Welcome to the latest edition of Woy Magazine’s biweekly newsletter, providing must-know news and commentary on Haiti and our Diaspora.
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Bitay fè w vanse
Stumbling moves you forward
(Haitian proverb)
CHAY LA | Main Story
Premye Janvye
“There are no memories before soup joumou. There is no marker in the mind for when this food was introduced to my body. As long as I’ve been collecting the trinkets of my days as souvenirs in my mind, there has been pumpkin soup.” - Soup Joumou: A Bowl of History, nutrition & Love, Woy Magazine
On January 1, Haiti celebrated its 220th Independence Day. The importance of the Haitian Revolution and the ultimate victory over the French can't be overstated. It led to the foundation of the first Black republic and sparked revolutions throughout Latin America. It rejected the colonial world order and aimed to propose a new world order. Celebrated in Haiti and throughout the diaspora, as integral as the preparation and consumption of the soup is to this day, so is the communal act of sharing the soup joumou meal.
The celebration does not end there. January 2nd is also a very important national holiday in Haiti, Ancestry Day, established under Emperor Faustin I in honor of Jean Jacques Dessalines and later re-designated by General Nord Alexis to celebrate all those who fought for independence.
« C’est aussi la fête du marronnage, dédiée à tous les marrons du système esclavagiste qui ont perdu leur vie en voulant combattre les colons. Cette date vénère aussi l’âme des anciens Taïnos qui ont voulu résister et combattre les colons envahisseurs », raconte pour sa part l’historien haïtien Jean Ledan fils. (Source: Ayibopost)
Haitian Independence Day, falling at the start of the new year, invites us to rethink strategy, renew our commitment to our country and collective action.
POLITIK POLEMIK
The clock is ticking…
On the political front, Haiti is still in a gridlock. The timeline proposed by de facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s transition plan is ending, having accomplished nothing. By now, elections should have already taken place with a new president and other elected officials ready to be sworn in on February 7th of this new year, according to the constitutional calendar. Even those who signed onto Ariel Henry’s December 21 political accord blame him for taking no real action to implement his place. Meanwhile, political negotiations mediated by Caricom have been slow. While the political and economic actors struggle to hold on to their cushy jobs and privileges propped up by armed groups and the international community, ordinary Haitians are facing high food and gas prices.
If we limit our reading of the Haitian political landscape to this snapshot, we risk throwing up our hands and giving up. January 1st and the legacy of 1804 invites us to push ourselves to look at the systematic challenges and consider what else is possible; we are reminded of the need to build collective power and act. The canal was a great example of this in 2023. While the Haitian government did nothing, Haitians all over the world pitched in.
The year 2024 needs to bring forth more such efforts in all sectors. What’s at stake are the lives of Haitians, over 8 million of whom don’t have enough to eat. What’s at stake is the very existence of the Haitian state.
Last year, a record collection of dues and tariffs was documented at customs throughout the country because of various reforms. Also, the rolling back of the fuel subsidies has lessened the load on government spending. This means that the government has more resources at its disposal. Haitians should be demanding that those funds be put into improving their lives, pushing the justice sector to investigate and prosecute those sanctioned, and organizing to participate actively and vigilantly in elections.
Canal update
January 1st invites us to continue efforts to reclaim our right to be the master of our own resources. The head of the canal built in the North East is complete, the most complex and technical part of the construction. After months of fundraising by Haitians in Haiti and those in the diaspora, the government still hasn't provided any significant support to this vital irrigation effort.
In the meantime, the border at Wanament was forced open by a truck from the Dominican side with no resistance from Haitian officials. Since then, commerce there has resumed.
Despite feeble efforts by the government, ordinary Haitians won this diplomatic battle that inspired the whole country. The year 2023 was extremely difficult, and this canal project is a clear example of how Haitians can come together to defend their material needs and sovereignty.
The canal effort has sparked many other important food security-related initiatives throughout the country, particularly in the poultry sector. There is also an opportunity to resume the exportation of mangoes as the Haitian government, the National Association of Mango Exporters (ANEM), and US officials are in talks, notably concerning pest control measures.
Diaspora News
January 1st invites the diaspora to pressure the Haitian government to improve the quality of life of the relatives we support back home. It invites us to be more serious in understanding where the American politicians we support stand regarding international policy. It invites us to understand what our remittances are building and to advocate better for our siblings back home.
In 2023, the Haitian diaspora sent back 3.8 billion dollars in remittances to Haiti. Save for a slight decline of 1.2% compared to 2022; these remittances play a central role in Haitian households in the context of ever-growing unemployment and economic collapse.
According to the World Bank, Haiti is the third most dependent country regarding transfers from the diaspora in Latin America and the Caribbean. For economist Etzer Emile, this reflects a limp economy unable to generate work opportunities and wealth for its citizenry.
These remittances currently represent around 20% of GDP at current prices. Without them, many more Haitian households would be struggling, with an estimated 60% of these remittances going toward consumer goods (according to a 2023 study by PROECO HAITI).
« C’est une dépendance trop importante du pays par rapport au reste du monde. Cela rend le pays vulnérable aux chocs externes. Tout choc dans les pays d’accueil des membres de la diaspora haïtienne impacte l’économie en Haïti. Le pays doit diversifier ses sources de devises. Certains pays parlent aujourd’hui de résilience aux transferts. Comme pays dans un monde instable et imprévisible, Haïti doit emboiter le pas aux autres », a dit Enomy Germain. Si l’on s’en tient à ces 35 dernières années, le pays a connu des vagues migratoires successives provoquées par la violence politique, les coups d’État, les catastrophes naturelles et la violence des bandes armées. Certains estiment autour de 10 % le nombre d’Haïtiens vivant à l’étranger. (Source: Le Nouvelliste)
Time will tell how the massive migration of people from Haiti last year, facilitated by the Humanitarian Parole program, will affect remittance trends moving forward. Haitians who have left have the challenge of starting a new life abroad while contributing to the well-being of those left behind.
KILTIRÈL
To close the 8th Edition of Festival de Theatre En Lisant, singer and activist Sherlee Skai performed at the Centre Culturel Caraibes in Port-au-Prince on December 17th. The recording of the concert is here. Check out these pictures of the concert by Vicky Onelien for Woy Magazine.
Nathalie Joachim has released “Ki moun ou ye” the first single for her upcoming album of the same name. The breathtaking music video directed by Gessica Geneus in Joachim’s family town of Dantan, located in the south of Haiti.