Guiding our youth after Champs

Juilian Forte (left) and Wolmer’s Boys’ teammate Dwayne Extol (right) celebrate their one-two finish in the Class One 200 metres on the final day of the 100th Boys’ and Girls’ Athletic Championships at the National Stadium last night. At centre is Kavean Smith of Jamaica Colege who finished seventh. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

by Jean Lowrie-Chin | Jamaica Observer | Monday, March 29, 2010

As our athletes bask in their achievements at our glorious Champs, we salute their parents, teachers and coaches. We are hoping that the winners will understand that victory comes with responsibility (at press time for this column the winners were not yet known).

It was with a heavy heart that I flipped through a recent issue of Time magazine and saw not one single model of colour promoting any of their high-end brands. The "most unkindest cut of all" came when I saw Leonardo di Caprio (an actor I admire) sporting a Tagheur watch. Tagheur/Tiger - what advertising genius we thought when we first saw the famous golfer sporting the Swiss brand, what a perfect match. An angry night and the revelation of a string of infidelities and suddenly our striding Tiger disappeared from the Accenture ads in Forbes and Fortune.

Oh yes, we know we'll still see him shaving with Gillette and wearing Nikes, but so does every other garden-variety sportsman. What made Tiger so special was that he had broken the glass ceiling of advertising, walking where people of colour were never known to tread.

Those who do not understand the impact of Tiger's "fall" should know that he had been carrying the combined minorities of America on his back - Asian, Native American and Black. He was their poster child who smiled his way from putting on the set of the Johnny Carson show to setting the pace at the Masters. His fall from grace was a blow to ethnic pride.

In fact, in June 2008, I had written: "I am convinced that the recent reign of Tiger Woods, the inspiring stories of his father's dedication played and replayed, Tiger's megawatt grin and fist-pumping on the course has acclimatised the widest cross-section of the American people to the possibility that another dignified, engaging Black American could triumph in a much, much bigger field." Sure enough, in January 2009, Woods was a participant in the celebrations for Barack Obama's presidential inauguration.

We in Jamaica now have our poster child, Usain St Leo Bolt. The fastest man in the world is not only selling Puma sneakers and Gatorade. He is stumping for BMW and Texaco. His heroic pose has turned the world into "signers" - we proclaim our athletic prowess "to the world!". He and his Olympic teammates are the manifestation of 100 years of our schoolboy athletic Championships and over 50 years of schoolgirls' Champs.

The world has responded, filling our hotels, bringing spectators from the diaspora, many of whom had their day on the stadium track, and guests from as far away as South Africa. That spring in our step, that swagger in our gait developed over a century of domination, from the early 20th century when a JC runner named Norman Manley held the world record for the 100-yard dash to our first outing in the Olympics when four legends, Wint, McKenley, Rhoden and Laing, wowed the world. Our athletes should take note of these names - the men who became professionals, leaders and mentors.

Let us use the example of Tiger Woods to counsel our young athletes about the dangers of celebrity. No doubt, Tiger Woods must take the blame for his misdeeds, but we should ask ourselves if naiveté played a role. Perhaps he had not been warned that his astronomical fortune would have made him a target for opportunists. He may survive to star another day. American-Mexican pop star Selena did not, after her fan club leader shot her dead when questioned about misappropriated funds.

Even as our renowned and emerging athletes continue their physical training, they should also be trained to separate the genuine friends and supporters from the hangers-on who come in many stripes and both genders. Having benefited from solid coaching, our athletes should work to keep and increase the admiration and respect they have earned. Their conduct can inspire and lift the nation.

Clifton Forbes

We pause here to reflect on that unforgettable JAAA stalwart, Clifton Forbes, who was recently laid to rest after serving athletics with distinction for several decades. Clifton personified the spirit of volunteerism, always contributing and never drawing attention to his service. He was a true gentleman, dignified and approachable.

The hope Jamaica holds

WE’RE GETTING THERE... PMI's Bishop Herro Blair and USAID's Dr Karen Hilliard, partners with the JCF for safer communities. (Photo: Collin Reid)

by Jean Lowrie-Chin | Jamaica Observer | 22 March 2010

WE can choose to be immobilised by fear or mobilised by faith. This week hundreds of us chose to turn our minds to the hope that our beloved Jamaica still holds. In various places, we reaffirmed Jamaica's promise, focusing on the upcoming EXPO Jamaica Trade Show, the power of sports, JCF's partnerships for safer communities and opportunities for new industries.

Now, we know that negative news is juicy. But there is far more to this "broader than broad" Jamaica. Birmingham knows this, and so officials in the English city are crowing about their big achievement. And would that be? "To say that you're good enough to attract teams such as Jamaica, and athletes such as Usain Bolt to come here, it actually sends a very strong message," exulted Zena Woodbridge, director of sport at the University of Birmingham.

Yes, even as a few are digging themselves into deep despair, the headlines of Birmingham are singing Jamaica's name. And here is why: "Birmingham is expected to get a £15m cash injection this weekend when it signs an Olympic contract with the Jamaican athletics team," reported Sky News last month. We are talking British pounds here, rolling into an English city because our team will train there in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. "The relationship between our two countries is being enriched by what we are doing today," said Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council at the signing. "Birmingham has a heart that beats like fast Jamaican athletes!"

Delano Franklyn's call in the GraceKennedy Foundation Lecture for "a comprehensive plan for leveraging Brand Jamaica" was answered when JMA's Omar Azan announced that the theme for this year's EXPO Jamaica is "Brand Jamaica - to the world!" "There is a need for more creativity and commitment in fast-tracking the manufacturing sector," the JMA president urged. "The future of manufacturing is bright, and the sector is resilient as it competes on the local and international stage and against a tough external and internal environment."

"The only way to get out of debt is to produce more, export more and so earn our way out of our individual and national debt," urged JEA President Vitus Evans. This is no idle talk: the members of the JMA and JEA are committed Jamaican entrepreneurs who are providing employment for tens of thousands of Jamaicans. We are sitting up and taking greater notice of these efforts as once again, we are reminded that moving paper around from bank to bank cannot build an economy.

Three inspiring ladies also bolstered this argument at a meeting of the Women Business Owners last Wednesday evening. Scientific Research Council Executive Director Dr Audia Barnett reminded us that there were multiple opportunities with such products as sorrel and our herbs and spices. Kingston Properties Limited Executive Director Fayval Williams took us through her company's innovative way of raising capital, including investing in valuable Trinidad property and making significant profit in the resale. In building the business with founder Leo Williams, Fayval described a shoe-string first year, advising that we should not rush to create unnecessary overheads.

For people considering new businesses, Fayval said that the trend was for self-improvement and online activities, the top three of which were money and business, health and fitness and dating and relationships. She said that the landscaping industry needs more players and that the JSE Junior Market was an excellent vehicle for small and medium enterprises to raise funds. Today, Dhiru Tanna's Blue Power Group Limited will list on the Junior Stock Exchange, citing excellent prospects for growth.

Financial guru Sandra Shirley pointed to a global movement towards alternative sources of energy with many buildings now incorporating solar panels in their design. She said the seniors' market was growing rapidly and that investors should explore housing solutions for this group. Sandra urged strong corporate governance and suggested an exit strategy for those invited to put up venture capital. She said the media should get involved, calling for more local programming and suggesting a Jamaican adaptation of The Apprentice.

None of this can happen without a safe environment, so for me the crowning event last week was a Community Based Policing (CBP) event held by the JCF in collaboration with several agencies. I saw an energised SDC actively fulfilling its mandate. The dynamic Dr Karen Hilliard, head of the USAID, underlined her country's commitment to Jamaica and PMI head, Bishop Herro Blair, moved the audience with his heartfelt prayer.

We heard about the growth of partnerships between the police, residents, civic groups, public sector and international donor agencies. Assistant Commissioner Novelette Grant traced the 17-year journey of CBP, involving extensive training. She thanked the USAID, DFID represented by British High Commissioner Howard Drake and the UNDP's Deputy Resident Representative Akiko Fujii, for their support. Other partners are the Citizens Justice and Security Programme, Citizens Security Initiative, Jamaica Social Investment Fund, National Housing Trust and the National Neighbourhood Watch Movement.

