Alo tout moun! Welcome to the latest edition of Woy Magazine’s weekly newsletter, providing you with must-know news and commentary on Haiti and our Diaspora.
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#WoyChat
Yesterday, the Woy Magazine team had the honor and privilege to speak with Professor Bayyinah Bello on everything Haitian history and culture. The hour-long conversation touched upon Haiti’s forgotten griots and storytellers, the role of Haitian women in the Revolution and nation-building and the importance of understanding the true definition of culture. Be sure to check out the full event here, and look out for future conversations in our #WoyChat series.
A Road of Jesters
Now that Kanaval is over, we can begin to unpack all the political and social notables from the cultural celebration. Coming immediately after the fateful February 7 decision to remain power, former president Jovenel Moïse went to his northern hometown of Port-de-Paix for the annual festivities. The former president brought his version of his sand to the beach when he used his time there to send a message of warning to his political opponents as protests against his regime were taking place in other parts of the country:
Moïse used the eve of Carnival’s official launch to attack opponents, telling them his government will not be destabilized.
“I must warn you: I am the head of state. If you do not stop with your actions, I will force you to do so,” Moïse warned, as he asked the population to join him in giving his opponents the boot. “When the person in charge says no, you have to listen to him.”
Most obviously, there is the matter of the coronavirus pandemic. While pre-Lenten festivities were cancelled or moved online/socially distanced in other notable places like Louisiana, Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil, Haiti decided to move ahead with pre-COVID-like plans for its events. On social media, concern over the possible health implications of this were shared along with an image showing the irony of a COVID-public health education sign hanging over a packed group of revelers forgoing masks.
And then there is a new travel ban to be aware of. The Bahamas has issued a 21-day ban over any visitors from Haiti due to the latter choosing to move forward with kanaval. According to the Bahamian Tribune:
Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield said yesterday the decision was made in response to concerns about Haiti’s Carnival activities, which are seen as super spreader events.
#Haiti’s Carnival, which began yesterday, is one of the nation’s biggest cultural events each year. It was cancelled last year after several violent protests disrupted the first day of the planned festivities.
#However, this year’s events are being held in Port-de-Paix despite ongoing political unrest and COVID-19 concerns.
#“The reason for the ban or what we call the embargo on flights between us and Haiti at the moment is because Haiti has entered its Carnival season today or tomorrow and I think it lasts for a couple of weeks and we were concerned about mitigating potential spread of course with COVID,” Mr Henfield said yesterday.
Lastly, there is a conversation to be had about the way kanaval has been used as a political tool to quell any grumblings from the masses, especially this year. The events being held in Port-de-Paix, a city which has suffered from governmental negligence over the years, has raised eyebrows as to how even basic human rights such as clean streets and infrastructure are used to serve as a means to an end to drive the attention of the population elsewhere:
While in most Caribbean and Latin American countries Carnival has become an event to attract tourism, in Haiti it has been utilized as a political tool to pacify the population amid rising political tensions. Last year’s event was canceled after Haitian police officers and soldiers got into a firefight on the first day, and the year before it was scratched over more unrest accompanied by a debate about whether Haiti could afford the expensive street party while in the middle of deep economic contraction.
While some believe kanaval has the possibility to bring development to a city, there has been no example of this actually happening:
Love is an Action Word
On Valentine’s Day, thousands of Haitians took to the streets to protest the Jovenel Moïse regime. While the protestors, for the most part, remained peaceful they were once more met with tear gas and rubber bullets from the police. Activists also used Sunday’s activations to call out the foreign governments and institutional bodies (namely: the United States, Canada, the United Nations and the OAS) who are propping up the Moïse government. The Digital Journal reports:
Sunday's protests questioned the legitimacy of Moise's term length and foreign backing for his holding office.
"Despite all the kidnappings, the massacres in poor neighborhoods, the United States continues to support him," said protester Sheila Pelicier.
The Miami Herald also writes:
In Port-au-Prince, the demonstration began shortly after 11 a.m. at Constitutional Place near the National Palace, and initially moved peacefully through the capital. But three hours later, protesters were forced to seek cover in nearby businesses and street corridors to avoid the toxic fumes of police tear gas and rubber bullets as they tried to deliver their message in front of the office of the U.N. and OAS.
More Pushback
While Jovenel Moïse unwinds from all his partying, more calls for him to step down are coming in. First up, is U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters. In an op-ed this week for the Miami Herald, Congresswoman Waters makes the case that the Biden Administration’s response to Haiti’s constitutional crisis is worsening the situation in the country, and laid out some steps the U.S. can take to help:
The Biden Administration can take several practical, low-cost steps to help resolve Haiti’s crisis without risking entanglement. It can start by acknowledging the broad consensus in Haiti – reflected on Capitol Hill – that President Moïse’s term has ended, which will force Moïse to negotiate in good faith with his opponents.
Second, the U.S. can declare that it will provide no support for the unconstitutional referendum, either directly or through other organizations such as the United Nations or the Organization of American States.
