Spotlight on Miragoâne !

Miragoâne ! I remember...
French Version

Dr Adly Thebaud, Rahoul Dupervil, Dr.
Jean-Marie Breton ( Gauche vers droite)

The diaspora community native of Miragoâne, third port city of Haiti, located in the department of Nippes and the chief town of the district of Miragoâne offered a large agape in honor of this piece of land of Haiti, on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at the Drs Adly and Josette Thebaud residence at Heathrow Lake Mary, Florida. On the eve of the celebration  of Saint John the Baptist, the patron of the city Miragoâne, this gathering brought many miragoânais and miragoânaises from across the Haitian diaspora.

Bruny and Paule Compas 

The party began at 8 pm with words of welcome from the hosts Adly and Josette Thebaud, the engineer Bruny Compas and Max Jacques, the master of ceremony (MC). Following the invitation and encouragement of Bruny Compas, many participants traveled from Canada, Connecticut, North Carolina, New York and Haiti to participate in this joyous gathering which also represented a great opportunity to reunite in the sumptious residence of doctor Thébaud, who also originates from Miragoâne. This event was also made possible by Bruny Compas, who is well known as a unifying center of Florida, and also a founding member of HASO (Haitian American Society of Orlando). 

The Thebaud's family 

The party held at the magnificent residence of the Thébaud’s made ​a great impression in this gated community of Lake Mary surrounded by magnolias and tennis court. Therefore, it was an inviting atmosphere for relaxation and entertainment,  between friends and comrades scattered ove fourty and fifhty years, as pointed out by one of the guest speakers of the evening, Rahoul Dupervil.

The hearts and minds of this Haitian community nostalgic of their piece of land ignited throughout the evening.

Everything was on the edge of the pool area  well decored in this circumstance where a sumptuous banquet dishes were well chosen in honor of the guests in search of elegance and refinement. The Miragoânaises, elegant in their dress "bustier" fitting, flared, low-cut or backless blade were lovely, the miragoânais meanwhile were "sharp" in their fine suits and they danced happily with their ladies who seemed to be having ants in their legs in addition with the DJ Harry Duval, who’s retro tunes filled the ballroom and very much inviting everyone to dance. A true atmosphere of reunion and good vibes throughout the evening!

Stretching in length, the host of the party, Dr. Thébaud has then highlighted the main goal of this worldly activity; he took the opportunity to highlight the projects initiated by some citizens of the community Miragoâne. Photos and videos presented by Dr Ralph Gousse were reviving the memories of school, football and youth etc ...

Rahoul Dupervil has promised to make the grandest festival next year promising to bring more people from Miragoâne.

Informed observers could detect from the atmosphere a certain willingness among this diaspora community to unite their efforts to renovate their hometown. The celebration continued Sunday, June 22 with a barbecue (grill) at Bruny Compas’s House. 

These festivities was another proof of the love that the diaspora generally feeds in his heart for Haiti, a love scarcely recognized by some politicians who therefore do everything to exclude or discourage the diaspora with their retrograde actions or the actions taken step menus (lip service). A diaspora that yet thinks only to assist every corner  as Miragoâne Haiti.

Haiti Connection Network was represented by the young Hervey Gilbert Jr who did a great photojournalism in which we invite you to watch by clicking here...

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By Herve Gilbert herve.gilbert@gmail.com

Some segments of the atmosphere of the evening in Video

NOTE DE PRESSE DE L'UNDH

Lesly Manigat

Il est de ces personnalités à la dimesion desquelles on ne peut que se heurter chaque fois qu’on s’engage sur les sentiers de l’Histoire. Et de cette Histoire à laquelle les événements et les hommes se sont constamment heurtés, Leslie Manigat fut à la fois un témoin et un acteur. Il avait même donné aux plus jeunes une indéniable leçon tirée de la discipline dans laquelle il excellait le mieux, en soutenant par une action concrète les subtilités d’une pensée dogmatique un peu trop en avance sur son temps. Et c’est faute d’une éducation civique, entamée et poursuivie avec autant de compétence que d’efficacité, éducation, que, pourtant, il avait tenté de transmettre dans ses interventions télévisées, que son expérience de la “fulgurance louverturienne” n’avait pas su donner les résultats escomptés. L’écho de ses discours n’a donc point obtenu les bonnes grâces d’une population peu habituée à cet exercice hautement intellectualisé de la politique.

