soient créés jusqu’à date au Parc Industriel de
Caracol. En dépit de ces progrès, il reste beaucoup à faire. Les années à venir nécessiteront un support international soutenu pour le développement
d’Haïti.
relogées
d
Tout d’abord, le succès d’Haïti exige une meilleure stabilité politique. Alors que le monde médite sur ce sombre anniversaire, j’exhorte les leaders haïtiens
à faire ce qui est bien pour le futur de leur peuple. Ce n’est qu’à travers une meilleure stabilité, dont la tenue d’élections libres et honnêtes qui sont déjà en
retard, qu’Haïti peut garantir les droits de ses citoyens et attirerEn
les dépit
investissements
étrangers
dont elle
a besoinàpour créer des opportunités économiques
de ces progrès,
il reste
beaucoup
f et réduire la pauvreté. L’exemple du Président Martelly, qui travaille ardemment à faire de vrais compromis, est à imiter. J’encourage les leaders haïtiens à
résoudre au plus vite les problèmes non-résolus qui
empêchent l’organisation des élections législatives.
Alors que le monde médite
FRENCH CREOLE INTERPRETERS
s Aujourd’hui – tout comme nous l’avons fait il y a cinq
ans de celales Etats-Unis
se tiennent
fermementstabilité,
aux
Ce n’est
qu’à travers
une meilleure
dont la tenue d’élections libres et honnêtes qui
côtés
du
peuple
haïtien
dans
les
efforts
visant
à
con!!!"#$%&'('$%)*%+&,%$-$%,%$."')/0
s
struire un avenir plus prospère, plus sûre et plus
démocratique. Ensemble, nous pouvons atteindre ces
vrais compromis, est à imiter.
objectifs, parce que, pour reprendre la devise et les
French Creole Interpreters is an interpreting services company based in New
armoiries d’Haïti l’union fait la force.
York.
Klas Anglè Gratis
pou Granmoun nan
Stamford ak
Greenwich
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pm); lendi, 2 fevrier nan Stamford Government Center,
888 Washington Blvd, a sizè diswa (6 pm). Pou plis
enfòmasyon, rele Family Centers nan 203-324-3167
/www.familycenters.org.
At French Creole Interpreters we understand the challenge a language barrier
can pose and the need for communication in today’s business society. We take
pride in providing outstanding language services in both Haitian Creole and
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We guarantee professionalism, courtesy, reliability and most importantly
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We literally travel the distance to meet our client’s needs: Connecticut, New
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Email: info@frenchcreoleinterpreters.com
Phone: 347-435-6267
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FEBRUARY 2015
THE HAITIAN VOICE
9
.Haiti’s Earthquake (continued)
Chaleureuse cėlėbration De l’indėpendance
d’Haïti à Connecticut (suite)
In October 2010, Haiti was hit with a second disaster when a
cholera epidemic began downriver from a base for United
Nations troops. Over 8,774 people have died from the disease since – hundreds of them last year, and more than
700,000 have been infected. The U.N. has refused to take
responsibility, leading to lawsuits on behalf of cholera victims and their families, and the U.N.’s cholera eradication
plan remains woefully underfunded.
“The ongoing cholera epidemic is a humanitarian disaster
directly caused by the international community,” Weisbrot
said. “By the U.N., whose troops caused the outbreak
through reckless behavior, and by the U.S. government,
which had previously deliberately held up millions in loans
to upgrade Haiti’s water and sanitation infrastructure.”
vThe ongoing lack of adequate housing – and the tens of
thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who remain
in settlement camps – marks another area where the international response has failed to address urgent needs.
La population haitiano-américaine de Connecticut est estimée à 35,000 personnes,
établies principalement dans les régions de Fairfield County et Norwich County.
“The post-quake housing story is one of scandal, profiteering and tragedy,” CEPR Research Associate Jake Johnston,
who wrote about the housing response in detail for the
Boston Review, explained. “Certain contractors got tens of
millions for housing that they didn’t deliver, while authorities have still been able to claim success by pointing to how
fewer people remain in IDP camps. But many of these people were forcibly evicted from the camps, often with no
place to go. The displacement crisis continues; it is just hidden now.”
Housing contracting by the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) is an example of the lack of transparency that has dogged the response effort, with subcontractors often unknown and therefore unaccountable. The
Assessing Progress in Haiti Act, introduced by Rep. Barbara
Lee and cosponsored by 34 other legislators, which was
passed by Congress and signed into law by President
Obama last year, is meant to foster greater transparency in
U.S. government contracting in Haiti through regular
progress reports to Congress.
Père Churchill Penn
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Weisbrot and
Johnston noted
several other key
challenges for Haiti
that could be aided
by a more effective
international
response, including
high poverty, high
unemployment, the
lack of jobs offering
a living wage, and
Haiti’s struggling
agricultural sector,
which could be
supported were
food aid funds used
to purchase harvests from Haitian
farmers rather than
undercutting the
sector through
exporting lowercost U.S. grains.
10
THE HAITIAN VOICE
FEBRUARY 2015
Girls On The Move
Meet some of the most inspiring youths of our communities!
Gemelle Domingue
Medalissa is also a dedicated dancer. A scholarship
from Miss Ann School of Dance provided her with
the opportunity to learn tap and jazz.
Jemimah Moise
She is very athletic as well. Already 5'6" tall, she performs very well playing forward in her school basketball team and practices good sportsmanship.
Medalissa has two brothers and one sister with
whom she enjoys fishing in the lake in her backyard.
She wants to be a Pediatrician.
Angie Manigat
Gemelle is 10 years old. She is a 5th grader at King
Highway Elementary School, in Westport, CT.
Jemimah is a charismatic 14-year old New Jersey
student and a member of Junior National Honor
Society. She now attends Union High School, where
she particularly excels in mathematics and takes
Honors Geometry.
Under the tutelage of her father, Vaillant Domingue,
she has learned to play the piano and the violin. She
has displayed her musical talents several times at
her school concerts, fundraising events and formal
social gatherings.
During her middle school years, she was very
involved with her school musicals. Now, in high
school, she has electives that are solely based on
music. She enjoys singing, dancing, reading, playing
violin, and playing field hockey.
She loves to read and write. She has written a couple articles for her school about her family heritage
(Domingue and Manigat) and other leaders in the
world such as Nelson Mandela.
Gemelle is also a fast runner. She wants to do field
track when she gets to high school.
A very friendly child, she loves nature, and enjoys
swimming, singing, praising God and going to
church.
Medalissa Kampmann
Domingue
She is also a praise dancer who very often performs
at church and social events.
Angie Manigat is an eight-year old high-performing
student at Lordship Elementary Public School, with
a perfect attendance and behavior record. She is
also an award-winning dancer, a published poet, a
classically-trained musician, a vivid reader and an
active churchgoer.
Enrolled at the Stratford Performing Arts Academy
at the age of 4, she has been performing since
throughout Connecticut and beyond. She notably
participated at well-anticipated local and national
dance contests such as Access Broadway, That’s
Entertainment and Turn it Up!
