WOW,how exciting

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti

Choice Hotels is opening the first chain hotels to serve Haiti in almost a decade.

A spokesman for the Maryland-based company said Thursday that a Comfort Inn will open in the Caribbean coastal city of Jacmel this May.

The 32-room motel will be owned by a New York-based group of Haitian-American investors. The partners also plan a 120-room upscale hotel at the nearby Belle Rive tourism development this fall.

These are the company's first hotels in Haiti. Holiday Inn left Haiti several years ago and a planned Hilton hotel was canceled amid political upheaval and collapsing infrastructure.

The United Nations is leading an effort to attract tourism and investment back to the impoverished country.

Haiti Children

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Nov. 18 -- Haiti needs to enact legislation to protect children who are working as domestics in conditions that amount to slavery, an international organization suggests.

Amnesty International announced Wednesday it is launching a campaign to press Haiti's government to protect child domestic workers from abuse, ill-treatment and exploitation.

The United Nations estimated that there were as many as 100,000 Haitian girls working as domestics in 2007. Current Haitian laws do not provide protection for children.

"Most child domestic workers in Haiti live as virtual slaves," says researcher Gerardo Ducos of Amnesty International.

Ducos says girls in Haiti are trapped in a spiral of poverty and violence, often ending up on the street as prostitutes to survive.

"The eradication of this modern form of slavery is the only way to protect the rights of thousands of children," Ducos says.

Haiti want's the Olympics

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI—Emphasizing the country's warm tropical climate, vibrant culture, and long-term plans to cultivate farmland capable of sustaining actual crops, the Haitian Olympic Committee formally announced its bid Monday to host the 2216 Summer Games.

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Officials say the Games will be broadcast via satellite should the country happen to develop a space program by then.

Organizers of the LXXXI Olympiad, which would be held in the capital city of Port- au-Prince, said the event will showcase the many attractions that are sure to be conceptualized, financed, and constructed over the next 207 years.

"These Olympics will be the greatest the world has ever seen, provided inflation doesn't render the Gourd worthless and we manage to stumble into some kind of lasting stability in the next 20 decades or so," declared committee president Jean-Edouard Baker, standing beside a stack of burning tire shavings where he believes the Olympic flame may one day be housed. "2216 is our time."

Haitian leaders believe Port-au-Prince to be the ideal location for the games due to a number of civic improvements that could, in theory, be made there.

According to Baker, the city will try to compensate for its lack of passable roads and safe bridges by building a high-speed rail system which, "with a little luck," might someday connect to an Olympic village.

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"This is the place where we may be able to possibly erect an aquatics center," said Baker, gesturing to a partially submerged field piled high with rusted-out Jeeps. "We're hoping that within a century or two we'll be able to raise enough food to feed enough workers to move enough dirt to make a hole deep enough to contain an Olympic-size pool."

Added Baker, "We don't have much in the way of potable water, but that hole ought to fill on its own when the next hurricane strikes."

Representatives from the International Olympic Committee flew to Port-au-Prince Monday to survey the proposed site, landing on the country's longest of four paved runways. A brief and heavily armored tour of the city's marathon route gave planners the chance to show visiting delegates the many wonders that may eventually make up Haiti.

A banquet was held that afternoon in a dilapidated structure that local officials plan to tear down and rebuild as a multipurpose stadium. They said they hope to name the facility after a great leader who will rise to power at some point in the future—perhaps in the 22nd century—and bring peace and prosperity to the Haitian people.

Between bursts of automatic gunfire and the frantic screams of U.N. peacekeepers deployed in the area, Haiti made its case to the IOC.

"We want at some point to begin neutering the stray-animal population, so that elite runners from around the world will not have to leap over so many frail and lethargic dogs in order to cross the finish line," urban designer Antoinne Darbouze told IOC representatives. "And yes, once we can get our hands on enough asphalt, we'll have roads in places where they're absolutely necessary."