Aussi, en 1988, se voyait-il interpellé, sollicité par l’Histoire pour tenter d’infirmer la thèse du Duc de Saint Simon:’ Ecrire l’histoire de son pays et de son temps…c’est se montrer à soi-même pied à pied le néant du monde, de ses craintes, de ses désirs, de ses espérances, de ses disgrâces, de ses fortunes, de ses travaux…” Et nous savons pertinemment que la tâche n’était pas au-dessus des forces de l’homme de pensée et d’action qui voulut projeter sur l’écran national les séquences d’une épopée nouvelle dans laquelle il croyait.

D’Haïti, nous est parvenue la triste nouvelle du décès du Professeur Leslie Manigat au terme d’une maladie stoïquement supportée. Avec lui, s’en va un morceau d’humanité haïtienne qu’il sera difficile de reconstituer. Dans le champ clos des mots de regrets, l’amertume se presse au rendez-vous d’adieu à l’endroit d’un Homme qui fut plus qu’un “monument historique”. Et de plaintes en contritions, de soupirs en regrets, L’Union Nationale des Démocrates Haïtiens (UNDH) ne peut que partager la douleur de sa digne épouse, des parents, des amis, partisans et sympathisants auxquels elle offre ses paroles profondes pour les aider à traverser cette inévitable vallée de larmes.

Adieu Professeur, dors bien sur ta couche de poussière. Mais, n’oublie pas de veiller, du haut de ta mémoire immortelle, sur tous ceux qui, de loin ou de près, ont professé en ta compagnie, le culte des vertus hautement confisquées.

Miami, le 26 Juin 2014

Dr  Jean L. Théagène 

Président de L'UNDH

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Russie : Vladimir (Poutine) et Lioudmila, c'est fini !

Le président russe et son épouse ont officiellement divorcé, après trente-cinq ans de mariage.

Vladimir Poutine et son épouse Lioudmila, ici en 2003.

C'est officiel. Vladimir Poutine, 61 ans, et Lioudmila, 56 ans, ont divorcé après trente ans de mariage. Le couple avait annoncé sa décision en juin dernier devant les caméras de Rossia 24, à l'issue de la représentation du ballet "Esmeralda" de Cesare Pugni au Grand Palais du Kremlin. "Toute mon activité est liée à la vie publique. Il y a des gens avec lesquels c'est incompatible. Nous avons donc pris une décision commune", lâche le maître du Kremlin, plutôt détendu. "Vladimir Vladimirovitch est complètement plongé dans son travail. Nous ne nous voyons pratiquement pas", poursuit l'ex-première dame, mal à l'aise, à la recherche de ses mots. Ce soir-là, la nouvelle ne surprend personne. Vladimir et Lioudmila ont cessé leur vie commune depuis des années. On prête même à Poutine une liaison avec l'ancienne championne de gymnastique Alina Kabaeva, de 31 ans sa cadette et aujourd'hui mère de deux enfants dont le père demeure inconnu.

Poutine s'est rarement confié sur sa rencontre avec son ex-femme au début des années 80. "J'ai compris que si je ne me mariais pas au cours des deux ou trois prochaines années, je ne me marierais jamais", a-t-il dit un jour.

Les retards de Vladimir:

L'ancienne hôtesse de l'air Lioudmila s'est davantage épanchée sur son union avec le maître du pays. C'est à Oleg Blotski, l'un des biographes de Poutine, qu'elle livre le récit le plus détaillé. Elle raconte qu'un soir son futur mari lui demande de lui téléphoner à une heure précise. Elle se rend alors à plusieurs reprises dans une cabine téléphonique, mais Poutine ne répond pas. Soudain, un inconnu l'aborde et lui demande ses coordonnées. Elle l'ignore. Plus tard, en découvrant les activités de son cher Vladimir au sein du KGB, elle se remémore l'incident. "Je lui ai demandé s'il avait voulu me tester ce jour-là, mais il ne m'a jamais donné de réponse claire."

Lioudmila se souvient aussi des retards de Poutine à leurs rendez-vous. "Je n'étais jamais en retard, mais, lui, tout le temps. Au bout d'une heure, j'avais envie de pleurer. Au-delà d'une heure et demie, je ne ressentais plus rien." Elle raconte également une soirée au cours de laquelle elle avait dansé et bien ri. C'était avant leur mariage. "Vladimir m'a dit qu'il n'avait pas aimé mon comportement et que notre relation n'était plus possible."