And then, representatives of the communities spoke as if with one voice. Enfield, St Mary; Mountain View, St Andrew, "Russia" in Savanna-la-mar, Westmoreland. They are humble, resolute individuals who represent the Jamaica we know, the Jamaica that is still alive. The communities have experienced "a complete turnaround in terms of crime, public disorder, and youth anti-social behaviour".

Anthony Earle of "Russia" cited the unifying force of reggae music and football. Of the police liaison officer he says, "I see him as a friend, not a threat. He is welcome anytime, day or night."

These entrepreneurs, security officers, agencies and ordinary Jamaican people are sending us an important message: they see a strong future for Jamaica. We are not sitting and fretting over the negatives of our country. We are planning and working to overcome them. Let the world know, as Birmingham knows: we are a courageous people who will never give up on our vision of "Jamaica, strong and free".

Joscelyn Lowrie Award for Top Accounting Student

Beth Ann Jacobs' representative Millicia Henry accepts the Joscelyn Lowrie Award from Maisie Lowrie, widow of the late Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, while PROComm Board Member Hubert Chin looks on. The inaugural presentation, the Award goes to the student who scores the highest mark in Paper P4-Professional Accountant. Ms. Jacobs scored 85%.

The Award is sponsored by PROComm as a tribute to legendary chartered accountant Joscelyn Lowrie. "Our company has survived for over 30 years, thanks to the values and wisdom handed down by my brilliant father," commented PROComm's Founder, Jean Lowrie-Chin. "This award honours his passion for excellence and integrity."

Prediction, Action and Outcome

BY JAMES MOSS-SOLOMON

SUNDAY OBSERVER column | Sunday, March 14, 2010

My friend, the great economist Ralston Hyman, usually starts his commentaries by quoting noted international economists who have given thought to particular macro-economic problems. I, being far less sophisticated than Ralston, will therefore have to rely on my practical nature to endorse for the country of Jamaica P X A = O. Where P is prediction, A is for action and O is for outcome. Readers, please note that it is a multiplication sign between P and A, therefore, if one of the multipliers is zero then the outcome will also be zero.

For over two years, this writer has been making predictions (P), which I feel need to be acted on with alacrity. I get the feeling that action (A) is not one of our strong points in the political or productive sectors, and therefore it is no surprise that we are going to have to be governed by the IMF. So much for our vaunted "sovereignty". With that said, I wish to examine 10 issues:

1. Economic Depression
I had indicated to the public that what we were going to experience was not a mere "financial blip", but rather a full worldwide depression similar to that experienced between 1929 and 1938. We, of course, laughed at that prediction and tried to cover up the possibilities of disaster. The massive unemployment and deterioration in living conditions is a result of a lack of action, and therefore we have no positive outcome.

2. Closure of Bauxite Companies
I had predicted that due to the depressed nature of world markets we would see a closure of bauxite companies. This was treated as if it was some safely guarded secret, and no one spoke about it until reality has given us a zero outcome and severe loss in foreign exchange earnings.

3. Engineers and Machinery
I had suggested that several engineers would be out of work as a result of the fallout of the bauxite industry. In addition, many pieces of earth-moving and construction equipment would become available, and perhaps the rental rates would be less than customary as heavy equipment which is left unused often deteriorates at a faster rate than when in use.

4. Infrastructure Employment
The suggestion was made that said engineers and equipment could have been used for major infrastructure undertakings such as the construction of roads, as well as projects involving the storage of additional amounts of water and the replacement of leaking pipes, which would lower the line losses experienced by the National Water Commission. This suggestion was also disregarded. We have wasted one year in commencing operations, leaving many persons with skills without jobs.

5. Gabion Baskets
It was suggested that we engage persons with low skill levels in the production of Gabion baskets, which would be necessary for road repairs, hillside retention, river training, and sea defence. This was ignored. Today, the unskilled sit by the sidewalk, smoking 'you know what', and by not earning a penny sink deeper into depression while contemplating a life of crime as a survival strategy. The Government has lost revenue as well as consumption in the domestic market, and the poor are getting poorer. We currently import Gabion baskets from China. The outcome is negative.

6. Bank Closure and Unemployment
At lower interest rates, many banks that had over-expanded, I had indicated, would have to close several of their branches. The positive to this is that banks will now have to earn their money through good banking practices, but at the same time they will have made a significant number of people unemployed. Unfortunately this will continue for several months.

7. China's Mineral Policy
I had carefully explained the items and actions highlighted in China's strategic plan as published as part of their development programme. I indicated that their need for aluminium would allow them, as one of the few countries with cash, to buy mining resources worldwide. This is true for Jamaica and it is only a matter of time before we hear who will buy our bauxite companies. It seems we are about to sell an asset that is extremely valuable not due to our own initiative, but because of geographical location. Jamaica is in the best position for providing north/south and east/west container traffic. So let us see how cheaply we can give away this natural resource. I can almost guarantee that if we do sell them, within three years there will be no Jamaicans working at these facilities. Start studying Mandarin and Spanish, please.

8. Caricom Rules
At the time of some trade disputes, I had advised that the unilateral lowering of the Common External Tariff would be in contravention of the Revised Treaty, and businesses would be protected through the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). To date awards have been made against countries that insist on ignoring the rules. So here we are again today with another dispute over cement importation, which appears not to have been handled in accordance with the correct procedures for obtaining derogation. Waivers continue to be a very topical matter, and each time they are issued they seem to smack of political favouritism. So the government willingly or perhaps inadvertently continues to set itself up to be accused of corruption, which is certainly shared by the IMF based on their stance against waivers.

9. Transparency
The suggestion was made that to take a path other than the purely transparent route would be to intentionally ask that accusations of impropriety be levelled against government officials. The Contractor General's department now seems to have their hands full with investigations into areas which could have been avoided if a more open communication policy was adopted. Perhaps the Contractor General's department will have to beef itself up with the redundant employees from bauxite and Air Jamaica.

10. The Rule of Law
I have said very publicly and clearly since 1996 that if politicians choose to remain in the company of criminals and/or criminal gangs, then they would be unable to effectively govern this country. That day is here and both political parties are not blameless, and must realise that they have lost control. I can see where a simple situation as the protests by the Nurses Association of Jamaica about pay owed to them can tip a snowball down this slippery slope, and gather tremendous momentum, perhaps leading to a general strike as has been the case in other countries.
My prediction (P) is that any helpful comments will continue to be ignored, no effective action (A) will be taken, and therefore the outcome (O) will still be zero.

STUDENTS GEAR UP FOR SALTFISH CULINARY CHALLENGE 2010

Chef Colin Hylton's Saltfish Pasta



Chef Anthony Miller's Sugarcane Skewered Saltfish


CULINARY STUDENTS GEAR UP FOR SALTFISH CULINARY CHALLENGE 2010

Kingston, Jamaica, March 3, 2010: The second annual Saltfish Culinary Challenge dubbed this year as ‘Me and My Family' Saltfish from Norway event will be held on Sunday March 21 at the HEART Runaway Bay Academy.

Students from the University of Technology and the Heart Academy have been invited to prepare a creative and innovative saltfish dish with the assistance of a family member. Ten culinary students will be selected as finalists to present on the day of the Challenge.

The winning student will receive an all-expense paid trip to the Dominican Republic in October later this year for its annual Saltfish Festival. Second and third place teams will receive kitchen utensils and appliances valued at $150,000 and $100,000 respectively.

The Challenge follows on the ‘Saltfish Culinary Adventure’, the successful culinary workshops held in 2008 and 2009 and sponsored by Seafood from Norway. The exclusive workshops, have featured renowned Brazilian culinary artist, Chef Dada, and Norwegian Chef, Sven Erik Renaa, who shared new and non-traditional methods of creating tasty, gourmet style saltfish dishes.