A promising writer, Angie is the author of several
stories and poems. The 2013 and 2014 editions of
the national poetry anthology Pine Tree Collection
featured poems that she wrote at school as part of
her classroom assignments.
She plays the piano and the violin as well, and entertains crowds at community events, nursing homes,
libraries, talent shows and church services.
Medalissa is a straight A and multi-talented freshman at Notre Dame High School, in Fairfield, CT .
She has been playing several instruments since she
was 5. She plays the piano, the violin, the clarinet
and recently started playing the guitar. Last summer, she was part of the Trumbull Music Camp
Orchestra where she played the guitar, the violin
and sang.
Joanne Pierre-Louis
Raised in an environment filled with books, she
enjoys reading and building her own library. The
Stratford Mayor’s office rewarded her passion for
reading with special recognitions.
Furthermore, Angie is an active member of First
Baptist Church of Stratford, where she sings in the
children choir, serves as the vice-president of the
Junior Ushers, and regularly attends Sunday school
and bible study.
Joanne Pierre-Louis is a Boston University freshman, majoring in Biology with specialization in
Neurobiology.
Joanne Pierre-Louis graduated from Stratford high
school, where she played volleyball, basketball and
ran field track all 4 years. She was a member of the
National Honor Society as well as Science National
Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society,
and Spanish Honor Society.
A community-oriented youth, Joanne volunteered
at Yale Hospital, local nursing homes and for the
Stratford Recreation Department where she works
with kids. In addition to her school graduation, she
received a certificate for Medical assistant through
the technical program from her high school.
FEBRUARY 2015
rebecca noelle zama
THE HAITIAN VOICE
both in Massachusetts and L’Asile, in Haiti, as its
adopted daughter: Rebecca Zama, 15.
Born in Washington D.C., she has lived in Boston
since the age of one. Fluent in Haitian Creole,
French and English, she is an 11th grader at the
International School of Boston.
The Massachusetts Haitian-American community
has over the past fifteen years claimed a few
exceptional women who have achieved some
firsts: first Haitian American State Representative,
Marie St Fleur; first Haitian American senator in
the US: Linda Dorcena Forry… Coincidentally,
Massachusetts is the home state of a talented and
inspiring young star who has been making waves
She already has released a CD, published her
first book at the age of 11 in the wake of the
2010 Haiti earthquake (“Optimum Me!”) and
made brief appearances in movies such as
“Against the Jab”, “The Game Plan”, “The
Zookeeper”, “That’s my Boys”, “Here comes the
Boom”, and “RIPD”. She was also showcased in
commercials for Hood Milk and Friendly’s
Restaurant. At the age of four she was giving her
first interview in 3 languages on Tele Kreyòl in
Boston.
A trained model and dancer, she found her niche
performing publicly since she was 3 in galas,
fundraisers, community and political events
attended by most Massachusetts dignitaries from
Governor Deval Patrick to legendary Boston
11
Mayor Thomas Menino.
She has been particularly noted for her stirring renditions of the Haitian and the American national
anthems, whether during Haiti’s Independence Day
Celebrations or on a stadium filled of soccer fans, often
getting standing ovations from the crowds.
While Rebecca specializes in jazz, R&B, blues and pop
and recognizes the influence of old time legends such
as Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald and Whitney Houston or
new sensations such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Christina
Aguilera and Lauryn Hill, she also cultivates her own
Haitian repertoire: Haiti Cheri, Choucoune, and a few
oldies from Carole Demesmin. Her moving interpretation of Carole and Jean Claude Martineau’s “Plante
Manyòk” in 2009 – alongside with Haitian icons such as
Carole Demesmin and Emeline Michel - brought the
audience to its feet.
Following the Haiti earthquake, Rebecca has
immersed herself in humanitarian and social initiatives, traveling with her supportive mother, attorney
Nunotte Zama and her younger brother Joey Zama –
her biggest fan – to assist youth in her mother’s native
region of L’Asile, Haiti.
The Foundation to Help Youth of L’Asile focuses on supporting the youth of L'Asile and its surrounding rural
areas through summer camps where they enjoy
sports, cultural and artistic workshops and basic health
education. Since 2012 the family has traveled with
loads of soccer equipment, school supplies and books
for the local schools.
Rebecca has garnered recognition from various quarters as one of the winners of the Fidelity Young Artists
Competition, playing recently in June at Boston
Symphony Hall accompanied by the Boston Pops, getting commendations from Governor Deval Patrick or
House Speaker Robert DeLeo for community services
or receiving numerous awards the Assembly of Haitian
Artist of Massachusetts, the Haitian-American United
or various churches and non-profit organizations.
For more on Rebecca Zama, to order her book and support her efforts in L’Asile, visit www.rebeccanoellezama.com.
PrOMOTe
Business,
OrGAnizATiOn,
or evenT!
your
(203) 981-5527
admin@haitianvoice.com
12
THE HAITIAN VOICE
INSERTION REQUISE
FEBRUARY 2015
Connecticut
Summer
Program
Extended to
Haiti
F
Bridgeport, CT - our years ago, The
Haitian Women Association of Connecticut,
Inc. and Saint John Episcopal Church joined
forces to establish the Anacaona Summer
Enrichment Program in Bridgeport, CT. This
four-week long program focuses on youth
in the city and outlying areas. It was named
in honor of the 15th to 16th century Queen
Anacaona, who is fondly remembered in
many Caribbean songs, books and poems.
This initiative is the brainchild of Ms. Pascale
Millien-Faustin, a long-time community
activist, and Ms. Reine C. Boyer, a lawyer
with her own practice in Fairfield, CT.
The cross-cultural curriculum and fun activities of this Program quickly make it an
anticipated summer destination for some
thirty kids each year, since 2010. Last year,
an extra week was added to the Program so
the children could experience a transformative mission trip to Haiti.
A total of eighteen children and their parents (12 adults) traveled to Haiti, and distributed over tens of thousands of dollars
worth of over the counter medicine,
clothes, books, hygiene products, nutritional supplements, maternity packs, slippers,
school bags, stuffed animals and more to
children and their families living in destitute
conditions in Haiti. Anacaona’s donations
came from parents, private sponsors, local
churches and businesses.
The first place the Anacaona group visited
after landing in Haiti was Centre St. Vincent,
a school and medical center in Port-auPrince that houses orphan children and
adults with severe physical and mental disabilities. A number of these children were
abandoned by their parents or families as
infants or toddlers due to the parents' or
families' inability to care for their special
needs.
FEBRUARY 2015
THE HAITIAN VOICE
13
After that, the group went to College St. Pierre, an
Episcopal school in Port au Prince. While there, the
children were privileged to meet and greet the
Episcopal Bishop’s wife, Mrs. Duracin, who graciously hosted a reception in their honor. The children also met with Seminarians (student priests)
who were celebrating mass. The children were
invited to attend the service and participate. Ms.
Millien-Faustin stated, “ It was a very moving experience for our kids. Although most of our kids do
not speak Creole, the children were able to see and
hear the congregation as they celebrated the liturgy and as such realized that in any language, worship is worship.”
