Père Arthur Volel, a great Haitian, passes on

Père Arthur Volel, who for decades had tirelessly ministered to the most downtrodden of Haiti's populace in the despertaly poor Port-au-Prince neighborhood of Cité Soleil, has left this life. For years the guiding force behind the Centre Sainte Therèse d’Avila in the neighborhood, Père Volel leaves behind a legacy of genuine dedication to Haiti's downtrodden that should make most of Haiti's politicians hang their heads in shame when they look at their own behaviour.

Amen and much respect for your fine work, Père Volel.

Today's obituary from Radio Kiskeya follows.

Haïti-Eglise-Décès

Décès du révérend père Arthur Volel, symbole de l’église des pauvres

"Il était l’incarnation de l’amour", selon son neveu Michel Soukar, historien et journaliste

lundi 28 janvier 2008,

Radio Kiskeya

(Read the original article here)

Le révérend père Arthur Volel, figure emblématique de l’église catholique haïtienne, s’est éteint dimanche à l’âge de 84 ans dans une maison de retraite de la communauté salésienne à Tabarre (nord de Port-au-Prince), a annoncé lundi sur les ondes de Radio Kiskeya l’historien Michel Soukar, neveu du disparu.

"Le père Volel était l’incarnation de l’amour", a-t-il estimé en retraçant le parcours exceptionnel de cet ardent défenseur des pauvres. Il a notamment vécu quarante années de vie pastorale parmi les humbles familles du grand bidonville de Cité Soleil (banlieue nord) en partageant leurs souffrances et privations au quotidien et en leur apportant de l’espérance. Auparavant, son sacerdoce l’avait conduit à accomplir la même mission à Pétion-Ville (est) et à La Saline (nord) où il a dynamisé la présence de la congrégation des salésiens à laquelle il appartenait.

Véritable modèle de bonté absolue, de générosité sans bornes, de modestie et missionnaire idéaliste jusqu’à l’excès, Arthur Volel et sa foi ne faisaient qu’un, selon Michel Soukar. Il indique qu’en apprenant sa mort, des chrétiens catholiques ont estimé qu’il pourrait aisément aspirer à la sanctification.

Victime à plusieurs reprises de maladies contagieuses attrapées dans l’insalubrité Cité Soleil, le religieux refusait souvent de soigner. En raison de son âge avancé, il avait dû s’installer depuis quelque temps dans la maison de retraite des salésiens.

La date des funérailles du père Volel doit être annoncée ultérieurement. Mais, déjà, les habitants de Cité Soleil sont invités à lui rendre un ultime hommage lors d’une cérémonie funèbre prévue samedi prochain.

Préval heads to the Plateau Central

Tournée du Président René Préval dans le Plateau Central

Arrivé à Belladère en taxi-moto, le chef de l’Etat a insisté sur l’importance du climat de paix et la nécessité de relancer la production nationale

lundi 21 janvier 2008,

Radio Kiskeya

(Read the original article here)

Le Président René Préval a prôné la consolidation de la paix et la relance de la production nationale lundi à Mirebalais (Centre) où il a passé la nuit dans le cadre d’une tournée de 48 heures dans le Plateau Central destinée à la supervision de différents projets d’infrastructure.

Pour ce périple en province, le premier depuis son retour au pouvoir il y a deux ans, le chef de l’Etat a procédé dans la localité de La Colline, une section communale de Lascahobas, à l’inauguration d’un centre de santé réalisé par Zanmi Lasante (Les amis dont la santé), une ONG dont le principal responsable est le scientifique américain Paul Farmer.

Accompagné du Premier ministre Jacques-Edouard Alexis, de membres du gouvernement et d’élus de la région, M. Préval a également visité la ville de Belladère -siège en mars de la prochaine foire binationale- où il a fait son entrée sur un taxi-moto à la grande satisfaction des riverains.