Espen Hanson, Marketing Manager, Norwegian Seafood Export Council is excited about this Challenge. “Through initiatives such as these we will continue to encourage the use of saltfish in exciting and creative ways and build awareness of the product while promoting its value and versatility.”

The distinguished judges for the ‘Me and Family Challenge’ are Champion Chefs of the Seafood Culinary Challenge 2009, Anthony Miller, Executive Chef, Couples Swept Away, Colin Hilton, Owner and Chef, Guilt Trip and 2nd place winner, Chef Debe-Ann Chen. The main criteria for the judging of the saltfish dishes are creativity/originality, taste/flavour and presentation.

Curing the disease of crime - Social & Political Issues - JamaicaObserver.com

Curing the disease of crime - Social & Political Issues - JamaicaObserver.com

Depending on our kindness

Drs Shane Alexis and Khia Josina Duncan in Haiti

Jean-Lowrie Chin | Jamaica Observer | Monday, February 22, 2010

“I have always depended on the kindness of strangers,” said a Tennessee Williams character. But we Jamaicans are no strangers to our sisters and brothers in Haiti. Shane Alexis and eight fellow members of the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association, Ryan Peralto and Petri Ann Henry of Food for the Poor recently shared their experiences as they worked to help our devastated neighbours. They have no regrets, despite the terrible suffering they saw.

Yes, I am writing about Haiti again because as actor Sean Penn begged on CNN's Larry King Live recently, “Do not tune out – Haiti needs us!” Shane Alexis, who is JMDA president, shared with me a special issue of the organisation’s Check Up magazine, describing the Haiti experience. Youth is definitely not wasted on this passionate, energetic young man. So anxious is he to get his association's message out that he is editor, photographer and gopher for this magazine. (If, like me, you have been enjoying the Tru-Juice health page in the Observer, you should know that Dr Alexis contributes to it).

Dr Khia Josina Duncan, a member of the JMDA mission, wrote feelingly about her experience at the Bernard Mevs Hospital in Port-au-Prince: “The cries for help… were overwhelming,” she remembered. “There were so many fractures we ran out of plaster of Paris very quickly… I assisted mostly with amputations, while the others continued dressings and administered antibiotics that were now getting scarce. Many of the patients could have been discharged but of course they had nowhere to go.”

“What was being shown on TV was nothing compared to the… destruction we saw,” wrote Khia. “The first thing I did when I got home was to have a long shower, and I noticed a continuous tremor in my hands which lasted about four days… It was a good experience for all of us. I’m getting back to normal now but I know I’ll never be the same.”

Shane was so concerned about the unavailability of medical records that his association got 5,000 record de santé books printed and shipped to Haiti for patients' data. He said Haitians were not passively waiting for help but were making every effort to help themselves. “People were moving about, trying to pick up the pieces,” he said. He related that a Haitian family, related to Mrs Kameel Azan, was tireless in working to help others.

Ryan Peralto Jr, CEO and Petri Ann Henry, Public Relations Officer of Food for the Poor (FFTP) Jamaica, went on a fact-finding mission to establish the most pressing needs to be funded by the donations from ordinary Jamaicans, moved to dig deep for Haiti. “RJR Group has entrusted us with $15 million collected from the Jamaican people, and we have also received $5 million through our account. We are preparing detailed updates so that these kind people will know that every dollar of the funds is well spent.”

“While we were travelling on a street in Port-Au-Prince just observing the level of devastation, I saw a lady about my age or younger with no top on and she was bathing on the street. People were just passing by, business as usual, she had no privacy,” said Petri-Ann. “It reminded me how we take simple things, such as privacy, for granted.”

Ryan's and Petri's most moving moment was praying with FFTP Haiti representatives at the mass graves of earthquake victims. “We just stood there holding our rosaries, praying and praying. I felt so apologetic to the victims in the mass graves. I kept saying to them in my heart that I knew they deserved better than that,” said a pensive Ryan. “Imagine, one mass grave held an entire school of children. Heartbreaking!”

So traumatised are the surviving victims that most refuse to return to their homes, even the sturdy ones built by Food for the Poor. Port-au-Prince is a tent city with the most basic of facilities. Happily, the FFTP Haiti headquarters and warehouse were largely spared, and a Haitian women’s cooperative uses the donated food to cook and serve 4,000 hot meals daily.

Ryan’s photographs give a glimpse of the continuous emergency that is Haiti: a little van pressed into service to rush oxygen cylinders to hospitals, water feverishly distributed as “There is tremendous fear of a widespread outbreak of disease.”

Meanwhile, several people have been hinting that Haiti may well be much, much richer than Jamaica. So I googled “oil in Haiti” and turned up an article written last year by Haitian-American attorney-at-law and author Ezili Dantò.

“There is evidence that the United States found oil in Haiti decades ago and due to the geopolitical circumstances and big business interests of that era made the decision to keep Haitian oil in reserve for when Middle Eastern oil had dried up,” alleges Dantò. “This is detailed by Dr Georges Michel in an article dated March 27, 2004 outlining the history of oil explorations and oil reserves in Haiti and in the research of Dr Ginette and Daniel Mathurin.”

If this were indeed true, it could “build a heaven out of hell’s despair”. But then, as Shane, Khia, Ryan and Petri-Ann are doing, right now we can continue to participate in the building of a new Haiti.

DENIS O’BRIEN NAMED GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR THE CITY OF PORT-AU-PRINCE

Thursday, 18th February 2010 – Kingston, Jamaica: Digicel Founder and Chairman, Denis O’Brien, has been named as a goodwill ambassador for the city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti, it was announced today.

The honour comes in recognition of Mr. O’Brien’s dedication to helping Haiti recover and rebuild in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince on 12th January and was bestowed on Mr. O’Brien by the mayor of Port-au-Prince, Jean Yves Jason and the deputy mayor, Nadeje Augustin in a meeting in the Haitian capital on Tuesday 9th February.

Since the earthquake, Mr. O’Brien has been instrumental in efforts to attract much-needed aid relief to the stricken country – as well as to encourage businesses to consider Haiti as an ideal place for foreign direct investment.

In accepting the honour, Mr. O’Brien commented; “In my role as goodwill ambassador for the city of Port-au-Prince, I promise to do everything in my power to ensure that the plight of the people of Haiti is kept front of mind across the globe. I would like to thank the mayor and the deputy mayor for this honour."

He continued, “Over the last few weeks, we have seen a massive worldwide outpouring of sympathy and support, but much more is needed. The challenge is to achieve significant and sustained foreign investment and to ensure that this money is channeled into the right projects and succeeds in making a tangible positive long term difference. With the right focus and planning, together, we can help Haiti to rise again.”

Mayor of Port-au-Prince, Jean Yves Jason, commented; “Since before Digicel’s launch here in Haiti back in 2006, Denis O’Brien has been a huge supporter of our country – and has worked tirelessly to ensure a better standard of living for our people through the provision of housing, educational facilities and programmes. He is very much the right person to help us to rebuild and to look to the future in a positive way. We are delighted that he has accepted this role and look forward to working together closely for the long-term benefit of the Haitian people.”

As the single largest investor in Haiti with a total investment of over U$300 million since its launch in 2006, Digicel has over two million customers in Haiti. The Digicel Haiti Relief Fund has donated US$5 million to NGOs in Haiti to support the relief efforts and to date over US$800,000 has been raised by Digicel customers across the Caribbean and Central America through a text and voice donation line. Digicel also gave each of its two million customers US$5 in free credit – totaling US$10 million.

'Hall' of fame - Senior Gleaner reporter takes journalism top prize

Laura Redpath, Senior Staff Reporter

GLEANER SENIOR staff reporter Arthur Hall is the Press Association of Jamaica's (PAJ) 2009 Journalist of the Year.

Hall took the award for a body of work that included the story of a teenager who was arrested for abandoning her physically handicapped baby, allegedly to attend a stage show.