They also visited two orphanages: New Voice of
Life, located in Léogane and St. Catherine, in Cap
Haïtien. “During our trip at New Voice, our men
and teenaged boys worked with a local Haitian carpenter to build a closet for the children with
indigenous wood and material from the area.”said
Ms. Millien-Faustin.
“We also took the opportunity to meet and play
with the students, and talk with the staff of Ecole
Le Bon Samaritain (EBS), a school founded by
Episcopal priest, Rev. Jean Elie Millien and his wife,
Mona Millien, located in Carrefour, a town in the
southern end of Port-au-Prince ”, added Ms. Boyer.
Much of the property and school buildings were
destroyed by the earthquake that killed more than
200,000 people in Haiti in 2010 and displaced over
1 million from their homes. Currently, Rev. Millien
and his wife have undertaken to rebuild their
beloved school and have begun work on a few
buildings on the small campus with charitable contributions from donors and also their own investment. The totality of the building project is not yet
complete. But, for now, the Haitian school children
enrolled at Le Bon Samaritain are taught under
makeshift tents and are allowed to attend classes
in some of the buildings that are almost finished.
“In learning about their struggle to rebuild, our
Anacaona children decided to begin an entrepreneurial project whereby they would work with the
EBS kids to make greeting cards using indigenous
material (such as banana fig leaves), and sell these
cards on behalf of the children upon returning
home to Connecticut,” announced Ms. Boyer.
The Anacaona team also visited and donated
maternity packs and medication to Klinik La Sante
(in Léogane) and Clinic St. Paul in Montrouis before
making the pilgrimage to the historical city of Cap
Haïtien where they visited La Citadelle Laferrière,
an ancient fort built in the early 1800's and a
"Palais of Versailles-esque" type of castle known as
Palais Sans-Souci. Both historical monuments
(UNESCO world heritage recognized monuments)
were built by Haitian revolutionary leader, King
Henri Christophe, in the early part of the 19th century after the first and only successful slave revolt
known as the Haitian Revolution.
Although the Anacaona group did not have a
chance to visit the southern region of Aux Cayes in
Haiti, the group donated to Foundation Ormica, an
organization established for families in need, a full
luggage of clothes, hygiene products and medications and nutritional supplements.
The day after returning from Haiti, Anacaona
Summer Program commenced immediately on
July 7th and the wheels were set in motion for
what would prove to be yet another fun-filled
summer of learning, creative play and imagination.
Although the Program offered participants the
usual repertoire of activities including arts and
crafts, traditional Caribbean and Latin dance, ballroom dancing, zumba fitness classes, hip-hop
dance classes, swimming, cooking, Haitian Creole
language classes, drumming lessons, weekly field
trips to libraries, movie theatres, and amusement
parks, this year, the Program added exciting field
trips to places such as the CT Science Center,
Sikorsky helicopter museum and a nature walk to
the Audubon Center in Fairfield.
The organizers delivered all these exciting activities
with help from many dedicated parents, volunteers
and generous private and corporate donors.
However, when asked whether the Program will
continue next year, the organizers, Ms. MillienFaustin and Ms. Boyer declared, “Each year, we are
scrambling to raise money to fund the program. It
is our hope that the Program will have longevity,
and we hope to continue to raise money to fund it.
We hope that the greater Bridgeport community
will see the value of this Program and continue to
support it for years to come. Our children are
worth it!”
14
THE HAITIAN VOICE
FEBRUARY 2015
Soirée de
Conversation
Française
Stratford, CT. - La ville de Stratford peut
s’enorgueillier d’avoir maintenant un club
francophone diverse et dynamique. Deux passionnés de langues et de cultures, Angelucci
Manigat, Jr. et Elizabeth Cole ont conjointement lancé à la fin de l’année dernière, à la
bibliothèque municipale de Stratford, Le
Groupe Francophone de Stratford.
Ce nouveau forum culturel est gratuit et
ouvert à toute personne s’intéressant à la
langue française et aux cultures des pays francophones. Sa mission est de s’engager dans
des activités capables de créer des amitiés, des
ponts culturels et d’encourager du même
coup l’emploi de la langue française dans la
vie courante.
Les réunions de ce groupe de
discussion se tiendront chaque
troisième jeudi du mois à 6h30
PM, à Stratford Public Library.
Les plus prochaines renconcontres de ce groupe sont fixées
pour le 19 février et le 19 mars.
Pour réservation et toute information supplémentaire, veuillez contacter Le Groupe
Francophone de Stratford au (203) 981-5527
ou par courriel: admin@haitianvoice.com.
FEBRUARY 2015
THE HAITIAN VOICE
15
Prof. Max Manigat:
Un demi Siècle de Résilience Intellectuelle
Lorsque le professeur Max Manigat a pris sa retraite en 1993, on
s’attendait à ce qu’il revendique le droit au repos et même à la
paresse, après plus de trente ans dans l’enseignement. Une carrière débutée en Haïti, au Collège Saint-Pierre (1961-1964), puis
continuée aux Athénées de Kenge, de Butembo et de Bukavu
(République Démocratique du Congo (1964-1969), au Congo, et
terminée aux Ėtats-Unis, après vingt-trois ans de service à City
College de la City University of New York (1971-1993).
Un début d’après-midi d’été de 2001, quelques trois cents personnes ont assisté à une réception en l’honneur du professeur,
pour saluer sa fougue intellectuelle et son dynamisme
communautaire. Sa carrière
professorale, la publication de
ses volumes de bibliographie
haïtienne : « 1991-1995 » et
« 1996-2000 », sa création de
l’unique réseau de distribution
de livres haïtiens aux ĖtatsUnis, le Haitian Book Centre, et
sa contribution à la création
de CASEGHA (Association des
Anciens Scouts et Guides
d’Haïti), son leadership au sein
du Comité Central de Sosyete
Koukouy et sa récente nomination à l’académie du créole
haïtien -Akademi Kreyòl
Ayisyen - ont bien fait de lui
une pierre angulaire de l’intelligentsia haïtienne.
que nous pouvons remonter « nos mémoires se souviennent ».
Ce livre est un sursaut de fierté face à la dégradation et à
l’avilissement de nos souvenirs que nous apportent ces horribles
photos qui circulent sur internet. Où est donc passée la belle
ville de notre enfance ?. C’est pour tâcher de présenter son vrai
visage aux jeunes générations qui ne l’ont connu que dans cet
état pitoyable que nous avons voulu élever nos voix. Puissent
ces cris du cœur arriver jusqu’à leurs oreilles car nous leur parlons d’un temps que nos faibles paroles tentent d’évoquer sinon
avec brio du moins avec tendresse! Comme me l’écrivait Henri
Piquion :
« Je t'envoie quatre courts textes qui sont ma contribution au livre collectif de souvenirs du Cap perdu. Ce livre nous le
fera retrouver, et le fera découvrir à nos enfants et aux leurs. »
C’est là notre ambition. Nous n’avons jamais voulu ériger
un monument littéraire. Notre désir ne consiste qu’à laisser parler les cœurs de Capoises et de Capois qui aiment leur ville.