A local artisan also gave a presentation at the banquet, showing attendees how replicas of Olympic medals could be carved from indigenous fruits and then dyed colors that are similar to gold, silver, and bronze.

"By 2216, we hope that Haiti will be an inspirational place for the world's greatest athletes to compete," said René Préval, president of Haiti, a nation whose government has been repeatedly ranked as the most corrupt in the world. "And who knows, at that point our great-great-great-grandchildren may have eliminated the near-constant threat of protozoal diarrhea."

Despite the many challenges faced by the small island nation, the IOC remained confident that Haiti is, in the sense that it has not yet been officially eliminated from consideration, a real contender for the games.

"Haiti has a long way to go to meet our standards," said IOC president Jacques Rogge, pushing away a goat that had entered through a hole in the wall and was craning its neck to reach his plate. "They need to do a lot to build up their sporting facilities and hotel infrastructure, in addition to improving environmental conditions, developing a final sector, and quelling civil unrest."

"We're not going to make any decisions for the next 200 years," Rogge continued. "Though after seeing Haiti firsthand, I can honestly say the country faces some stiff competition from Atlantis."

We need to remember

While we where in Haiti we stopped at the domino's pizza store and while we where sitting in a very hot van there was this little old lady sitting on a step she was very thin. so we all looked in our backpacks to see if we had any food that we could offer her we had just been to the orphanage and so we had given most of are snacks to the little kids but one person had one granola bar so we offered it to her she gave the biggest smile to us.
It makes you feel so good to know that for that moment they are happy for such a little thing.
we all need to remember that yes sometimes you can not give millions of dollars to a cause but even just a little bit can help someone.
"so the next time just give what you can and if we all give a little it will turn into alot!"

Marketplace for Haiti

Millions of Haitians living abroad in many countries, including the United States now have a unique opportunity to invest in Haiti's future. The United States Agency for International Development [USAID] is partnering with Fondation Sogebank, a philanthropic institution of Haiti's largest commercial bank, to establish the Haitian Diaspora Marketplace.

The Haitian Diaspora Marketplace is a 2-year pilot program designed to encourage Haitians living abroad to contribute to Haiti's economic development through direct investment in productive business activities. Diaspora entrepreneurs have a special human and financial expertise that can be of great value to the government of Haiti in advancing more productive public-private investments. The program encourages the creation and growth of small businesses in key sectors, such agriculture, tourism, and information and communication technology.

The Haitian Diaspora Marketplace will provide access to grant funding to Diaspora entrepreneurs and will also offer technical assistance to the businesses. The implementation phase of the grants will include USAID contributions ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 with a 2 to 1 minimum cost-sharing requirement.

Grant applications must include business plans for sustainable activities that will be implemented with the participation of Haitian businesses. Competitors for the funding will also be required to provide detailed plans for sustainable business activities in Haiti. As part of this initiative, credit guaranty programs with local Haitian banks will provide improved access to credit entrepreneurs from the Diaspora. USAID will provide $200,000,000 in support for the program.

Acting USAID Administrator Alonzo Fulgham spoke to the second annual Haitian Diaspora Unity Congress in Miami Beach, Florida this month. He noted that the U.S. will provide over $300,000,000 in assistance to directly support national development priorities identified by the government of Haiti. And he called on the Haitian Diaspora to do its share.

"We want to work with you – our partners in the Haitian Diaspora – to work faster, harder, and smarter to advance sustainable development in Haiti," he said. Acting Administrator Fulgham urged the Diaspora to continue to let Haitian officials at the local and national levels know that Haiti needs stable and capable government institutions. Local non-governmental organizations need the Diaspora's help in the fight against corruption, he said. And most important, said Acting Administrator Fulgham, Haiti needs the expertise and experience of the Diaspora.

"The United States," said Acting Administrator Fulgham, "looks forward to working with the Haitian Diaspora to bring meaningful economic development to Haiti."