Last year, Hall's work also stirred controversy when he reported on the approximately 80 students at the Pembroke Hall Primary School in St Andrew who were to resit the Grade Four Literacy Test after their test papers were not identified by the education ministry.

The title of Journalist of the Year is Hall's first 'major' award in a more than 15-year journalism career. It is his first PAJ award.

Beginnings in print

Hall started off in print, at the now-defunct Jamaica Record , before moving on to radio station KLAS as a reporter. He would later work as news editor at Nationwide before moving on to RJR, where he took the role of associate editor. He was also news editor at Television Jamaica.

"I was never a broadcaster," Hall said, explaining his move back to print media. He has been with The Gleaner for the past two years and said he signed up with the leading daily "to win awards".

As for his future in journalism, Hall said when reporting is no longer fun, it will be time for him to move on.

"I'm enjoying it now," he said.

Hall said he likes telling stories, being on the scene and informing the public.

Meanwhile, guest speaker at yesterday's award presentation, RJR's Managing Director Gary Allen, charged journalists to strive for excellence as it was the "survival tool" for reporting.

For his accomplishment, Hall took home a cheque sponsored by The National Council on Technical Vocational Education and Training, and a trophy.

laura.redpath@gleanerjm.com

Haiti Mourns Its Dead - New York Times

Haitians mourned during a memorial service on Sunday. The government said more than 230,000 people died in the earthquake.

By DEBORAH SONTAG | New York Times | Published: February 14, 2010

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Will anyone remember that 17-year-old Angelania Ritchelle, a parentless high school student who wanted to be a fashion model, died of fright two days after the earthquake and ended up in a mass grave on the outskirts of this city?

Haitians gathered on Sunday for prayer and a memorial service during a period of mourning. Belatedly, funerals and memorial services are taking place daily.

Emmanuella Dupoux's cousin died after the quake. “She is just one of the nameless, faceless victims, and I hate that,” she said.

A Haitian woman prayed at dawn inside of the remains of the main Cathedral in Port-au-Prince in February.

That is what her cousin Emmanuella Dupoux, 23, her voice thick with emotion, wanted to know. “Angie was a nobody, she died a nobody, she will never have a funeral, she will never have a tombstone,” Ms. Dupoux said. “She is just one of the nameless, faceless victims, and I hate that.”

In Haitian society, Rudy Bennett, 57, was a somebody, a prominent businessman and the younger brother of Michele Bennett, the former first lady and ex-wife of Jean-Claude Duvalier. But his death got little notice here, either.

Few were aware that his sister, a polarizing figure who lives in exile, had flown in with a search-and-rescue team to look for Mr. Bennett in the rubble of the Montana Hotel, where he had gone to fix an espresso machine leased from his food company. He was buried just last week.

The Jan. 12 earthquake was an equal opportunity leveler with such mass deadliness that it erased the individuality of its victims. According to the Haitian government, more than 230,000 people died in the disaster, but initially few had ceremonies to mark their deaths. Even the collective loss of life was not memorialized until this past weekend, when the government imposed a national period of mourning.

Bit by bit, though, the individual losses are coming into focus for Haitians finally ready to grieve. Many victims were not accepted as dead until the search missions were over, and many bodies were never recovered or were dumped in mass graves. But belatedly, funerals and memorial services are taking place daily, and the traditional word-of-mouth network known as telediol has reawakened, delivering death notices.

If Haiti, always stoic, first seemed too stunned to cry, the tears are rolling now for those who seem irreplaceable: the tax man who wrote software to detect fraud in a corrupt society; the gallery owner whose eminent Haitian art collection perished with her; the writer who translated the culture’s oral storytelling into prose; the feminist leaders; the nursing students; the factory workers; the teachers; and the children, especially the children.

“My little girls died at the very moment I was making plans for their future,” said Frantz Thermilus, the chief of Haiti’s National Judicial Police, caressing their pictures on his cellphone. “And the future of the children is the future of Haiti.”
His daughters Talitha, 12, and Emmanuella, 11, were crushed in their school, the Christian Institute of Haiti, when their mother was late to pick them up. She had been diverted by Mr. Thermilus, who had insisted that she stop first at an English-language academy to register the girls for intensive classes, he said.

“Someone else offered them a ride, but that person was not authorized to pick them up, and the school’s guardian wouldn’t let them go,” he said. “To show you just how sweet they were — they could have left without her permission. But they always respected authority.”

Head shaved, spine erect, epaulets starched, Mr. Thermilus spoke in his office at police headquarters. Tearing up, he said his daughters used to run to greet him when he arrived home. Talitha would tuck under his right arm, Emmanuella under his left, and he would debrief them on their days.

Now, having sent his wife and 3-year-old son to New York, he has barely left work since the earthquake. “When I go home, I’m in pain,” he said. “Here I can do something constructive.”

The earthquake not only took away his girls, Mr. Thermilus said, but allowed the 5,000 inmates in the country’s main prison to escape. “In those few minutes, so much I cared about was undone,” he said. “Justice undone, children gone, innocence destroyed. I mourn it all.”

Many mourn the older victims who had weathered a lifetime of Haiti’s adversity and served as the institutional memory of many sectors of society.
Brother Hubert Sanon, 85, for instance, was the first Haitian member of the Salesian order of the Roman Catholic Church, which plays a caretaker role for poor and orphaned children in Haiti.

The Salesians raised former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, ordained him as a priest and eventually expelled him; Mr. Aristide ran, and radicalized, their vocational school in the neighborhood of La Saline, where Brother Sanon was sent afterward to restore order, the Rev. Sylvain Ducange said.

Brother Sanon died in his dormitory room at the school, whose collapse also killed scores of students. He was found sitting in his chair, rosary beads in hand, Father Ducange said.

A tailor by training, Brother Sanon had made the robes for priests and lawyers in Haiti for many decades. “Who will do this now?” Father Ducange asked.

And who will root out corruption with the single-mindedness of Lytz Elie, 43, an electronics engineer who had designed the Haitian government’s new software to fight fraud? He was killed in the tax department’s offices; like many government workers who died at their desks, he was among the most dedicated, working past quitting time.

“Most of the people who died at the I.R.S. and the Supreme Court are the die-hards,” said Louis Herns Marcelin, a sociology professor at the University of Miami. “They are the ones who understood their work meant something bigger than themselves.”
Referring to Mr. Elie, he said, “This guy who died is irreplaceable. He was against corruption with a passion. He was creating software that understood how Haitian bureaucrats steal and lie.”

To many writers, the loss of Georges Anglade, a geographer who had turned to fiction and literary theory later in life, seems unfathomable. A Haitian-Canadian, Mr. Anglade invented a literary genre in the style of Haitian oral storytelling. “He helped Haiti understand itself, and his death is a big loss for the intellectual world here,” said Evelyne Trouillot, a novelist and short-story writer.

Micha Bennett, 27, whose father died at the Montana Hotel, said, “It is hard to focus on any one individual because the country lost the country. “But I know this: the last time I saw my father was the day of my wedding” in Miami Beach, shortly before the quake. “And it was one of the happiest days of his life.”

Patrick Delatour, 61, Haiti’s tourism minister, who is charged with overseeing the country’s reconstruction, spoke in a vacant motorcycle showroom beneath his temporary office about the loss of his octogenarian parents, misting up among the Harley-Davidsons.

“Watch out, you’re going to make me cry,” he said. “We in the government haven’t really had time to bathe in our own sorrow. To a certain extent, that has been a blessing. One month after the death of my parents, it’s just starting to sink in.”
His father, Cavour Delatour, 89, was an engineer and architect who spent half a century constructing and reconstructing the house that collapsed on him and his wife. He had worked on buildings throughout Port-au-Prince, including the destroyed National Palace, for which he served as engineer.

“It would have devastated him to see everything in ruins,” Mr. Delatour said.
One of the foremost collectors and promoters of Haitian art, his mother, Carmel Delatour, 85, amassed hundreds of works, including those of Bernard Séjourné, Andre Pierre and Tiga. Her 34-year-old gallery, Rainbow Art Display, crumbled with her home.