"La paix, la paix, il nous faut absolument préserver le climat de paix dont nous jouissons actuellement pour pouvoir attirer les investisseurs et favoriser le développement du pays", a martelé le chef de l’Etat, jugeant très difficile de ramener les prix des produits de première nécessité à un niveau acceptable en raison de la hausse constante du coût de produits stratégiques importés notamment le pétrole dont le baril a atteint ces dernières semaines la barre fatidique de 100 dollars. Le dirigeant haïtien a aussi fait savoir que seule la relance de la production nationale pourra faire baisser le coût de la vie et a invité la population à renouer avec les habitudes alimentaires d’autrefois.

D’autre part, le Président s’est lancé dans un dialogue interactif très décontracté avec la première Sénatrice du Centre, Edmonde Supplice Beauzile en compagnie du ministre des travaux publics, Frantz Verella. René Préval a tenu à préciser que, contrairement à la perception générale, la mission des parlementaires consiste à approuver le décaissement de fonds en vue de la réalisation des projets et non à les exécuter eux-mêmes.

Avant de regagner Port-au-Prince mardi, le chef de l’Exécutif doit visiter une ferme agricole à Mirebalais et s’entretenir avec les autorités locales.

Speech by Haitian President René Préval, Gonaives, 1 January 2008

Text of speech by Haitian President René Préval at the ceremony in Gonaives to mark the 204th anniversary of Haiti's independence on 1 January 2008.

(Also read the speech here)

People of Gonaives, good morning. Haitian people, good morning. The year 2007 has passed. Good morning, 2008. Last year, here in Gonaives, on 1 January 2007, I called on the nation for dialogue, union, and unity so we could manage to establish peace and security. Remember how the country was during the years 2004, 2005, and 2006? It was a period of total anarchy, with a lot of armed groups that were moving around freely with heavy automatic guns. They held the country hostage. Today, there is nothing like that. [applause]

We congratulate the Haitian National Police [PNH], in particular Director Mario Andresol. [applause] We congratulate MINUSTAH [UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti] for this beautiful job, which has resulted in security for the Haitian people. We congratulate Otson [not further identified]. We congratulate the DDR [Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reinsertion] team, particularly Alix Fils-Aime and Samba Boukman, for their significant contributions to the programme for the disarmament of the armed groups. We cannot forget the important contribution of Artists for Peace. Singer Don Kato, valiant man, the nation asks you to congratulate on its behalf all of the Artists for Peace who have worked with you.

Is the security work for peace over? No. There are still too many kidnappings even though the kidnapping rate has dropped considerably. But one kidnapping is already unbearable. Therefore, we have already begun working with DCPJ [Central Management of the Judicial Police] so it can have more means, so it can be more professional, and so it can be more effective in thwarting bandits and kidnappers.

In addition to security, there are other fields in which we have moved forward. For example, we know the government needs more money to work. The fight to get more money into the state coffers has moved forward. If the state does not have any money, it will not be able to provide services. I congratulate Customs Director General Jean-Jacques Valentin, who is fighting as hard as he can to thwart smuggling. Director Valentin, we know the fight you are waging is not easy. We congratulate you for the good results you have had, and we encourage you to continue. We also congratulate DGI [General Directorate of Taxes] Director Jean Frantz Richard, who is fighting to prompt people to pay the taxes due to the state. Director, the struggle you are waging is not easy. You lack the legal tools. In Haiti, what is called tax evasion - that is, the nonpayment of taxes - is not a crime. It is a crime in many other countries, such as the United States, where it is a crime punishable by imprisonment. In Haiti, if you are caught not paying taxes, you only have to pay a fine. Director Valentin, we have already prepared a bill aimed at criminalizing tax evasion. We will submit it to the parliament at the opening of the next session this January.

In 2007, we also made efforts in the struggle against corruption. I can tell you that the struggle against corruption is the most difficult one, because corruption is strong and its roots are deep. I congratulate all honest public prosecutors, especially Public Prosecutor Claudy Gassant, for his efforts in this field. Attorney Gassant and all the other public prosecutors, the struggle is not easy. I wish you courage and determination.