Peu de récits célèbrent le Cap de notre jeunesse. Nos
écrits se veulent un témoignage de ces temps qui nous ont si
profondément marqués. Et, Renaud Hyppolite de renchérir :
« Pour nous tous, qui avons contribué à le faire naître, ce
livre aura été une forme de catharsis pour exorciser ce passé
hanté de souvenirs déteints et de rêves inassouvis. Mais, pour
vous jeunes du Cap, tout comme l’oiseau mythique, emblème de
notre cité, qui renaît de ses cendres, puisse-t-il du fond de vos
cœurs ranimer la flamme de vos espoirs déçus et de vos rêves
assassinés ! » (Avant Propos, p. 7-8)
G
Au plaisir de lire et d’apprendre!
Proverbes créoles du dix-neuvième siècle. Transcription
moderne. Traduction française. Annotations. Educa Vision,
Inc., Koleksyon Koukouy, 2009, 323 p. ISBN 1-58432-544-4
Ce livre est une réédition du « Recueil de proverbes
créoles » de Jean Joseph Audain, premier livre de proverbes
créoles haïtiens, paru en 1872 et repris en 1877. Ce recueil de
1011 proverbes, écrit en créole à la manière ancienne, a été transcrit en orthographe officielle, traduit en français et annoté.
L’ouvrage réédité fait, aussi, de fréquentes références au second
receuil de « Proverbes haïtiens avec leur traduction littérale ou
leurs équivalents en français » d’Edmond Chenet, paru en 1905.
Toutes les annotations figurent dans les deux langues créole et
française.
G
G
Mais la retraite du professeur a
Prof. Max Manigat été bien et bel avortée! Ces
dix dernières années, il a publié une dizaine de livres de recherche à la hauteur de sa prestigieuse réputation. La rédaction de Connecticut Haitian Voice
prend plaisir à signaler au public les plus récentes œuvres du
Prof. Max Manigat.
Mots créoles du Nord’Haïti. Origines – Histoire – Souvenirs.
Educa Vision, Inc. 2006, 375 p. ISBN 1-58432-399-X
« Mots créoles du Nord’Haïti. Origines – Histoire Souvenirs est une promenade dans les rues du Cap-Haïtien de
ma jeunesse. Ce livre n’a aucune prétention scientifique. C’est
plutôt un exercice de mémoire qui, au fur et à mesure, est
devenu un devoir de mémoire.
750 mots et expressions du Nord’Haïti. Des notes historiques,
des anecdotes. Un ouvrage de référence. Célébré par des
écrivains de renom comme : Franck Laraque, Gérard A. Férère,
Gérard Étienne, Jean L. Prophète, Charles Dupuy, Ludovic
Comeau, etc.
Patamouch. Etimoloji – Literati – Repòtaj. Educa Vision, Inc.,
Koleksyon Koukouy, 2007, 266p. ISBN 1-58432-456-2
Une collection des meilleurs écrits en créole de l’auteur
depuis 1960 jusqu’à ce jour. Un livre qui plaira aux créolistes, aux
créologues, aux amants de la littérature créole et qui devrait
intéresser celles et ceux qui veulent approfondir leur connaissance de notre langue nationale.
G
Cap-Haïtien. Excursion dans le temps. Voix capoises de la
diaspora. Educa Vision, Inc. 2008, 449 p., ill. ISBN 1-58432-493-7
(sous la direction de)
Vingt-neuf Capoises et Capois dont la plupart ont vécu
plus de la moitié de leurs vies en diaspora racontent des pans de
leur passé, de leurs jours écoulés dans une ville au caractère
unique à cause des ses rues étroites, de son parler typique, de sa
cuisine exceptionnelle, de son histoire glorieuse. Nostalgique!
Oui, un peu. Émouvant ! A tous les coups parce que de si loin
Sajès ayisyen. Ansyen pwovèb kreyòl. Enspirasyon pou lavi
modèn. Educa Vision, Inc., Koleksyon Koukouy, 2010, 150 p. ISBN
13 : 978-1-58432-597-0
Le « Recueil de proverbes créoles » de J.J. Audain publié
en créole à l’intention de nos enfants et petits enfants qui ne
lisent pas le français. Avec une liste alphabétique des proverbes,
et un index thématique de ces proverbes.
G
Pwovèb ayisyen – Pwovèb afriken : pitit ak papa. Educa
Vision, Inc., Koleksyon Koukouy, 2011, 75 p., 2 foto. ISBN 13 : 9781-58432-730-1
Petit essai de 75 pages pour monter ce que notre
sagesse populaire doit beaucoup à nos ancêtres africains : « Sa m
vle reyalize lan ti travay sa a se montre jan pèp natif natal la konsève leson zansèt afriken li yo te kite pou li. Mwen pote yon bon
kou ekzanp pwovèb afriken, ki kontinye ap make lavi nou. Anpil
fwa menm, nou annik tradui yo an kreyòl. » p. 9
G
Le joyau de la cuisine capoise : la noix cajou (avec des
recettes traditionnelles). Educa Vision, Inc. 2012, 98 p., ill. coul.
23 x 21.5 cm
Livre joliment présenté et bien conçu « Le joyau de la
cuisine capoise : la noix cajou (avec des recettes traditionnelles) »
vient combler un vide car, à notre connaissance, c’est la première
fois qu’une publication est consacrée presque entièrement à
cette « nwa vèrt » qui fait la fierté de la gastronomie capoise.
Ce livre est plus qu’une collection de recettes capoises authentiques. Il veut présenter à nos compatriotes de l’intérieur et de
l’extérieur des idées de choses réalisables non seulement pour
16
THE HAITIAN VOICE
Prof. Max Manigat
(suite)
les plaisirs de la bouche, mais encore pour
aider minimalement au développement de
notre pays. Écrit à l’étranger, il prétend faire
revivre des recettes du vieux Cap, mais essaie,
aussi, de les adapter à la vie des Haïtiennes et
Haïtiens de l’étranger tout élargissant leurs
horizons culinaires en y ajoutant des recettes
de pays proches de nous culturellement. »
Massimiliano Salierno (a cura di/dir.) ; Valerio
Negrini (testi/textes) ; Valentino Catalini
(foto/photos) ; Max Manigat (traduzione in creolo/traduction créole). Ayiti. (trilingue : italien,
français, créole). © ANPIL (Amici nella promozione internazionale lasalliana), 2012, 167
p., ill. coul., relié, 28 x 28 cm.
Un magnifique album en couleurs sur
papier de luxe noir qui écrit dans son introduction :
« Cet ouvrage veut rendre un hommage à un
pays extraordinaire et unique.
C’est le désir de présenter Haïti au-delà
du stéréotype classaique de la destination
caraïbe, en cherchant à éviter toutes banalisations faciles et actualisées. » (Introduction)
C’est un Capois de naissance, Silvio
Faschi Jr. qui est le président de la branche haïtienne de l’association ANPIL. Sa fille, Vanessa,
se rend régulièrement chez nous pour promouvoir les œuvres de l’association.