“The art died with her,” Mr. Delatour said.

The only room that survived was the basement library, thousands of tomes that make up “a strong part of the Haitian archives and the country’s memory,” Mr. Delatour said, adding, “So they leave behind all this knowledge to guide us.”
Angelania, the 17-year-old who aspired to be a model, did not leave anything behind, according to her cousin, Ms. Dupoux — “not a dress, not a notebook, not a trace.” Having fended for herself since her parents abandoned her at 4, she was often stressed, and the earthquake seemed to push her over the edge, said Ms. Dupoux, who lived with her.

“She was freaking out, screaming, ‘I have no school. I have no house. I have nothing. Why go on?’ ” Ms. Dupoux said. “Two days after the earthquake, these guys started pounding on the gates of the yard where we were sleeping, yelling, ‘A tsunami is coming.’ Everyone panicked and ran out, except Angie.

“Her heart stopped.”

Marc Lacey contributed reporting.

An assignment to finish

Archbishop Lawrence Burke


Professor Rex Nettleford

I wondered how I would weave the passing of two great Jamaicans with my plan to write on the protection of Jamaica's children. Then I realised that the lives of Professor Rex Nettleford and Archbishop Lawrence Burke supported the cry of Jamaican sociologist Dr Claudette Crawford-Brown.

Many glowing tributes to these legendary human beings have been written already, so this column will focus on the lessons they have left. Students of both the professor and the archbishop remark on their passion for excellence, and their demand for discipline.

A journalist shared an experience, learning at the feet of Prof Nettleford. "He insisted on punctuality and would close the door of the classroom just before beginning his lecture. I was a few minutes late so I stood by the window to try to listen in. Continuing his lecture, he walked over to the window and gently closed it. I was never late again!" You could use the start of NDTC performances to set your watch.

Last year, Archbishop Burke broke ground for a building at his alma mater, St George's College, where he had been teacher and principal. He harked back to his time where teachers not only taught, but "took ownership" of the buildings to ensure that their pupils had surroundings conducive to learning. He spoke of the value of education to liberate and transform our people. "I have walked with the richest and the poorest and felt at home with them," he said. "This little boy from Vineyard Town is proof of what education can do for our people."

These learned men were not afraid to challenge the status quo. Addressing a luncheon of the Public Relations Society in the 80s, Professor Nettleford said he asked an advertising executive why more people of his colour were not used in advertisements. He said he was told it was some problem with the lighting and retorted, "Well, fix the lighting!" He knew the power of the media in the process of self-actualisation.

Archbishop Burke welcomed the news of free tuition for high schools, and called for graduates to give one year's unpaid service as teachers' assistants in our overcrowded primary schools in inner-city communities. However, he said the very same people who were complaining about the country asked him if he was crazy to suggest this for their children.

What would have happened if young Rex of Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, and young Larry of Vineyard Town, Kingston, did not have a support system that would take them safely through their childhood and into productive adulthood? This is the concern of sociologist Dr Claudette Crawford-Brown who made a powerful presentation recently at the annual Ambassador Sue Cobb Lecture.

Dr Crawford-Brown, lecturer in sociology, psychology and social work in the UWI Faculty of Social Sciences, discussed her findings from a six-year stint in an inner-city community where she worked with 35 teenaged boys whom her group tried to "pull from the cliff" in a tug-o-war with criminal gangs. She insisted that the heads of these gangs should be described as "criminal leaders", not community leaders.

She said she spoke with children from criminal families who were defensive -- "Him in jail but is not him do it" -- and downright confused: "Mi father go out with him gun and him Bible -- Jesus will protect him."

Crawford-Brown said that there had been good initiatives but they ended as soon as funding dried up. She wants the government to develop a concept, a sustainable framework for violence prevention. "Criminals do not drop out of the sky at 18," she declared as she demanded that even as we work on gang-busting, we stem that flow of recruitment.

She said that of the 824 major crimes committed by boys in 2005, 10 per cent were in the 12-15 age group and 90 per cent were in the 16-20-year range. She is weary of the authorities telling her when she warns them about a wayward boy, "I can't do anything with him until he commits a crime." She says girls are now increasingly being found with weapons in their schoolbags.

Crawford-Brown has winnowed out the predictive factors that could make a child easy prey for gangs: the absent mother, lack of contact with father, lack of contact with mother, relationship with negative peers and severe conduct disorder.

The absent mother is the most significant, says the sociologist, who coined the phrase "barrel children" and now fears that there is an even more at-risk category: "The Western Union children". She says that at least the mothers of the barrel children were still in touch with their children's growth as they were buying their clothes, matching shoes to outlines of feet, etc. Now that many are just sending money, the children "buy anything, including drugs".

"These are symptoms of a state that is not providing social welfare in a meaningful way," says Crawford-Brown. She says there is a lack of political will, reflected in the "ah nuh nutten syndrome". There is a layer of apathy, "like scar tissue" on our society, she believes. She has developed programmes that have shown positive results, "a nurturing model, clinical and community-based". She describes "hug therapy" for children who have never been hugged and efforts to get grieving children to cry so they can heal. She has had success in schools using pop culture: she is seeing bullies bettering themselves because they want to enter what she has dubbed "The Behaviour Hype Zone". She wants us to "stop wringing our hands" and start focusing on the tenuous lives of our at-risk children.

We know why we so deeply feel the loss of Professor Nettleford and Archbishop Burke: they did not simply parade their qualifications and talents, but used them to raise our sights and better our circumstances. There are national treasures like young Rex and Larry waiting to be nurtured and we must protect them from the gangs that hover dangerously. To mourn is not enough - our distinguished teachers have left us a life-saving assignment that we must not fail to complete.

'Souldance' for Rex Nettleford

-Photo by Maria Layacona

Souldance

How wondrous is the truth I found
The soul is not by body bound
It travels like a ray of light
And sees with universal sight

And so my soul will keep me whole
When senses fail and steps grow slow
This body is a tiny stage
On which the soul performs a phase

Come, fly beyond the day and night
Sway your soul to strains of light
God’s music falls like sweet, soft rain
Takes you past all fear and pain

Clap soul-hands, tap soul-feet
And dance to Heaven’s mighty beat!

(c) Jean Lowrie-Chin

Aspirin advice from Dr Heather Little-White

Something that we can do to help ourselves.  Nice to know. 
Bayer is making crystal aspirin to dissolve under the tongue. They work much faster than the tablets.

Why keep aspirin by your bedside? 
About Heart Attacks

There are other symptoms of an heart attack besides the pain on the left arm. 

One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating, however these symptoms may also occur less frequently.

Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack.  The majority of people (about 60%) who  had a heart attack during their sleep, did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.

If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water.

Afterwards:
- phone a neighbour or a family member who lives very close by
- say "heart attack!"
- say that you have taken 2 aspirins..
- take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and...
~ do NOT lie down ~

A Cardiologist has stated that, if each person, after receiving this e-mail, sends it to 10 people, probably one life can be saved!

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'When I was hungry, you invested'

Hon. Karl Hendrickson

by Jean Lowrie-Chin | Jamaica Observer | 1 February 2010
(Click on title for full column)

Four prime ministers at his birthday celebration, and no media. Fifty million donated to his alma mater, Jamaica College, and minimal publicity. His friends and associates know that I could be writing about only one person: Karl Hendrickson. The Jamaican public may be surprised to know that this elegant patriot who recently achieved fourscore years has founded, and with his four children re-engineered a group of homegrown companies with a total workforce of over 3,000.

Today, Gary runs National Baking in Kingston and Coconut Bay Resort and Spa in St Lucia; Lori-Ann and her husband Dave run Caribbean Broilers, Newport Mills and their subsidiaries; Kevin and wife Jackie operate Yummy Bakery in Mandeville, The Courtleigh and Knutsford Court hotels in Kingston and the Holiday Inn in Montego Bay; Cathy and husband Ian operate Sunset Beach Resort & Spa in Montego Bay, Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios, Sunset at the Palms in Negril.