In 2007, the justice department made great progress. I congratulate and encourage every honest person in the judicial apparatus who is working under difficult conditions for justice to triumph and impunity to retreat. Congratulations to the entire judicial apparatus, particularly the deans of the courts. Special congratulations to Dean Rock Cadet. I offer him these congratulations on behalf of all he other deans. Thanks also to the Civil Society Commission that is accompanying the Ministry of Justice. Thanks for the coordination they have ensured between the executive branch and the parliament so the three laws on justice could be approved quickly. These laws are very important for the strengthening of the judicial system.

Thanks to the committee that is fighting so justice can be rendered to the murdered journalists. Thank you, [journalists] Euvrard Saint-Amand, Louis Gary Cyprien, Joel Labady, Dieudonne Saint-Cyr, Guyler C Delva, Marimique Anne Marguerite Auguste, and Jean Wilner Mauvais. The country needs citizens like you, who do not stand by and observe, but who are cooperating. I am telling all those whose names I just mentioned that once one starts work, one may make mistakes. If you make mistakes, you must correct them. But it is worse if you do not do any work at all. I encourage you to continue. I encourage you to continue. [repeated as heard] I encourage everyone in the government to keep working so we can get this country back on its feet.

We have just mentioned some essential fields in which we made progress in 2007. I would not say that we got 10 out of 10. I do not even know if we got 5 out of 10. But we did move forward.

If I mentioned some points where we moved forward, there are fields in which there are major difficulties. We must talk about that, too. One of the problems, the biggest one, is the unemployment rate in the country. [applause]

Even though more money is entering the state coffers, especially thanks to the efforts of the Customs Office and the DGI, even though funds put at the disposal of the country by the international community, the government has not managed to spend all the money it should have spent. The ministers must make even more efforts. The cases must be documented properly so the projects can be executed successfully. The Ministry of Planning, the National Council of Public Markets, and the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigations [CSCCA] must have the cases move forward faster.

Another brake preventing the government from spending money is the weakness of the private sector. For example, many construction firms are weak. They lack execution capabilities. Their projects drag on. If the work does not move forward, the government cannot pay. If the small enterprises have a hard time moving forward with the jobs they are in charge of, it is difficult for the government to give them other jobs. The weakness of the private sector is something the government must look into. The small enterprises often have financial problems in terms of buy materials, financial problems with regard to guaranteeing the funds that must be deposited as insurance in case the projects are not executed properly.

In the meantime, we must use our imagination to create jobs immediately. We must use our imagination. We must invent formulas to create jobs immediately.

[Words indistinct] cultural and sporting installations where the youths can find basketball fields, soccer fields, study rooms, and lights to study by, computers with internet connections to open their minds, to carry out searches, and to communicate with other countries. I believe this is possible.

There is land. If you get in touch with the mayors, you can get state land. You can get up to 5 or 10 carreaus [ 1 carreau equals 3.19 acres] of state land, and no parliamentarian - deputy or senator - will disagree with financing such a project in the interest of every commune in the country. This is an initiative that can create jobs throughout the country and that will be good for all of the country's children.

Here is another example of what can be done to create jobs immediately. In my first term, we worked with INDEPCO [expansion not given], which opened sewing workshops in several communes and communal sections in the country in order to make school uniforms. We will resume this activity, and we will contribute to give jobs to many tailors in many communes.