Finally, the U.S. can comply with the Leahy Law’s prohibition on U.S. financial support for security forces involved in human rights violations and apply Global Magnitsky Act sanctions on any Moïse Administration official engaged in human rights abuse or corruption.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also being pressured by his countrymen to cut off his support for Jovenel Moïse. In an open letter signed by over 100 leaders, academics and artists including Noam Chomsky and Naomi Klein, the argument is made that Jovenel continues to unlawfully occupy the seat of the presidency in defiance of the law and several institutions. The signatories also call out the Canadian government’s support of Haiti’s national police force. According to Radio Canada:
Les signataires déplorent que les autorités canadiennes continuent de financer et de former un corps de police qui a violemment réprimé les manifestations organisées contre Jovenel Moïse.
L'ambassadeur du Canada en Haïti a assisté à plusieurs reprises à des cérémonies de la police tout en refusant de critiquer les actes de répression contre les manifestants commis par celle-ci, peut-on lire dans la lettre adressée à M. Trudeau.
Religious organizations are also stepping up to the plate. On Tuesday, Haiti’s Conference of Bishops released a statement proclaiming: “The country is on the brink of an explosion. The daily lives of the people revolve around death, murder, impunity and uncertainty.” The Bishops call for Jovenel to respect the rule law, saying: “In the succession of Christ, the Church is always on the side of law, truth, justice and respect for life and human dignity.”
They were joined, in the week, by their protestant counterparts who have announced that they will be forming a commission and formally mobilizing against the former president. Le Nouvelliste writes:
Les deux principales missions de cette commission, selon une note de presse du secteur protestant, sont d'abord de « travailler avec toutes les institutions religieuses et organisations de la société civile en vue de l'intensification de la mobilisation pacifique pour le respect de la Constitution, particulièrement l'article 134-2 », traitant de la fin de mandat du président. Ensuite, de « sensibiliser toutes les églises protestantes, à travers tout le pays, afin que les chrétiens, citoyens haïtiens à part entière, puissent s'engager résolument dans la lutte contre la dictature en Haïti ».
A Mansion in the ‘Burbs
Speaking of Canada, it appears that some of the money missing in Haiti may have ended up in Quebec. Earlier this week, a blockbuster of a report emerged that Haitian senator, Rony Célestin (who belongs to Jovenel’s PHTK party) and his wife Marie-Louisa Célestin - a diplomat - purchased a waterfront villa in Laval, Quebec for a whopping $4 million. The home which boasts four bathrooms, a swimming pool, a fountain and parking space for 10 cars was said to be paid in full without a mortgage.
According to La Presse, Haitian civil rights organizations are calling for a full investigation into this purchase and the funds used to carry it out:
Dans ce contexte, le plus récent achat du couple Célestin au Canada a fait bondir plusieurs opposants, notamment le Réseau national de défense des droits de l’homme (RNDDH), organisme haïtien qui se consacre à la promotion de l’État de droit.
« Le RNDDH estime qu’une enquête doit être diligentée pour dresser la liste des biens que possédaient le sénateur Célestin et son épouse avant d’avoir été respectivement élus sénateur de la République et diplomate », affirme Marie Auguste Ducena, porte-parole de l’organisme, en entrevue avec La Presse à partir de Port-au-Prince.
An Update on Yvickel Dabrésil
Last week, we highlighted in detail how Jovenel Moïse continues to attack Haiti’s judicial branch, even going as far to have some judges arrested and fired. This week, one of the judges who was unlawfully detained and accused of being an accomplice in a “coup” spoke to reporter Jacqueline Charles in a new interview about his experiences. Justice Yvickel Dabrésil states that the former president’s actions were an attempt to “discredit the opposition.” He also recounts what happened the morning of his arrest:
Dabrésil said he was asleep with his security keeping watch outside when specialized police officers with the Haiti National Police in charge of security for the National Palace stormed the residential development. They threw two tear gas grenades inside his home to force his exit, he said. After huddling inside for 45 minutes, he heard a voice commanding that officers spray the house with bullets. That’s when he finally decided to walk out.
He said he told the officers that he was a judge on the country’s highest court, but they arrested him anyway. He also contends the arrest was illegal because under Haitian law detentions cannot take place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless it’s during the act of a crime.
You can read the full interview here.
Notre Naomi
We’re sending out our warmest congratulations to Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka for her victory over long-time champion Serena Williams at the Australian Open Finals. She is moving on to face off against Jennifer Brady in the women’s final of the tournament. Here is a great piece from Jane McManus of Deadspin explaining how Naomi is Serena’s legacy and not her rival:
Osaka took Williams out in two sets at the Australian Open in a semifinal on Wednesday. Williams had three dominant games, and then it was clear her footwork wasn’t quick enough to reach Osaka’s powerful strokes. Yet there is a young woman of color who picked up a racket after idolizing Serena, who trained to a professional level after studying Williams, and who spoke out against injustice last summer after following Williams’ words on race and equality.
And here is where Williams’ legacy may be most profound, in encouraging the sisterhood of athletes. Professional tennis has been the most successful sport for women for decades now. And for many years it was really the only sport where a mid-tier player could earn a professional wage.
And here’s the trailer for the final match:
Have a wonderful weekend, friends!
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