The business pioneer recalls that when the family decided to invest in the hotel industry, they got solid advice from other hoteliers. What would this country be without such daring investors? Entrepreneurship is probably the greatest and least acknowledged response to the Christian mandate, which in modern times could be translated as, "When I was hungry, you invested."

Karl is asked regularly, "How did you mentor all of your four children to become such successful entrepreneurs?" His first response is to praise his wife Nell, who he says has been the strength of the family. "I knew that with guidance they would realise their capabilities," he says. "It is important to release energy, intellect, potential."

The iconic business leader harks back to the 70s when they saw many of their extended family members migrating: "But we made a collective decision to stay in Jamaica. Times were tough ... the family, including the children, focused on work and home. It made them stronger and inculcated positive work habits. They also developed a deep compassion for the less fortunate." He is grateful that his grandchildren are now showing the traditional Hendrickson caring, diligence and discipline.

For the Hendrickson family, business is an integral part of their lives. "Even during the short holidays we took, we used the time to acquire knowledge about new technology, equipment and processes that were taking place around the world. I can't remember ever leading a boring life. Business is a full-time commitment," says Karl, "seven days a week, 365 days a year. I am not a hobby person, my hobby is work."

"I am a manufacturing person," emphasises Karl. "I believe if Jamaica is to progress we should go back to production; we need to respond to the necessary discipline that goes into production. This will generate quality employment for our people, and this deviation from production is why Jamaica has not seen growth."

FFTP in Haiti - solar powered water purification and much more

Today's Update from Food For The Poor - Tuesday 26 January 2010:

* Food For The Poor donated a solar-powered water purification machine that is processing thousands of gallons of water a day at the International Red Cross compound in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

*We have begun to distribute rice and beans in Cite Soleil through a women's organization.

* Two trucks of rice, beans, water, tents, clothing and shoes are being sent today to three beneficiaries in Jacmel.

* We are giving rice and beans to community leaders in six tent cities of Petionville, with about 6,000 displaced residents in each. The food is cooked from noon to 3 p.m., and distributed from 3 to 5 p.m.

* Food For The Poor installed an 8,000-gallon water tanks in the largest tent city in Port-au-Prince, the one at Delmas 40B. Today (1/26) they will receive 30,000 gallons of water. The camp is a shelter now for at least 50,000 people.

* 20,000 hot meals at Port-au-Prince Feeding Center daily. (Rue Barbancourt, Route de l'Aeroport)

* Two trucks of rice, beans, water, tents, clothing and shoes are being sent today to three beneficiaries in Jacmel.

* Food For The Poor has begun to distribute rice and beans in Cite Soleil through a women's organization.

* We are giving rice and beans to community leaders in six tent cities of Petionville, with about 6,000 displaced residents in each. The food is cooked from noon to 3 p.m., and distributed from 3 to 5 p.m.

* We also are distributing Crocs to those same tent cities. (Many people did not have their shoes with them after the quake and the glass and rubble on the streets are very dangerous.)

*We are supplying oxygen to 14 hospitals and clinics. Hospitals/clinics receiving oxygen are:

* Saint Francois Salle

* Asile Francais, Rue de Centre

* Bernard Mevs

* Communaute Haitienne, Rue Audant, Route de Freres

* Le Mesi

* MediMax

* Saint Espirit

* Maternite de Petion-Ville, 1 Rue Goulard

* They called Food For The Poor at noon 1/23 with a desperate situation: because of the destruction of the other hospitals they have an overflow of maternity patients that they cannot turn away. They are filled to capacity and have no food to feed their patients. They asked us for tents and food this morning and we are here at the hospital gate already (4:30 p.m.) about to deliver five large tents, 45 bags (110 pounds each) of rice, 10 bags of beans and jelly-filled toaster pastries. They were also given water, shoes and medical supplies - including IV kits.

* CDO

* Canape-Vert, Route du Canape-Vert

* Foyer Saint Camille

* In addition, Food For The Poor distributed medicine from Americares to various hospitals, finishing the day at Delmas 40B, the makeshift clinic at the tent city.

* In Cap-Haitien, we are distributing food, personal hygiene kits and Crocs to people fleeing Port-au-Prince. We are able to serve hot meals. We are seeing about 2,000 people arrive each day from Port-au-Prince.

* Food For The Poor is supplying its elderly home, girls' and boys' Angel of Hope homes, and the Little Children of Jesus Handicapped Home with hot meals each day. We are serving about 700 people a day in these homes.

The fault line in Haiti runs straight to France

Times Online - link sent to me by Ambassador Anthony Hill

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/ben_macintyre/article6995750.ece
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BBC E-mail: Haiti quake: Survivors' stories

jean saw this story on the BBC News website and thought you
should see it.

** Haiti quake: Survivors' stories **
Stories of survival from the few who managed to escape after being trapped in the rubble after Haiti's catastrophic earthquake.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/americas/8459090.stm >

** BBC Daily E-mail **
Choose the news and sport headlines you want - when you want them, all
in one daily e-mail
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/email >

LUKE 13 - from Paul Pottinger

Paul Pottinger sent this wise message:

Christ's words below came as a reminder to me as I pondered the tragedy in Haiti and wondered why. 

Luke 13
A Call to Repentance
 1 About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. 2 "Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?" Jesus asked. "Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. 4 And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too."
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Letter from Liony in Haiti

Letter from Food For The Poor Country Manager, Liony Batista

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday 01/19/10

Beloved,

There are so many stories of lives lost and so many wounded hearts in Haiti that it is beyond words. When asked by a reporter to describe its events I could only say: "I don't believe a word has been invented for what is happening in Haiti. It is total disaster.” But through it all, the people of Haiti have been remarkably resilient despite insurmountable odds. Don't be too concerned with reports on some looting or a little chaos. The people of Haiti have shown tremendous civility while having to face thousands of people lying in their streets or trapped under the rubble of cement. It is beyond comprehension, I feel, that they have fared so well under such dire circumstances.

The Food For The Poor/Haiti office has shown incredible stamina while facing their own tragedies, as no one has been left untouched by this disaster. And still they are out there in the trenches. Because this is a war of a different nature and it has to be fought and won. Yesterday at the hotel, people from Haiti he is familiar with came each with their particular story: parents deceased, children lost, husbands or wives missing; there have probably been enough tears shed in Haiti to flood the greatest of rivers...a few times over. So do not lose your determination to convey to those you know and who have supported FFP that this is an unprecedented event that defies comparison, but that through it all God’s gracious mercy shines greatest when all hope seems lost. God wants to rebuild Haiti. God wants to show Himself great with those who suffering surely must have reached the corridors of heaven a thousand times over. And God is relying on the goodness of the human spirit and the generosity of those who would stand firm in spite of their own predicaments to stretch out their hand and their hearts to help those who now need it most.

Pray for the Haiti office. Pray for those voiceless children left fatherless. Pray for the security and peace of this small but defiant country we all know as Haiti. And pray for those of us here who are trying to get things done and brought into this country; those of who are putting our very small grain of salt in an incredibly vast sea of pain and suffering in the country of Haiti.

Miss you all...



Liony

From Father Duken in Haiti

Note from Fr. Duken, a priest who works with Food for the Poor in Haiti

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday 01/19/10

Cap-Haitien has not been affected physically. However, we are overflowing. Every single day, we continue to receive thousands of people getting away from Port-au-Prince. We got 2,000 only yesterday. They are students, adults and children. They have lost everything. They are starving, they are shocked, wounded both physically and emotionally. They are concerned. Some of them have families in Cap, some don’t. They just want to escape death.

Our job now is to first accommodate them, make sure they get some food, water, clothes, transportation, and medical care. Second, we must try to walk with them through a healing or rehabilitation process.

We were not ready for something like that but we do what we can.