I am going to give two other examples where we can create jobs. [words indistinct] Gentlemen, journalists, come here. I need some policemen, too, about five policemen. The journalists are coming. I will have you taste this, gentlemen, but do not stand in front of me. Go behind. [words indistinct] Go behind. Gentlemen, how is it that you have left with the juice? Come taste it and then tell me whether it tasted good. Is it good? Come and tell me if it is good. Step back. Is the juice delicious? Well, step back. Let me tell you where this juice comes from. After I left the Presidency, I went to live in Marmelade, my hometown. I observed that every peasant who had an orange tree in his or her yard had to walk about 14 kilometres to Carrefour Puilboro to sell the oranges. The orange price drops as the hours of the day pass. Sometimes, at the end of the day, they simply left the remaining oranges on the floor so they would not have to carry them back home. We have now established a fund to buy oranges from the peasants at a guaranteed price, and the peasants do not waste their time waiting at the market all day long. They have money in their hands, and they are interested in growing orange trees. When we see that all of the oranges are ripening at the same time, we set up a factory to put these oranges in bags. What do we do with these oranges? We sell them to the School Canteen Programme, which provides locally produced orange juice to schoolchildren. We have not yet managed to provide such juice to all schoolchildren. Therefore, I am asking the parliament to allow the government to finance a programme to set up several such factories so that - instead of giving our children imported juice that was made from powder and that has nothing in it - we can give our children local juice made by local peasants. [applause] It will put money in the peasants' hands. It will encourage the peasants to plant trees. It will create wealth in the peasant sector.

I am giving a second example of how we can create jobs. You will not be able to see it, but I will ask one of the journalists here to serve as witness. Are you a journalist? What do you see here? Come here, come here. [repeated as heard]. Oh, this gentleman is just taking pictures. What do you see here?

[Unidentified correspondent] I see a peasant who has apparently plantain trees to make hats. Oh, well, he has a fish over his head.

[Préval ] What do you see?

[Correspondent] I see a fish over his head.

[Préval ] You see a fish over the head of the peasant.

[Correspondent] Yes, a big fish.

[Préval ] How big is the fish?

[Correspondent] I would say it is about 6 or 7 feet long.

[Préval ] The fish is that big, right?

[Correspondent] Yes.

[Préval ] Where does this fish come from? From the sea? No. Here are other fish. Here they are. Gentlemen, let the people see. [words indistinct] These fish come from Lac Collinaire (a man-made lake). If you look at the picture, you will realize that Lac Collinaire was a dry place, a place where nothing used to grow. Now, there are many big fish there. We have a country that receives a lot of water, a lot of rain. Instead of letting rain devastate the entire country, we can undertake a great campaign to establish (?artificial lakes) in the country. We simply have to block the passage of the rainwater, which will fill the basin. This water can be used for homes, to water gardens, and to raise fish. This is our resource. Instead of letting it destroy our country, as happened here with Hurricane Jane and when it rains a lot, we can turn the rain into wealth, instead of misfortune.

Journalists, you will explain what you have seen. I thank you. Since the journalists have television stations, since they have microphones, they will show the people what they saw and tell the people whether the juice I gave them was delicious.

Another major problem that exists in the country is the high cost of living. Here is our opinion on the high cost of living. The first solution to the high cost of living is employment. If you do not have any money in your pocket, regardless of whether goods are expensive or cheap, you will always have a cost of living problem. The first thing is to create jobs. The second problem associated with the high cost of living is that it is a phenomenon that is happening around the world. The price of everything is rising. Gasoline prices are rising in every country. The price of the wheat that is used to make bread is rising around the world. The prices of iron and all metals are rising around the world. Haiti imports all of these things. Their prices are determined by the world market. When prices increase on the world market, they inevitably increase in Haiti.

A second problem that explains the high cost of living, we think, is the lack of competition in the local market. More people must be able to import goods. The government should consider taking measures to allow other investors to enter the market. That way, competition can cause the profit margins and the prices of the products to drop.

The high cost of living has other causes, such as the APN [National Port Authority]. The APN is the most expensive port in the Caribbean. When the goods arrive in APN, businesspeople pay high fees, a lot of money, so their goods can be unloaded. But make no mistake, they will add these fees to the selling price of the goods, and we are the ones who will pay. This means that order must be established at the APN, so the prices of goods can go down. [applause]

There is another way to look at the high cost of living, because the true problem is not the cost of the goods but what you can buy with the money you have in your hands. If today you have 10 gourdes and can buy such and such product and the price of this particular rises tomorrow, you will realize that the cost of living has risen for you, because you can buy fewer goods with your money. This is called purchasing power. The more money you have, the more you can buy. When the price of the goods increases, if you have the same amount of money in your hands, you can buy less. Therefore, the government gave all civil servants a 17 per cent salary increase in 2006. In 2007, the increase went from 25 per cent to 35 per cent. That is for state employees. With regard to private sector employees, we must get in touch with the employers, the unions, and the parliament to see what can be done as far as salaries are concerned. But it must be done under the appropriate conditions, because there is something called competition. If salaries here become higher than those in other countries, it will prevent us from being able to export. This requires dialogue, but it must be done in order to see if the private sector can make the effort that was made by the government.