G
Les « Proverbes haïtiens… » d’Edmond
Chenet transcrits en orthographe moderne
et annotés. Educa Vision, Inc. Koleksyon
Koukouy, 2013, 321 p.
Les « Proverbes haïtiens avec leur traduction
littérale ou leurs équivalents en français »
(1905) d’Edmond Chenet, publiés une
trentaine d’années après le recueil de J. J.
Audain, nous permettent de mieux saisir la signification de certains mots, expressions et tournures créoles du dix-neuvième siècle. Ils nous
servent, des fois, à mieux pénétrer le sens du
pro-verbe reformulé.
G
Cap-Haïtien. Excursion dans le temps. Au fil
de nos souvenirs (1920-1995). ÉditionsSanba,
2014, 434 p., ill. ISBN 978-99935-32-69-9 (sous
la direction de)
« […] Encore une fois, des Capoises et
des Capois […] ont cherché à dire leur ville
natale avec, maintes fois des accents de mélancolie dans la voix. Ce devoir de mémoire leur
permet de revivre et de partager des moments
de leur expérience dans cette cité qui demeure
chère à leurs cœurs.
« […] Loin de constituer un recueil de chapitres
hétéroclites, ces « nouvelles excursions dans le
temps » ont bel et bien un fils conducteur ;
elles veulent comme leurs aînées, présenter
des pans d’histoire, des visages, des murs, des
maisons, des associations, des institutions de
ce « Cap qui n’est plus » selon le mot de Serge
Saint-Gérard ».
Dèyè Pawòl
Gen Pawòl
FEBRUARY 2015
Wozvèl Jan-Batis pran yon doktora nan lengwistik nan Inivèsite
Paris V an 1992. Li fè anpil rechèch nan domèn leksikoloji wak
leksikografi. Li se pwofesè lang nan lekòl Piblik 189 nan
Bouklin, Nouyòk. Soti 2005 rive 2011, chak semèn, li te konn
ekri yon kwonik ki rele Dèyè Pawòl, Gen Pawòl nan jounal
Haitian Times. Li vin pataje kwonik sa yo ak lektè Haitian Voice.
Wozvèl Jan-Batis rorojb@netzero.com
Chapo Ba, Mèt Siksto !
(dezyièm pati)
Lè ou pran pawòl nan bouch moun ki sot Ayiti, gen yon grenn enpresyon ki rete nan tèt ou: Chann¬mas ou
te konnen lontan an pa egziste jodi a. Se on lòt Channmas. Se pa Channmas kalfou plizyè chemen ou te
konnen an, Channmas kè Pòtoprens, Channmas Siksto a. Non, Channmas jou¬nen jodi a, se on Channmas
kay, Channmas mache, Channmas douch ak twalèt piblik. On Channmas kote kretyen vivan ap viv anba
tant, nan tout kalite mityak, ap respire tout kalite mo¬vèz odè. Men on Channmas, dapre sa moun di sou
radyo, dapre sa moun ki sot Ayiti deklare, ko¬te vizitè pa ka rete kanpe menm 35 segonn—dire tan tranblemanntè 12 janvye a. Ay, Chalmas! Se konnye a, la gen koze!
Souvni Channmas pa m lan sanble yo konfonn ak souvni Channmas Siksto a. Semenn pase, nou te wè jan
Siksto prezante Channmas nan Gwo Moso, li te esplike wòl Channmas genyen nan chapante memwa
Pòtoprens li, menm nan rèv. Espesyalman Channmas dimanch apremidi nan zòn twazè. Kidonk on
Chann¬mas espas-tan. Men gen twa lòt pyès ki montre nou jan mèt a pawòl la damou Channmas.
Siksto louvri sous bonè Ti Kam sou Channmas, epi se sou Channmas la tou sous bonè a seche. Ti Kam se te
on bèl ti fanm ki te gen on ti konmès patwonay sen. Men Ti Kam t ap pase on flo. “Lè midi bare li sou
Channmas, li foure kò l anba on pyebwa pou l kraze on dòmi, men on dòmi grangou.” On jou, etan l ap leve
nan dòmi, gen on madanm ki parèt sou li, tankou se ta on lespri mò manman l voye pote on mesaj ba li.
Madanm lan di Ti Kam: “Kote ou rive la a, se pou ou me¬te imaj sen sa yo on kote, epi pou ou monte
Souspyant, pou ou al fè 7 jou, pou ou fè tranpèt nan basen an. Paske kalite giyon ou gen nan kò ou la a, yon
sèl beny pa p fè anyen pou ou.” Ti Kam pa fè enkoutan. Choz di, choz fèt. Ti Kam jwenn on nèg ki ranmase l,
al mete l rete anwo Boudon, ak tout nesesè on fanm. Men tou rich pa mal: plezi kanaval, rankont ak sèjan
Pyè, ran¬de¬vou ak Kaporal Brennò, al lage Ti Kam sou Channmas ankò. Fwa sa a, se on lespri malè ki voye
on espedisyon dèyè Ti Kam—sou fòm on ti jennonm ki nan otorik, ki monte lakay Ti Kam avèk li, byen
bichèt kò l avèk li, epi jete l san l pa kite menm on fèy papye pyas ni anba zorye, ni anba tapi…
Chalmas! Ala kote gen koze, papa! Siksto pran plezi pou l suiv Mèt Zabèlbòk Bèrachat nan wou¬tin jounen
lindemyèl pwolonje li. Chak apremidi, apre li fin fè syès li, Mèt la abiye l byen fen, ak chapo kasav riban nwa
li, pou l desann sou Channmas al pran de lè. Siksto di nou: “(Za¬bèl) desann. Li pase pa Ti Fou. Li rive
Channmas, li pase bò fontèn lan, li desann bò Paramout, li remonte bò kyòs la, l al bò kote pè Gola te ye a,
bò Tribin, l ap pran de lè.” Men gen yon lòt aspè Siksto sanble li pi renmen nan pwomnad Zabèl yo: Mèt la te
enterese nan yon ekip medam ‘avec postérieur redondant’, kidonk medam gwo dada, fè dèt m a peye.
Zabèlbòk sou mank, l ap tcheke grenn…
Chalmas! Ala kote gen koze, papa! Siksto tire plizyè pòtre Channmas pou nou: Channmas nan zòn midi, ak
Ti Kam; Channmas dimanch apre¬midi nan zòn twazè, ak Gwo Moso; Channmas apre¬midi, zòn kat senkè,
ak Mèt Zabèl. E Channmas, leswa, lè solèy fin kouche? Kouman l ye? Gen on pòtre nou jwenn nan Depès.