Fuel is a big deal because everything had to come from Port-au-Prince. Communications as well. We don’t know how long this situation will last but this makes the job even more difficult.

Again thanks for all. We will survive.
Blessings. Duken

11 am Monday - Haiti Update from FFTP

MON 18 JAN 2010 - Update on Haiti operations from Food for the Poor 

11 AM
http://www.lynn.edu/alert
Update on the Lynn University Students.  For the most recent and up to date information please look at this link and website. 

Crews are still working at the Hotel Montana to locate everyone. They saved the coowner of the Hotel Montana Sat night, Nadine Cardozo, she was pulled out of the rubble and is fine.

 

FFP has arranged aircraft shipments into PAP coming from Jamaica consisting of bottled water and from FL medical supplies, water and food.  Fed Ex and Spirit Airlines is helping with this process and the shipments arrived last night into PAP and is now in our warehouse in PAP. We thank Fed Ex and Spirit airlines for assisting us with these shipments.

FFP Fl is also sending container shipments into Cap Haitien, the North part of Haiti. We will be inundating the North with supplies of Food, Water and Medicine to handle all of the people that will be inundating the area.

The Jamaica Defense Force is housed at our office complex in PAP of approximately 150 defense force.  They will use our trucks and facility to offer us massive security.  We offer many thanks to Jamaica. The Jamaican civil engineer team are helping to assess all of our programs and assist with fixing structural engineer of buildings.

Liony and Team from the DR are acquiring all wood, cement and building materials to truck over from the DR to our office in PAP with a team to help with the construction of securing our building. "Operation Revive Haiti" is the name of this mission.  They will also bring over fuel, medicine and water from the DR.

Leann Chong our Dir of Missions/Travel has flown back to FL and is in Melbourne FL receiving treatment at a hospital. Leann will be on NPR radio tonight.  Here is the link to the promo. It can be heard in South Florida at 8 p.m. on WLRN 91.3 out of Miami. http://thestory.org

HCA Hospitals across the country are coordinating medical supply donations to FFP.

We have been told that Leogane city is 80% destroyed and that Jacmel and Miragon are in a terrible condition.

All secondary roads near PAP Haiti are blocked from rubble.

When I speak to our people on the ground they state that the situation in Haiti is 100 times worse than what you are seeing on TV.

We are using twice the amount of fuel for our generators due to no electricity at this time.  Our water cisterns that we operate are full and we have approximately 40,000 gallons available at our warehouse.

A group of Lebanese businessmen sent on a Middle Eastern Airline a plane load of 1000 tents and 3 Tons of Milk Powder and 3 Tons of IV Solutions to FFP to distribute.

Our Creative Team is still in Haiti and some others from our office in FL who are trying to help with the situation. Mr Daniel Rouzier, our Chairman of the Board for FFP-Haiti along with other board members are involved with the operations and trying to help assist Mrs Kareen Dolce our Executive Director of FFP-Haiti.  They are all doing a tremendous job.

Our offices are working around the clock to coordinate everything and I would like to thank everyone for their hard work.  They have issued a 6 pm curfew for PAP Haiti.

Our Feeding center at our offices in PAP Haiti is operating today and we will be feeding over 20,000 people a hot meal today for lunchtime.

Items that we need the most are Orthopedic items and we are working on this to be shipped ASAP.

I ask you to continue to Pray for Haiti and for all of our workers on the ground in Haiti.

Thank you,

Robin

Robin G Mahfood
President/CEO

Kim M. Williams, Executive Assistant to the President/CEO
Food For The Poor, Inc.
6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073 USA
Direct Tel: 954-596-4029, Main Tel: 954-427-2222  ext 4029
Main Fax: 954-570-7654
E-mail: kim@foodforthepoor.com

Our website: www.foodforthepoor.org

Now we finally see Haiti

Click on title for full column

by Jean Lowrie-Chin | Observer column | Monday, January 18, 2010

It was a painful way to get a perspective. Suddenly Jamaicans - possibly the biggest complainers on Planet Earth - were giving thanks that we were spared the 7.0 quake that shook Haiti. By the time Prime Minister Golding faced the microphone on Wednesday evening, his announcement of his Debt Exchange Programme, the imminent downsizing of the public sector and increase in property taxes created barely a ripple.

... Jamaica continues to be its brother's keeper. It was Jamaica who had given temporary asylum to former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004 after his hurried departure from Haiti, and it was our then Prime Minister PJ Patterson, who, on behalf of Caricom, spoke up for fellow member Haiti.

This week's media coverage showed us the bravery and nobility of the Haitian people. CNN's Anderson Cooper took us through the rescue of a 15-year-old girl who was able to speak strongly after her ordeal, declaring, "I was never afraid." She is of course the descendant of Haiti's great soldiers, led by Toussaint L'Ouverture who defeated Napoleon in 1804, creating the world's first black republic.

On a visit to Haiti in 2006, I described "the touching gentility among even the poorest that I met lining up, waiting without a murmur for up to five hours to finally own a cellphone. And there was the art - fine carving, enchanting pottery, vivid paintings...Their craftsmen could teach ours a thing or two - not one vulgar carving did we see on the sidewalks".

I also described the fashionable side of Haiti, a hillside location where tables were covered with crisp white linen and adorned with deep red roses in crystal. The service there and in other restaurants was impeccable and the ladies were chic and svelte.

The Haitians show incredible forbearance and resourcefulness. I met a well-educated young businessman, the third generation of his family-owned concern, who continued to soldier on. Yes, there is a side of Haiti that never gets press coverage and so we only view the country as one of misery, although it offers so many opportunities.

We hear that an intellectually limited evangelist has been shooting off his mouth about Haiti's earthquake being a punishment for voodoo worship. We in Jamaica had better be careful how we judge others. At least Haiti lost their people to a natural disaster. We have lost 1680 precious souls to violence, so we should be the last ones to talk about retribution.

...Angel Aloma, Food for the Poor executive director wrote from Haiti last week, "The devastation in Haiti challenges the senses... We have a tough road ahead and I am exhausted, but I take comfort in a passage from 2 Corinthians 4:8, "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit." Although we are accepting only three items of canned food (canned meat and fish, canned milk), cash is our greatest necessity. We are planning an initial response to this horror of 400 40ft containers of food, water and emergency supplies, followed by lumber and zinc for construction and repair. We have a tough road ahead of us, thank you for travelling it with me."

After three days of being glued to the television and going to work in a twilight zone of grief, I think I am approaching some level of discernment. Perhaps it took this terrible quake to focus the world on a country that has been bleeding unnoticed for too long. Perhaps now the international community will finally carve out a plan to help the beautiful people of Haiti build a strong democracy, finally realising the dream of its legendary liberator.

JDF based at Haiti Food for the Poor

Food For The Poor Provides critical support to Jamaica's efforts in Relief Aid to Earthquake-Ravaged Haiti

Sunday, January 17, 2010: Following the occurrence of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, January 12 which caused widespread death and destruction, Food for the Poor Jamaica (FFP) is integrally involved in the national effort to provide assistance to our brothers and sisters in Haiti and is already offering logistical and technical support to assist in the relief efforts.

One significant area of assistance is that yesterday Food for the Poor Inc offered its compound in Haiti to be used as the operations base for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). They have already moved into the location. That compound has an FFP organisation-wide internet telephone plus all office, warehousing, and distribution facilities, and all is now at the disposal of the Jamaica Defence Force.

"FFP Jamaica has already sent medical supplies with the Salvation Army and the Ministry of Health who both had flights which left Jamaica last week Thursday and Friday, plus eight generators were sent with the very first JDF vessel that went into Haiti last week" explained CEO of Food For The Poor Jamaica, Mr. Ryan Peralto.

Thousands of homes were completely destroyed as a result of the earthquake so much of FFP's assistance will be directed toward rebuilding homes for those who were affected. To this end, FFP Jamaica has opened a special bank account with National Commercial bank (NCB) where persons can make direct financial donations. The account number is 47-104-3885. It should be noted that FFP's operating costs account for less than 4% of the value of the donations it receives.