I am going to list some other measures that can be taken against waste, that is to say, measures aimed at allowing us to save money on some expenses. For example, electricity costs the government a lot. There are measures that can save us money on electricity. The government is going to convert all of its diesel power stations into oil-fired power stations, because fuel oil costs less than diesel. Gonaives's 15 MW power station, which Mayor Topa [nickname for Gonaives Mayor Stephen Moise] just talked about, will be using fuel oil, which costs less than diesel. The 15 MW power station that is being built in Cap-Haitien and the 30 MW power station that is being built in Port-au-Prince will use fuel oil, and all other power stations will use fuel oil. Similarly, we have begun changing for free all of the light bulbs that consumer a lot of electricity for energy-saving bulbs to reduce the state's electricity cost and so that it can do other things with the savings.

The true solution to the high cost of living is national production. [applause] The true solution to the high cost of living is national production [repeated as heard], including agricultural national production and handicraft national production. But peace is necessary for this to happen.

Haitians, things are not easy. We have come a long way. In 2004, 2005, and 2006, the country was almost at war. Peace returned in 2007. Do not let unemployment, hunger, and the high cost of living disturb that peace. Be patient. The government has seen the problems. The parliament has seen the problems. We are going to work to take some additional steps. Everybody knows that birds build their nests little by little. There is no miracle, and there will not be any miracles. Only God knows how to work miracles. Some people say they used to work miracles, but they are telling you lies. Thank God, we do not have the power to lie to the people.

Haitian people, today, 1 January, we are celebrating three anniversaries. Today, 1 January, is International Peace Day. We wish peace on Earth, especially in Haiti and Gonaives. Today marks the 204th anniversary of the country's independence. Let us learn two lessons from our ancestors. The first lesson is unity. Unity gave us independence. Unity is supposed to provide stability, and stability will result in development and employment. We thank the parliament for its cooperation in creating unity between itself and the executive branch. We say thanks to the political leaders, the private sector, the unions, and the Haitian people in general for the unity they have managed to achieve so far. We hope this dialogue, this unity, and this solidarity will continue in 2008. The date 1 January marks the beginning of a new year. We wish all people - I will not say a Happy New Year - but instead a better year than the year that has just passed.

Two gang members get life for journalist’s murder, a third is acquitted

13 December 2007

Two gang members get life for journalist’s murder, a third is acquitted

(Read the original article here)

Reporters sans frontières

Reporters Without Borders hails the outcome of a two-day trial before a court of assizes in the southern town of Petit-Goâve in which two members of a local militia known as Domi nan Bwa were yesterday given life sentences for the murder of Radio Echo 2000 journalist Brignol Lindor on 3 December 2001.

Of the two other alleged militia members on trial, one was acquitted because of mistaken identity and the other got off on a technicality, because he was identified by the wrong first name. Reporters Without Borders regards this as an indication of shortcomings in the preparation of the trial. Six other members of the militia are due to be tried, but have not yet been arrested.

“The life sentences are proportionate to the particularly barbaric way Lindor was murdered,” the press freedom organisation said. “A trial, especially one of this importance, nonetheless needs a prosecution case that is complete and sound, and ensures that all those involved are present in the courtroom.”

Reporters Without Borders added: “We doubt that the order issued by the presiding judge regarding the six other militiamen charged in this case, who are still fugitives, will have a persuasive effect. They must be arrested quickly. We are still waiting to find out to what degree the former Petit-Goâve municipal authorities were involved in Lindor’s murder.”

