Cnweeklynews.com - La Section Haitienne

Written by Sonia Morgan

wyclef-haitiflag When Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean penned the song “If I Was President,” in 2008 he might not have thought he would be mulling the idea of running for president in the 2010 elections in his home country.

But this is what family members are saying about the ex-Fugee member, who has been instrumental in the fight against poverty in Haiti.

Rumors have been swirling for some time that Jean, who was appointed as ambassador-at-large for Haiti by President Rene Préval, may enter Haiti’s large field of presidential hopefuls for 2010.

“Wyclef's commitment to his homeland and its youth is boundless, and he will remain its greatest supporter regardless of whether he is part of the government moving forward ... If and when a decision is made, media will be alerted immediately,” his family said in a statement signed “The Jean Family” and e-mailed to reporters.

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Tricksters played a cruel hoax on Haitians, at a time when the country needs every bit of hope and help it can get after January’s devastating earthquake.

The hoax, in the form of an e-mail recently circulated to the international media, announced that France agreed to pay the Haitian government 90 million gold francs (estimated at $21 billion) to assist Haiti in its recovery from the earthquake. The announcement was also posted on a website alleged to be that of the French Foreign Ministry.

Earlier this week, according to an AP report, a representative of the French Foreign Ministry, Bernard Valero, said the announcement was the result of individuals spreading false information and fraudulently copying the site of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. It was also reported that the Foreign Ministry is planning to take legal action against the perpetuators of the hoax.

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Haitians show phenomenal resilience

This Haitian family sleeps secure under a ShelterBox tent. - Photo by Mark Pearson

Six months after the world was rocked by one of the worst disasters it has ever witnessed, the huge financial commitment to rebuilding permanent shelter has had little impact for the hundreds of thousands of families in Haiti displaced by the January 12 earthquake.

As land ownership issues and logistics delay the massive rebuilding efforts needed, the basic tarpaulin shelters received by the majority of those made homeless is proving little match for heavy rains and the impending hurricane season.

Additional strain is put on the capital, Port-au-Prince, as host families are unable to support those who lost everything and people are migrating back to the struggling city.

ShelterBox Response Team volunteer, Per Dahlstrom (CA), described the situation as “real misery”.

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Overwhelming! Haiti six months later

Written by Dr. Garth A. Rose

Jean-Max Bellerive

It’s been six month since the massive 7.0 January 12 earthquake hit Haiti and by all accounts, the situation in Haiti is overwhelming.

Reports out of Haiti say that there has been relatively little progress in the relief and reconstruction efforts since the quake that, according to Haitian authorities, killed over 250,000 people, injured some 300,000, and left over a million homeless.

In the weeks and months immediately following the quake, the international community reacted with tremendous emotion to provide assistance in kind and cash to the government and people of Haiti. However, reporters currently on the ground in Haiti, say not much has changed in the rubble strewn city and surrounding towns since January 12. According to one report Port-au-Prince “still looks like a bomb just dropped on it. The situation is blatantly overwhelming.”

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