"While we are encouraged by the response of the public so far, we continue to seek donations of cash to further our efforts in providing relief to the Haitians" continued Mr. Peralto. "We need cash in particular to assist in purchasing materials for temporary shelters, plus the next stage, that of rebuilding homes in the badly ravaged capital city and implore all persons to make a contribution to our account at NCB, no matter the size of the donation."

FFP has also advised that donations of goods (canned food, clothing) are being collated by NCB, BNS, the FFP's Western Committee, Stella Maris, and Azans (Regal Plaza) . These partners are sorting, packaging, and labeling and FFP will facilitate the shipping arrangements.

"Through our Florida office, we have already sent 100 containers of rice, canned food and medical supplies to Haiti -- most of which is already in place in Port-au-Prince and being distributed" Mr. Peralto continued.
In an effort to get as many aid items into Haiti as quickly as possible, Food For The Poor Inc is directing additional food, water and medical supplies into the Dominican Republic to be sent over the border and into the hands of the hurting Haitian people. The charity will also be sending pallets of critically needed medical items by air directly into Port-au-Prince on Sunday.

"We continue to pray for the people of Haiti and will continue to respond to the needs of our less fortunate brothers and sisters as they embark on the awesome task of rebuilding their lives" said Mr. Peralto.

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Dr Shane Alexis leads JA doctors on Haiti mission

Info from Go-Jamaica | Gleaner Website

A group of volunteer doctors from the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association, (JMDA) led by their President Dr Shane Alexis along with private partners left for Haiti on Thursday, 14 January.

Dr Alexis said the group was moved by the devastation in the country.

Jamaica's health minister, Ruddy Spencer said the 20-member team comprises doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians and public health inspectors.

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association ( JTA) has also opened up its offices in Mandeville, Port Maria, Montego Bay and Kingston as relief collection centers.

JTA president Michael Stewart said all donations must reach the offices by January 29.

He said the JTA will also be seeking to raise money for the Haitian survivors.

DIGICEL - FIRST MAJOR CORPORATE DONOR FOR HAITI

DIGICEL GROUP DONATES US$ 5 MILLION FOR URGENT RELIEF EFFORTS IN HAITI

Wednesday 13th January 2010 – Kingston, Jamaica: Digicel Group, the largest mobile company in the Caribbean and fastest growing mobile company in Central America, is donating US$5 million in cash to support the urgent relief efforts needed following the widespread devastation caused by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti yesterday.

Digicel’s donation will be made to the NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) who are spearheading the relief efforts.

With the impact of the earthquake resulting in considerable casualties and catastrophic damage to homes, buildings and infrastructure, Digicel is appealing to people and Governments across the world to support the people of Haiti in this their time of need.

Digicel is also sending in a team of people to Haiti early on Wednesday to assist in whatever way possible with the relief efforts and to assess the impact on its communications infrastructure which incurred damage but is operational.

Digicel is one of the largest companies in Haiti having launched its mobile services in 2006 – and as the largest foreign direct investor in Haiti today, Digicel is proud to serve over two million customers in Haiti and to be a part of the fabric of Haitian society.

Colm Delves, Group CEO of Digicel, comments; “We are deeply upset and concerned at the news of the earthquake in Haiti and want to do whatever we can to support the desperately needed relief efforts. We hope that governments around the world will also support the people of Haiti and immediately provide much needed aid to assist with the huge recovery efforts that are now needed.

“The people of Haiti welcomed us and made us their own when we launched there in 2007 and we are determined to be there for them in their time of need. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti and we would like to assure them that Digicel stands ready to assist in whatever way we can at this difficult time.”

Food For The Poor Rushes Aid to Haiti

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Jan. 16, 2010) – In an effort to get as many aid items into Haiti as quickly as possible, Food For The Poor is directing food, water and medical supplies into the Dominican Republic to be sent over the border and into the hands of the hurting Haitian people.

The charity also will be sending pallets of critically needed medical items by air directly into Port-au-Prince on Sunday.

Food For The Poor, the largest international charity in the United States, will send 189 tons of goods in this shipment. The charity already had sent 100 containers of rice, canned food and medical supplies to Haiti -- most of which is already in place in Port-au-Prince and ready to be distributed. With the port there damaged and the need growing, Food For The Poor executives are expediting shipment of aid to accelerate relief activities.

“It is critical that we get this relief as soon as possible into the hands of the Haitian people and to the people who are trying to help them,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “We are hearing today that orthopedic supplies are particularly needed for the trauma patients that medical staff and volunteers are treating. They are seeing terrible wounds.”

The medical supplies and equipment already housed in Food For The Poor’s Haiti warehouse were taken to a Petionville hospital on Friday night. On Saturday, trucks of food left the warehouse to be distributed to the feeding centers.

The goods are part of Food For The Poor’s initial goal to provide $5 million in relief to the struggling nation, as it recovers from one of the worst natural disasters in its history.

Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the United States, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.foodforthepoor.org

Kathy Skipper
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
(954) 427-2222, ext. 6614
kathys@foodforthepoor.org

Race against time in Haiti!

Antonia Graham of Digicel greets Carine Jones, a Haitian mother, with her children, after arriving from Haiti at the Norman Manley International Airport on Friday. Jones' husband, who is Jamaican, works with Digicel. - Rudolph Brown/Photographer

Jamaica Gleaner | Saturday | January 16, 2010
Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter

AS THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) mobilises regional relief efforts to aid its Haitian neighbours, senior officials from Jamaica echoed fears of not finding any more survivors beyond the critical 72-hour mark, which elapsed yesterday evening.

It was made clear that persons, who might still be trapped beneath debris, are in a race against time. And the clock is winning.

"Life can only be sustained for so long without air and water, so if you recall when the event occurred, it may have been 4:30 p.m. or 4:40 p.m. on Tuesday, and we are now at Friday, so essentially that window is closing.

"Very, very few people have been found alive late in the day, so we are really running out of time in terms of the rescue efforts that have to be conducted," said Ronald Jackson, director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, who was a member of the Jamaican contingent, led by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, that visited Haiti on Thursday.

shared feelings

The director general's fears were corroborated by Minister with responsibility for Information, Daryl Vaz, who also made the trip to Haiti and witnessed first-hand the devastation caused by the seismic activity earlier this week.

"The window of opportunity for rescuing is probably almost closed by now as we speak, based on the heat and all the other elements," lamented Vaz.

(click on title for full story)

tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com

Haiti cries for help

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JA Catholics help Haiti

STATEMENT FROM THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN JAMAICA

The Roman Catholic Church in Jamaica shares the pain and suffering of our brothers and sisters who are coming to terms with the destruction of property, personal injury and loss of life resulting from the earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday, January 12.
As an expression of solidarity, Masses have been offered for the repose of the souls of those who died, and we request continued prayers for those who are left behind, that God will comfort and strengthen them and send quick assistance to alleviate their suffering. A special Mass will be offered at Sts. Peter & Paul Church on Sunday, January 17 at 9.00 a.m. for the people of Haiti. The Ambassador of Haiti and his staff and other members of the Diplomatic Corps have been invited to attend.
Our contribution to the international effort of relief and support will take the form of accepting financial contributions through 2nd collections in all Catholic Churches on January 17 and 24. All cheques, including those that may be left at the various Chanceries, are to be made out to:
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kingston/Haiti
Roman Catholic Bishop of Montego Bay/Haiti
Roman Catholic Bishop of Mandeville/Haiti
Our Catholic Schools are also taking up collections for the relief effort.
The Catholic Church in Jamaica, as it prays and offers help, encourage all to support the united effort to help in the rebuilding of the livelihood of our Haitian neighbours.

Most Rev. Donald J. Reece, D.D.
Archbishop of Kingston

Most Rev. Charles H. Dufour, D.D.
Bishop of Montego Bay

Most Rev. Neil Tiedemann, C.P., D.D.
Bishop of Mandeville

January 15, 2010

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