"Tu connais mon caractère"

Il reviendra cependant vers elle. Et lui demandera sa main. "Mon amie, tu connais mon caractère, lui dit Poutine, il n'est pas facile. J'ai besoin de toi. Je te propose de devenir ma femme. Si tu es d'accord, nous nous marierons le 28 juillet." "J'ai toujours eu l'impression d'être mise à l'épreuve", poursuit Lioudmila. Exemple : les sorties à la montagne. "Il pensait que cela allait de soi que je fasse du ski, mais je n'ai jamais été préparée. Nous n'avions pas d'instructeur, pas de vêtements. Tout notre argent y passait. Nous n'en avions plus pour nous acheter un billet de théâtre."

Une autre fois, Poutine l'emmène sur les bords de la mer Noire. Lui se consacre à la plongée sous-marine. Elle se retrouve sur un matelas pneumatique mal gonflé et sachant à peine nager. "Il a fallu que je lutte contre le courant. Il fallait toujours que je lutte contre quelque chose." Lioudmila évoque aussi son voyage de noces après leur mariage célébré en juillet 1983. Une virée à Kiev au volant d'une Jigouli en compagnie d'un autre couple. "En vacances, il ne voulait jamais être le leader, il laissait les autres planifier les journées. Ça me surprenait." Cet été-là, la voiture tombe en panne et le voyage tourne court.

Deux ans plus tard naît leur première fille. Lioudmila veut l'appeler Natalia. "Trois jours avant la naissance, Vladimir m'a annoncé que ce serait Maria. J'ai pleuré", dit-elle. Poutine se tient éloigné de la vie de la famille. "En me voyant monter les six étages de l'immeuble avec ma fille dans les bras, notre voisin a dit un jour à Vladimir qu'il devait m'aider." Poutine, l'officier du KGB, bientôt nommé à Dresde en ex-RDA, ne pense qu'à une chose : son travail... Sur lequel il demeure muet. "Quand je l'interrogeais sur sa journée, il me répondait toujours par une boutade : on a attrapé un gars, on a déjeuné et on l'a relâché." Et le soir, à table, le futur chef du Kremlin ne se montre guère plus disert. "Je lui demandais : comment trouves-tu la viande ? Il répondait : pas mal. C'était un couteau dans le coeur. J'ai commencé à détester ce pas mal et la cuisine."

Source: Le Point 

Being Haitian in New York (Part II)

Original text in french

Estey Piano Company in the Bronx

If we accept the fact  that the two main reasons for the migration of Haitians to the United States are political and economic order, let’s simply ask this question, if they have won their bet. The answer is yes. On the political front, Haitian immigrants in New York have all the freedoms that the Duvalier dictatorship had deprived them: they can now practice without fear of censorship fundamental freedoms of opinion, expression and information as its common in the American democratic society. Most Haitian immigrants also benefit greatly and such attitude tends to make more difficult the restriction of freedoms in Haiti. However, if the Haitian diaspora in New York has no fear to voice his political views vis-à-vis the behavior of the Haitian authorities in Haiti, the Haitian ordinary citizen living in the country tends to retain a certain restraint in critical it bears against the Haitian government.

 Brooklyn Bridge , the first of the seven bridges on the East River

On the economic front, a number of Haitian immigrants in New York have suffered major differences between the American social reality and the social reality of Haiti during their first years into this megalopolis. During the interactions in everyday life, they have always been the big losers as a result of factors such as language barrier, racism, lack of social cues ... The first Haitian immigrants in New York were generally members of the advanced middle class  fleeing the repression of François Duvalier. It was in the early 1960s. A little later, in the early 1970s, when living in Haiti was becoming a hell, both politically and economically, Haitian immigrants were coming from all social and economic strata. 

  A view of the skyscrapers of   Manhattan

According to the Caribbean sociologist Stephanie Melyon - Pippin in 2000, "Haitians worked mainly in the field of education , health and social services as many Caribbean ... They are also in the field of arts, entertainment, hospitality, and restaurant with 33,420 people or 14 , 6% ... the average salary of a Haitian , according to Stephanie Melyon - Reinette in 2000 amounted to 36 000 USD per year against $ 38,500 per year for Jamaicans , 41 960 and 36 300  for Guyanese and Trinidadians / Tobagonians . "(Page 28).