The two defendants who received life sentences were Joubert Saint-Juste and Jean-Rémy Démosthène (see picture below). For the time being, they are still being held in Petit-Goâve, but they could be transferred to the national penitentiary in Port-au-Prince to serve their sentences.

Simon Cétoute, 56, was acquitted because witnesses failed to identify him and because the court acknowledged that he had been arrested instead of one of his sons who recently died in the nearby town of Léogâne.

The case was dismissed against a fourth defendant, known as Fritznel Doudoute, because the first name, “Fritznel,” by which he was referred in the indictment, was not his real name, which is Lionel. Nonetheless, he was formally identified in court by witnesses as one of the participants in Lindor’s murder, and he could still be tried. Petit-Goâve state prosecutor Kébreau Zamor announced that a new case would be opened against.

A case could also be opened against Bony Dumay, Petit-Goâve deputy at the time of the murder, who is alleged to have incited violence against Lindor. He was a witness during the trial but so far he has never been charged.

In a statement to the press at the end of the trial, judge Emmanuel Tataye gave the six other Domi nan Bwa members, who were charged in 2002 and for whom arrests warrants are still pending, until 16 December to surrender, failing which they would be declared “rebels against the law” and would have “their rights as citizens suspended and their property seized.”

La Fondation Héritage réclame une lutte contre la corruption impartiale

Lundi, 10 décembre 2007 12:12

La Fondation Héritage réclame une lutte contre la corruption impartiale

Radio Metropole

(Read the original article here.)

La directrice de la Fondation Héritage, branche haïtienne de Transparency International, Marilyn B. Allien, fait état d’avancées dans le cadre de la lutte contre la corruption, rappelant la ratification, en mai 2007, par le parlement de la convention de l’ONU contre la corruption.

En ce qui a trait aux poursuites contre l’ancien président Aristide , Marilyn Allien se déclare choquée par les dernières déclarations du président Préva,l soulignant que les deux déclarations du chef de l’état sur ce dossier sont contradictoires. " Lors de la première déclaration il avait dit que le gouvernement n’avait pas les moyens financiers pour honorer les engagements envers les cabinets d’avocats", rappelle Mme Allien.

Tout en souhaitant que la plainte contre Jean Bertrand Aristide soit relancée, la responsable de la Fondation Heritage soutient que les plus grands corrompus ont été des chefs d’état, pour qui le pouvoir est un gâteau a partager.

Mme Allien soutient que le gouvernement a réalisé des actions d’éclats mais pas d’actions conjuguées des différentes institutions étatiques. " Pour le moment la lutte est réalisée sans plan", dit-elle mettant l’accent sur l’absence de suivi de l’enquête de l’Unité Centrale de Lutte contre la Corruption (ULCC) sur la perception de la corruption.

L’étude nous permet de comprendre qu’il y a un vrai problème de corruption au niveau de la fonction publique", assure Mme Allien regrettant qu’il n’existe pas une stratégie nationale de lutte contre la corruption. Selon Marilyn B. Allien il faut plus que la lutte contre la corruption il faut une stratégie nationale pour l’intégrité.

Tout en refusant de qualifier la lutte réalisée par le gouvernement de combat ciblé madame Allien fait remarquer qu’il n’y a eu aucun membre du gouvernement ou de la présidence appréhendé dans le cadre de cette lutte. " Il semble que ce combat ne se fait pas de manière cohérente", lance t-elle.

En ce qui a trait aux poursuites contre l’ancien président Aristide , Marilyn Allien se déclare choquée par les dernières déclarations du président Préva,l soulignant que les deux déclarations du chef de l’état sur ce dossier sont contradictoires. " Lors de la première déclaration il avait dit que le gouvernement n’avait pas les moyens financiers pour honorer les engagements envers les cabinets d’avocats", rappelle Mme Allien.

Tout en souhaitant que la plainte contre Jean Bertrand Aristide soit relancée, la responsable de la Fondation Heritage soutient que les plus grands corrompus ont été des chefs d’état, pour qui le pouvoir est un gâteau a partager.