M pa konn ki kote Jal Oksid Janti te rete, men Siksto fè Depès travèse Channmas etan li sou wout li pou l al
fè sware mizikal an lonè jal la, apre trannsenk an li sot pase nan peyi etranje, an Frans. Chann¬mas, nan zòn
setè di swa, fen janvye, se on bèl esperyans, se on mèvèy. “Le 28 janvye, dat lanmò jal Oksid, De¬pès abiye
fen kon ze zwa, li te gen rad fonse a 7 è di swa—li te an Frans, li konnen se koulè sa a moun mete leswa—li
genyen mouchwa blan li pandye, byen pafime, kamelya a la boutónyè, ji¬le l sou li, flit li anba bra li, rèd
tankou on ke gon, l ap travèse Channmas la. On bèl sware. La¬lin lan ap woule nan syèl la tankou on tèt
koupe, ou pa wè on ti nyaj. Sou Channmas la, l ap tra¬vè¬se, ou genyen… dòl pye sabliye yo ap eklate, ou
a di se on gwo men ki kache k ap voye konfe¬ti. Van an menm menm, ou a di ke se on gwo plimo k al pase
sou tout ilan-ilan, sou tout jaden flè lavil la, sou tout jasmen, chevalye de nui, k ap vin karese figi tout moun.
Bèl sware!”
M remake sèjousi m pa fouti fin tande bèl pwezi sa a Siksto te konpoze pou l pataje avèk nou lanmou l pou
Channmas san dlo pa kouri nan je m. M pa si m ko konprann sa k fè sa. Gendwa se ti moso Channmas pa m
lan m chonje a ki fè sa—Channmas: kote m te konn al etidye leswa, la¬se¬menn; Channmas: kote m te
konn al pran on ti konsè devan kyòs; Channmas: kote m te konn al kraze on
pèmanans nan Triyonf, samdi midi, ak de twa zanmi; Channmas: kote m te konn al
flan¬nen men nan men ak on ti mennaj; Channmas: kote m te konn al chita nan
frechè ak ti kanè m nan men m pou m make lide ki t ap anvayi m… Gendwa tou se
on chòk ki fèt ant pafen pwezi Siksto a ak souvni tou nèf movèz odè Channmas
moun ak radyo ap eseye fè antre nan sistèm memwa m…
Antouka, gen on grenn bagay ni 12 janvye ni okenn lòt evennman pa p janm ka
chanje nan Channmas: se on kote k ap toujou espesyal. Ni Mèt Siksto, ni machann
pistach la, nan lye d verite, pa p janm sispann di: “Chalmas! Ala kote gen koze, papa!”
Jan-Batis
FEBRUARY 2015
Human Rights
Violations by Les
Cayes Police
By Elizabeth Thompson and Ghislaine Georges
L
Sept. 19, 2014. – ast Monday, a motorcyclist
transporting a large cash deposit from the Total
gas station in Torbeck to the BNC Bank in downtown Les Cayes was robbed. The Les Cayes Police
set up a roadblock near the bank, and arrested
more than 80 men.
The detainees were incarcerated in three severely
overcrowded cells in the Les Cayes Police Jail. Two
cells, approximately 10’ x 10’, held about 25 men
each. A third cell 10’ x 15’ held 36 men. They were
held in extreme heat, without beds, potable
water, food, electricity, ventilation, or sanitation.
They were never questioned, advised of their
rights, arraigned or charged with any crime.
Two days later, two U.S.-based reporters for the
Haitian Voice arrived at the Police station inquiring about the mass arrest. The Police refused to
answer their questions. All Police employees
refused to identify themselves by either name,
employee ID number, rank or title. The journalists
were not allowed to take pictures. Police officials
denied any violation of human rights, and threatened to arrest one of the reporters and confiscated her camera citing suspicion of being photographed. The journalists’ car parked inside the
Police compound had a tire punctured.
The arrested men were not carrying identification.
Although carrying identification is not required
by Haitian law, the local Police maintained it was
a misdemeanor and carried a $10 US fine or 500
Haitian Gourdes.
After three hours of persistent questioning by the
journalists, six elected officials from nearby communes convened at the courthouse and demanded action from the presiding judge. In the meantime, the men were transported from the precinct
to the courthouse where they were incarcerated
into a smaller cell while they awaited trial. One
prisoner fainted and had to be taken to a hospital.
Within 30 minutes, all prisoners from the 3rd cell
block were released, but with personal property
and identity cards provided by relatives confiscated. Fines of $10 US had to be paid the following
day to recover identification cards. Police employees tried to require the released men to identify
the names of their arresting officers, in order to
reclaim personal property. Belongings of the
incarcerated men were mixed together, and several of them reported that they were not able to
recover their property, including cell phones and
keys to their motorcycles.
The status of the men in cell blocks 1 and 2
remains unknown. The Les Cayes Police have no
comment.
Les Cayes (also known as Aux Cayes) is the fourth
largest city in Haiti. It is at about 122 miles southwest of the capital Port-au-Prince.
THE HAITIAN VOICE
17
Anseye Pou Ayiti Launches in Haiti,
Partners with Global Teach For All
Network
On January 26 Anseye Pou Ayiti (“Teach For Haiti” in Haitian Kreyòl) announced that it has joined the
Teach For All global network and continues to seek candidates for a new teacher leadership development program. An independent nonprofit organization, Anseye Pou Ayiti’s mission is to recruit,
train, and support Haitian university graduates and current teachers to teach in schools in rural and
underserved areas of Haiti, and become leaders in the effort to increase educational opportunity
throughout the country.
Although education has consistently been a valued priority in Haitian society, the average Haitian
child has only five years of formal education due to a mix of access and quality challenges. In rural
communities, where over 50 percent of Haitians reside, access to high-quality education is particularly limited. Meanwhile, most primary school teachers in Haiti have limited training, with only 20
percent being formally trained in teaching. Anseye Pou Ayiti aims to help increase Haitian students’
access to an excellent education in rural and underserved areas, by increasing the number of excellent teachers and leaders.
“From my days at École Des Frères in Grande-Rivière-du-Nord to leading the third largest school district in the United States, I’ve come to appreciate the significance of effective and caring teachers”
says Haitian native Jean-Claude Brizard, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools and Anseye Pou Ayiti
Board Chair. “Education must focus on a student’s full development not simply to create a just society, but to create a prosperous economy. Through education, Anseye Pou Ayiti will contribute to the
socioeconomic development of Haiti. I am proud to support Nedgine and Anseye Pou Ayiti as
founding board chair.”
Nedgine Paul, Anseye Pou Ayiti’s co-founder and CEO, is deeply committed to expanding equal educational opportunity in Haiti. Paul is a Haitian native, whose father was a schoolteacher and principal
in Gros Morne and Port-au-Prince. A graduate of Yale University and the Harvard Graduate School of
Education, Paul has worked with Achievement First schools in the U.S., and with Partners in Health,
including leading management training sessions in Haiti. Her work founding and leading Anseye
Pou Ayiti led to her being named a 2014 Echoing Green Global Fellow. She is grateful to be returning
home to join the movement of education changemakers devoted to empowering teachers to provide students with the education they deserve—including at the school her father once led.
“We are excited to harness the energy and passion of a diverse coalition from across Haiti to promote equal educational opportunity for all,” said Paul. “The ingenuity and determination of the
Haitian people are some of the greatest resources of our nation. There are so many talented people
in Haiti who want to return to their hometowns, to affect change for students and their communities. Anseye Pou Ayiti will not only provide a path for these teachers, but will instill in them a lifelong
commitment to education as a human right rooted in Haitian culture, customs, and community.”