Stéphanie Melyon-Reinette

In New York, the two languages, Kreyol and French, which have always been unevenly distributed in the use of Haitian speakers, has added a third English. It is the dominant language of the host society and Haitian immigrants are forced to communicate in that language. Mastery of the English language was one of the first handicaps for the first generation of Haitian immigrants . Nowadays, with the exception of newcomers, much of Haitian immigrants show a relative proficiency in English, particularly in the field of oral. However kreyòl remains the most used language in the Haitian language community and many thirty second generation are also fluent in Kreyol and English. In fact, in the areas of high concentration Haitian located in Brooklyn and Queens, more and more Americans ( blacks and whites ) know some basic phrases of Kreyol as "Ki sak pase ? " " Ki Jan ou ye ? " " Nap Kenbe ? " " Mèsi anpil " 

Chatham Square and Lin Zexu Statue

One of the biggest problems facing Haitian immigrants in American society and in particular, New York, is the negative stigma associated with the Haitian culture. Virtually every ethnic group has a more or less negative picture of the Haitian immigrant . Even in the Caribbean, the American society has become accustomed to assemble Haitians under the generic term " West Indians,” however Haitians are not considered under this description, and due to this, the Haitian representations are generally far from positive. Haitians are not considered quite as Caribbean despite their presence and strong presence in the Caribbean , and especially despite the Creole common culture they share with the " West Indians " and has similar social structures inherited Africans and Europeans. Here's how Mary Waters, a sociology professor at Harvard , relates representations of Haitian immigrants in New York in his book " Black identities . West Indian Immigrant Dreams and American Realities Harvard University Press, 1999 ". "Although Jamaicans are described in negative and positive terms , Haitians are described by different groups in the most negative terms possible.

Eastern Parkway  "Labor day"

Haitians have definitely had a bad reputation. All people we spoke to share many negative stereotypes about Haitians. Many of these stereotypes have their origin in the fact that Haiti is a very poor country and the source of the poorest in New York immigrants. Haitians are described as noisy people, poorly dressed, who do not bathe enough , that smell bad , and live like savages , in filth and squalor, with several people in the same room . Haitians are also described as people who are aggressive, selfish, arrogant and who would not hesitate to cheat if they have the opportunity. Many people mention the practices of voodoo as another threat to Haitians. Some teachers describe a lot of tension in schools where many of the original " West Indian " students despise Haitian students. These conflicts are exacerbated because few Haitians speak English, and the language gap makes close friendships and alliances issues among the people of the first generation. " [ My translation of page 60]

End of the second part - to follow…

Translated  by HCC from the Original text in french written by Hugues Saint Fort.

Being Haitian in New York (part 1)

English Translation :Herve Gilbert
Original text in french is available

 Statue of liberty is an iconic 
symbol of the American Dream  

As we know, most Haitians living in the country are fascinated to emigrate elsewhere. In general, the reasons are economic; objectively, Haiti is an extremely poor country and no one among those who belong to this category, would not like to spend their lives in absolute poverty.  In the list of countries in which Haitians dream to emigrate to, the United States always occupies the prominent place. New York is a city in the United States that captures the highest point in which Haitians dream to live in. At the time I was still living in Haiti, there was an area on the outskirts of Port -au- Prince which was given the name of Brooklyn in memory of the famous " borough " of New York. And those residents of this suburb of Port -au- Prince had not yet been to Brooklyn! The Haitian imagination is not comparable !

Régine O. Jackson 

There was a time people considered New York, by the size of its population, as the second city after Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Lately, most has been changed. According to Régine O. Jackson (Geographies of the Haitian Diaspora, Routledge 2011), who teaches American Studies at Emory University, the Haitian population of New York is estimated at 182,000 people compared to Florida which is around 360,000 immigrants. If true, this is a false comparison because it puts a city of (New York) against a state of (Florida), the fact remains that New York City has lost much of its 1970-1980 population, many of whom are either returned to Haiti, or moved to Florida ... just in search of a more hospitable climate

 Brooklyn neighborhoods

However, Haitian neighborhoods in New York continue to reflect the image of the typical Haitian cities such as (Port -au- Prince , Cap-Haitien ... ) ,especially with  variety of activities, where there is almost anything you find in Haiti. Streets such as Church Avenue in the heart of Anglophone Caribbean Brooklyn neighborhoods are full of Haitian commercial outdoor setting all kinds of food consumed in the country: fries , fried bananas , " Griyo " ( fried pork ), " taso " ( fried goat meat ), " diri dyondyon "(rice with mushrooms ), " mayi Moulen " Corn meal " Zaboka " ( Avocado) .