Only four of ten defendants will be in court for Brignol Lindor murder trial

Only four of ten defendants will be in court for Brignol Lindor murder trial

(Read the original report here.)

Reporters sans frontières

While welcoming the trial of Radio Echo 2000 reporter Brignol Lindor’s alleged murders on principle, Reporters Without Borders said today it feared the course of justice could be perverted because six of the 10 defendants have not been arrested and will therefore not be in court. The trial is due to open on 10 December in Petit-Gôave, the southern town where Lindor lived and worked, and where he was murdered six years ago.

“The Lindor murder was a national trauma and has waited too long to come to trial,” the press freedom organisation said. “The fact that the trial is taking place at all reflects a real political will to put an end to a scandalous level of impunity. Nonetheless, we think a case such as this needs to be handled better. The trial is good for justice in principle, but may not be good for the search for the truth.”

Reporters Without Borders added: “The six being tried in absentia will, by definition, be unable to answer for their actions before the court. While the four who are present could try to put the blame on the other six, although they could themselves end up taking the entire rap. Bearing in mind, too, that threats have been made against the prosecutor, who is also concerned about the outcome of the case, we think the conditions for a satisfactory trial have not been met.”

The 10 defendants are members of a local armed militia called Domi Nan Bwa (Sleep in the Bush) that was particularly active during Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s second presidential term. They were charged with this particularly barbaric murder in 2002 at the end of a judicial investigation that failed to clearly identify all those involved.

Of the four defendants who will be in court, three were arrested earlier this year after warrants were issued by Petit-Goâve state prosecutor Kébreau Zamor. They are Joubert Saint-Juste (arrested on 28 March and held at the national penitentiary in Port-au-Prince), Simon Cétoute (arrested on 24 October and held in Petit-Goâve) and Jean-Rémy Démosthène (arrested on 26 October and also held in Petit-Goâve).

The fourth man is Fritznel Doudoute, who was arrested on 28 December 2005 in nearby Miragôane and is now being held in Carrefour prison, outside Port-au-Prince.

The trial was originally scheduled to start on 3 December, the sixth anniversary of Lindor’s murder. When the postponement was announced, Zamor told Reporters Without Borders he was concerned about the infrastructural problems in Petit-Goâve and the difficulty of preparing for the trial in the time available. He also said he and his family had received death threats.

School for Success Paradis des Indiens, Abricots, wins second place in BBC World Challenge Competition

School for Success Paradis des Indiens, Abricots, Haiti, wins second place in the BBC World Challenge Competition.

Everyone at the Foundation Paradis des Indiens would like to thank you for voting and forwarding messages encouraging others to vote for School for Success/Paradis des Indiens, Abricots, Haiti. We appreciate the enthusiasm and the dedication you exhibited to make School for Success a winner in the competition.As a result of the large number of emails sent, Paradis des Indiens in Abricots, Haiti is a winner and now a project known worldwide. This week we received a letter from Australia asking for information about thework being donein Abricots. We anticipate receiving more letters of interest wanting to support Paradis des Indiens' projects in Abricots.

Michaelle (Mica) Moravia de Verteuil asked me to relay her warmest thanks to all of you. She greatly appreciates the support received. She wishes she could thank each one of you personally. Asthe result of the publicity generated, she says that the people of Abricots will benefit greatly.

The awards ceremony will be broadcast on BBC World on December 8 at 9:30 and 21:30 GMTand on December 9 at 3:30 and 13:30 GMT. As soon as we receive the DVD we will forward it to you.

On behalf of Mica, the people of Abricots and all of us at the Foundation we send you our warmest thanks.

Chantal Lebrun Bazelais, Mireille Lebrun Jeannopoulos, Mireille Gaetjens Cassagnol, Nicole Duvivier, Joelle Coriat, Guy Baron, Marie Therese Danies, Anthony DiMaria.

Foundation Paradis des Indiens, Davie, FL