This month, Anseye Pou Ayiti began to recruit and select up to 30 candidates to become its first
cohort of “teacher leaders” (participants of the Anseye Pou Ayiti program). These teachers will work
in schools in several communes including Gonaïves, Gros-Morne, Boucan Carre, and Mirebalais. (The
final set of schools will be confirmed prior to the 2015-2016 school year.) Anseye Pou Ayiti will provide these teachers with support and training throughout their initial two-year commitment, including coaching, mentorship, and regular classroom support. Following the two-year commitment,
Anseye Pou Ayiti will continue supporting these teachers as active “ambassadors” of the organization’s mission.
“Teacher training is a priority for Haiti,” says Michel DeGraff, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) Professor of Linguistics and Director of MIT-Haiti Initiative. “I hope Anseye Pou Ayiti will help
enhance teacher excellence in rural areas while also enhancing core aspects of Haitian culture,
including Haitian Kreyòl. The latter is our national language and an essential tool for literacy and for
learning second languages including French, English, Spanish, alongside science, math, social sciences, etc.”
Anseye Pou Ayiti has formally partnered with Teach For All, a global organization dedicated to
expanding educational opportunity in countries around the world. Teach For All supports organizations like Anseye Pou Ayiti that recruit and develop a diverse group of individuals from a range of
academic disciplines to commit to teach for two years in their nations’ high-need classrooms and
become lifelong leaders for educational excellence and equity. Each partner organization adapts this
approach to their country’s context and needs. Anseye Pou Ayiti will join more than 30 other Teach
For All partner organizations working toward the common goal of expanding educational opportunity for all children.
“We are thrilled to welcome Anseye Pou Ayiti to the Teach For All network,” said Wendy Kopp, cofounder and CEO of Teach For All. “The work that Nedgine Paul and her team are doing has the
potential to have a profound impact on the futures of students in Haitian communities, and their
insights and innovations will without doubt bring real value to other Teach For All partners who are
working hard to address educational inequity in their nations.”
18
THE HAITIAN VOICE
Mayor Walsh Announces Boston’s
New Poet Laureate
Rest in Peace
Francois Andre Jean-Mary died Saturday, September 27,
2014 at the age of 83, in his private residence with his
family by his side. Francois was born on June 7, 1931 to
the late Narcisse Jean-Marie and Dauphine Rossignol in
Desdunes, Haiti. He came from a large family of ten children: 8 brothers and two sisters.
Danielle Legros Georges, Poet and
Teacher, Haitian Immigrant
BOSTON, MA –
FEBRUARY 2015
M
ayor Martin J. Walsh announced that Danielle
Legros Georges, a lifelong writer and current faculty member at
Lesley University, will be Boston’s next Poet Laureate. Legros
Georges was selected by a diverse and distinguished search
committee from a wide range of talented applicants. The City’s
Poet Laureate is tasked with raising the status of poetry in the
everyday consciousness of Bostonians, acting as an advocate
for poetry, language and the arts, and creating a unique artistic
legacy through public readings and civic events.
Danielle Legros Georges
“Poetry is an art form to be celebrated. It helps us tell our stories and express ourselves,” said Mayor Walsh. “I look forward to the work Danielle will do to share her
passion and talent for poetry throughout the Boston community.”
He became an active and fervent member of East Orange
Church of God where Rev. Saint-Pierre Pasteur is the senior pastor. He was a man who loved the Lord. He was a
deacon, a member of Gideon group, a student of
Gethsemane class. His unwavering faith in God was evident in his interactions with family and friends. Francois
was a role model to many people in his circle until the
day he departed.
“Boston’s Poet Laureate position is a great statement by the city,” said Legros Georges. “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring poetry to Boston neighborhoods, schools and other settings—and to all
Bostonians, from our young people in Boston Public Schools to our eldest residents in the senior community.”
He provided wholeheartedly for his family. He was a selfless, noble, giving man who always thought of others. A
friend to everyone he met, Francois Andre Jean-Marie’s
memory and legacy will live on through the lives that he
touched. He will be sadly missed by many. He left behind
to mourn his loss:
Legros Georges is a professor in the Creative Arts and Learning Division at Lesley University. Her areas
of academic focus and expertise include arts and education, contemporary American poetry, AfricanAmerican poetry, Caribbean literature and studies, and literary translation. Her work with Lesley education students is largely focused on the arts in support of enhanced teaching practices.
Six children: Francoise Jean-Mary Voltaire, Leomise
Jean-Mary Moise, Damicia Jean-Mary Manigat,
Myrleine Jean-Mary Leandre, Monique Jean-Mary
Azor, and Dimitri Jean-Mary
Legros Georges describes her poetry as tackling a wide range of themes and asking philosophical
questions that can lead to conversations about larger issues in life. Legros Georges work has been
published in a wide variety of publications, including: Agni, The Boston Globe, Transition, World
Literature Today, SpoKe, sx salon, The Caribbean Writer, Callaloo, Ibbetson Street, Salamander, Poeisis,
Black Renaissance Noire, Macomère, The American Poetry Review and others. In 2001, Legros Georges
published a collection of poems, entitled Maroon.
Legros Georges has been widely recognized a variety of recognition for her work with and recent literary awards such as: the 2014 Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Fellowship in Poetry; the 2012
Massachusetts Cultural Council Finalist in Poetry; Lesley University Faculty Development Grants; and a
2013 Black Metropolis Research Consortium Fellowship/Andrew W. Mellon Grant.
Legros Georges was born in Haiti and grew up in Boston’s Haitian community in Mattapan. She
received a B.S. in Communication Studies from Emerson College, and holds an M.F.A. in English and
Creative Writing from New York University.
The Poet Laureate is a ceremonial appointment, and the chosen poet will be a significant fixture in
Boston's cultural and artistic arena. The Poet Laureate may learn, teach, and embody the great literary
traditions of Boston, from Amy Lowell to Robert Pinsky. Legros Georges will replace Sam Cornish,
Boston’s current Poet Laureate. Cornish has served in the position since the program was established
in 2008, generating new opportunities for education, awareness, and the promotion of literacy
through the beauty and excellence of poetry.
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Six grandchildren: Nivardo Pierre Moise, Anderson
Francois Moise, Jemimah Karen Moise, Angie Manigat,
Joshua Moses Azor, and Sarah Monica Azor
Son-in-laws: Rev. Dr Pierre Nivardo Moise, Rev. Fritz
Voltaire, Angelucci Manigat, Jean-Claude Leandre,
and Mario Azor
Sister-in-laws: Mrs. Murat Jean-Mary and
Mrs. Lavila Jean-Mary
And a great number of nephews, nieces, cousins
and friends.