Haitian immigrants have settled in all five "borough" (districts) of the city of New York, but with a preference for the Brooklyn district that has long been the favorite of the large Haitian community area of ​​residence, followed in order by the Manhattan district, then through Queens, the Bronx and finally,Staten Island .

The view looking south from Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan includes the art deco-styled Empire State and Chrysler Buildings. (Click on the picture to enlarge it)

In the beginning of Haitian immigration to New York, it was a pretty clear difference between Haitians living in Brooklyn and those living in Queens. Those living in Queens were seen as part of the "lelit" (elite) with the sense that Haitian Kreyol enunciators identify with this word (connotation colorist, belonging to the upper middle classes, perhaps high level of education ...) while those living in Brooklyn were considered as "common people", with all that this word conveyed in the Haitian mentality.

Brooklyn Museum 

In fact, this configuration corresponds to a typical American sociological reality that buying a home was a sign of social status and security. The Haitian anthropologist Michel S. Laguerre (. American Odyssey Haitians in New York City, Cornell University Press, 1984) reports what he was  told by one of his indicators: "Se vagabon ki lwe kay " (Honest people are not tenants) . In fact, owning a home is one of the marks of the realization of the so-called "American Dream".

Church Avenue ( Brooklyn) 

The Francophone Caribbean sociologist Stéphanie Melyon-Reynette of (Haitians in New York City, L'Harmattan, 2009) reports that "Jamaicans and Guyanese are more often owners than Haitians with the percentage respectively of 36.9% and 46.7%," but "best percentages in terms of habitat are reached by the Italians (64%) and Greece (50%). The emergence of a socio-professional category of younger generations of Haitian immigrants (university professors, doctors, lawyers, engineers ...) has changed the map resulting in a shift of the places of residence of much Haitian immigrants who are now living in areas formerly reserved for the upper class.

Haitian Music is relatively fairly well known in New York and Haitians never miss an opportunity to go and dance. Musical groups such as Tabou Combo or Boukman Experience always move Haitian and non-Haitian crowds when they play, no matter where they play. It was during the years 1970-1980 the Haitian music has built its capital celebrity thanks to the phenomenon of "mini-jazz " of Haiti that have transformed musically and the generation of the popular music of Haiti.

Haitian Konpa is so pleased, it has been emulated. Our cousins ​​Franco-Caribbean Creole created the "zouk" style that exploded in the 1990s, first in the West Indies, then in France and Haiti itself. Without rancor, most Haitians were quick to adopt it since the rhythm and melodies of "zouk" remain very close  to Konpa.

End of Part One - New York, December 2013

Translated  by Herve Gilbert from the Original text in french written by Hugues Saint Fort

Some awesome photos of the city of New York and its suburbs
A picture can be enlarged by clicking on it

This bridge establishes a critical link in the local and regional highway system. Since 1976. The bridge marks the gateway to New York Harbor; all cruise ships and most container ships arriving at the Port of New York and New Jersey must pass underneath the bridge and therefore must be built to accommodate the clearance under the bridge

               

Staten Island terminal 

The Verrazano–Narrows Bridge, in the U.S. state of New York, is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City at the Narrows. It has a central span of 4,260 feet (1,298 m) and was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its completion in 1964.

A view of New York and its surroundings in the gloom of Winter

The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with Bronx County, it was the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated. Located north of Manhattan and Queens, and south of Westchester County, the Bronx is the only borough that is located primarily on the mainland

The Brooklyn Bridge is a bridge in New York City and is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River.

Ride the Staten Island Ferry to see the famous skyline and Statue of Liberty from Upper New York Bay. It’s free and runs about every 30 minutes. Ride on the front or back of the ship for the best views.

The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with Bronx County, it was the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated. Located north of Manhattan and Queens, and south of WestchesterCounty, the Bronx is the only borough that is located primarily on the mainland

Staten Island terminal