The funeral service was celebrated at Ėglise Baptiste de la
Nouvelle Jérusalem, in Irvington, New Jersey. The body
was laid to rest at Hollywood Memorial Cemetery in
Union, New Jersey on October 11, 2014
FEBRUARY 2015
THE HAITIAN VOICE
In Memoriam
Leslie François
Manigat:
19
R.I.P.
Une voix pour trois
voies ou le colosse
d’Haïti
Par Claudy Delné
ORares sont les hommes et femmes de notre minuscule
de terre qui peuvent s’attribuer ces titres auréolés de
gloire. C’est sur fond de ce singulier triptyque que je salue
le départ tant soit peu attendu de notre professeur vers
l’au-delà et que j’honore du même coup sa mémoire
d’historien professionnel de talent, de politologue
engagé, doté d’un pédagogue qui sait confronter l’apprenant aux apories du temps et à leurs incidences dans
l’appréhension du monde et de la société dans laquelle
nous vivons.
La première image est de Manigat lui-même bien que je
l’aie modifiée. Il s’est approprié de ce titre et l’a développé
dans un ouvrage éponyme ‘’Une seule voix pour deux
voies’’ suivi de ‘’Un seul lit pour deux rêves’’. Un texte,
pour ainsi dire autobiographique, dans lequel il retrace les
parcours de l’historien et du politologue. Il s’agit plus spécifiquement d’une simple réflexion comme il le précise
sur la vie qui change (histoire) et pour changer la vie (politique). Il y explique sa théorie de base de l’histoire
humaine en quatre points cardinaux dans le sillage de la
longue durée de Fernand Braudel en se servant des cas
de figures de l’histoire internationale et de notre histoire
nationale.
D’abord, s’inspirant des prémisses de l’École des Annales
et de la Nouvelle Histoire, Manigat se réapproprie du concept de changement en histoire pour montrer, dans la
problématique centrale de la crise haïtienne contemporaine, comment les expressions de la nécessité du
changement structurel se sont heurtées aux forces de
blocage servant le statu quo et faisant avorter les entreprises de modernisation à l’haïtienne. Le deuxième élément cardinal dans la conception de l’histoire de Manigat
est que la réalité changeante des sociétés et des hommes
est de nature complexe. Il met en garde contre toutes les
simplifications naïves et réductionnistes des phénomènes
ou figures historiques. C’est la fertilité de la méthode de
décomposition méthodique d’une réalité complexe en
composantes analytiques qui lui a permis de montrer les
douze facettes du génie de Toussaint Louverture. Cette
nature complexe de la réalité lui permet également, en
tant qu’ historien total, de constater que le réel haïtien
peut se présenter sous forme d’imbrication d’éléments
rationnels ou scientifiques et de variables relevant du
mythe, des croyances proprement dites. Puis, un autre
élément fondamental dans le recours à l’histoire-synthèse
/problèmes faisant place à l’histoire-événementielle
relève du principe de dosage dont le réel est fait à chaque
moment de saisie nous dit-il. Le dosage peut se situer
dans le double mélange d’idéalisme et de réalisme, l’insertion ou l’appréciation des éléments quantitatifs dans
l’analyse des phénomènes.
Dosage qui peut résulter par exemple de la différence
entre le parti national et le parti libéral au chapitre des
idées relatives à la modernisation du pays à la fin du dixneuvième siècle, ou de la différence entre les moments
Le personnel de Haitian Voice regrette
historiques. Enfin, bien que Manigat ne soit pas marxiste,
il utilise une formule proche de la hiérarchie des instances
sans toutefois privilégier l’économique. Il invite plutôt à
mettre en relief, ce qu’il appelle, les dominantes de
l’analyse-synthèse. Il faut savoir comprendre et
rechercher les hiérarchies des variables.
Contrairement aux marxistes, n’importe quelle instance
peut se révéler dominante pour Manigat. Dans un contexte donné, l’économique peut être la dominante dans le
jeu des interactions, dans d’autres ce sera le religieux
comme porteur de dynamisme, dans d’autres la culture
ou la technologie peut s’avérer être la déterminatrice
dans la lisibilité du réel.
L’ancien chef d’État avait la manie ou l’aisance d’enfiler ces
robes ou de frayer ces trois voies à tour de rôle ou simultanément. En véritable sophiste, Manigat savait
haranguer et convaincre par la maîtrise du discours et du
verbe. Certains lui assignent le titre du grand Mapou par
analogie à notre colosse de départ. Il fut un grand
homme dans tous les sens du terme, conséquent à luimême jusqu’à la mort, refusant de faire le nivelage par le
bas, de flirter ou de pactiser avec la bêtise et l’insignifiance. Un grand humaniste moderne, ouvert et sensible
aux besoins de son pays et de son peuple, Manigat s’est
sacrifié en vrai patriote pour dénoncer sans cesse la
petitesse des élites et l’ingérence étrangère comme
principal obstacle à l’éternelle transition démocratique
en Haïti.
L’expérience pleinement vécue du professeur historienpolitologue atteste son savoir de généraliste en rompant
avec la tradition historiographique haïtienne des dix-neuvième et vingtième siècles relative à la spécialisation
d’une époque, d’un thème ou d’une personnalité. L’œuvre
colossale de Manigat s’inscrit diachroniquement et synchroniquement dans l’histoire bicentenaire d’Haïti. Ses
cinq volumes d’Éventail d’histoire vivante d’Haïti
témoignent de ce savoir méthodique et encyclopédique
laissé à la postérité. Au-delà des remontrances de ses
détracteurs, L’histoire comme passion : Mélanges offerts
à Leslie F. Manigat, ouvrage collectif publié par les Presses
de l’Université d’État d’Haïti sous la direction de Cary
Hector (2013) vient à point nommé pour jauger l’ensemble de l’œuvre et l’humanisme de ce grand homme d’État.
À la manière de Saül de Tarse, Manigat a combattu le bon
combat et a achevé sa course dignement. S’il pouvait
entendre les cris et voir tomber les pleurs de ceux et
celles qui sont éplorés par son départ, il dirait au même
titre de John Bunyan dans Le voyage du Pèlerin, ‘’Ne
pleurez pas sur moi mais sur vous’’. Qu’il repose en paix!
infiniment le décès de M. Fils Paul Joseph
survenu le 4 octobre 2014 à l'âge de 78 ans,
à Port-au-Prince. Monsieur Fils Paul Joseph
était le père de notre reporter Pierre Paul
Joseph. En cette douloureuse circonstance,
nous présentons nos sympathies à ses
enfants: Marie Lunée Joseph, Pierre Paul
Joseph, et Davidson Joseph; à ses petits
enfants: Pierre Michel Joseph, Carwilton
Jean Marie Nicolas et Marzia Joseph; à son
neveu Wilson Joseph; à ses nièces: Mme.
Viel, et Sintamise Joseph; et à ses filleules:
Ruth et Guerda.
Nous présentons nos condoléances également à tous les parents et amis affectés par
ce deuil. Les funérailles de M. Fils Paul
Joseph ont été chantées le Mercredi 15
octobre 2014 en l'Ėglise de Sainte Anne.
L'inhumation a eu lieu au cimetière de Port
au Prince.
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