Tropical storm's on their way

The first Tropical storm in the Atlantic ocean has formed and is projected to hit Haiti by Tuesday. lets all pray that it will not change and become stronger,then the bad news is there is another one right behind it named Bill. poor Haiti it has been through so much they do not deserve more.

Rock star for Haiti

Former President Bill Clinton listed projects worth millions of dollars that he has secured for Haiti since he was named the country’s United Nations Special Envoy three months ago.

The news delighted hundreds of attendees at the annual Haitian Diaspora Unity Congress on Aug. 9.
Clinton also told the group gathered at the Trump International Beach Resort to stay involved in its affairs and encourage others working to build the country to continue their efforts, because Haiti is at an unprecedented turning point.

“I’m an outsider, but I’ve been going to Haiti for more than 30 years, and I know a little something about economics,” said Clinton, just days after returning from North Korea, where he helped free two American journalists. “It is my opinion that this is by far the best chance that Haiti has had in the 35 years I’ve been acquainted with it.

He continued: “The most important thing I can say today is that I consider every one of you very vital for this. The more involved you [the Diaspora] are, the better the odds get.”

The appearance of Clinton, as Haiti’s latest “rock-star” cheerleader, drew about 300 Haitians from Haiti, the United States and other parts of the world to the conference. As the day of his appearance drew near, numerous conference participants said they looked forward to hearing what he had to say.

Many said they look forward to the kind of leadership Clinton will bring to this latest round of efforts to develop Haiti’s economy, institutions and, overall, pull it out of the morass that’s given it the infamous designation of poorest country in the western hemisphere.

For Marilyn Leroy, a Miami interpreter, the main concern was how Clinton, Diaspora leaders and elected officials in the governments of both Haiti and the U.S. will create security in Haiti. Leroy’s sister lives and operates an elementary school in Haiti.

“I want to know if they’re going to make any improvements, because things are pretty bad,” Leroy said.

Clinton did not disappoint. After going over his role as U.N. Special Envoy—to coordinate the multinational’s activities in Haiti, raise funds for investment from philanthropists, and portray positive images of the country – Clinton launched into a list of projects and money he’s secured from his friends around the world.

The U.S. State Department’s downgrading of its advisory for travel to Haiti from dangerous is an important first step that Clinton said he helped pass. Advocates for the change had long said changing the advisory would help people feel comfortable about traveling there for business and pleasure, and pump tourism dollars into Haiti’s economy.

Among the commitments are $25 million from the Soros Economic Development Fund for the Haiti Invest Project, former Federal Emergency Management Agency director James Lee Witt committing $250,000 to provide disaster preparedness training for women in Haiti; and the donation of five unassembled windmills from Rolando Gonzalez Bunster, of Basic Energy Ltd., in the Dominican Republic to provide renewable energy at competitive prices in Haiti.

A trade mission with international investors, which Clinton will attend, is also being planned for October, he said.

Leveraging resources from his own Clinton Global Initiative, the former president also mentioned a study his foundation is conducting that may result in numerous energy independence projects across the Caribbean.

“There could be a lot of jobs for you, and a lot of investment,” Clinton told the conference attendees.

The local community is expected to play a significant role in investing in and building the country of 9 million people, either from South Florida or in Haiti.

The conference fell short of meeting its ambitious agenda of sending resolutions on each topic discussed to Haiti’s government by the end of the four-day event. But several individuals said they are committed to doing their part in their fields, hoping their successes will reverberate from Haiti to Florida and vice versa.

Richard T. Champagne, president of the Haitian Lawyers Association and a former Broward County assistant public defender, said that after the conference, he plans to form a task force to help at-risk Haitian-American youth.

“This was a good opportunity for everyone to come together under one umbrella, to discuss the problems that have been plaguing Haiti,” Champagne said.

Numerous Haiti-based organizations also updated attendees on progress they have made in increasing security and lowering violent crime, creating a Center for the Facilitation of Investment to guide potential investors on how to do business with Haiti, and government task forces in the works to coordinate efforts at various levels and build institutions.

South Florida elected officials also promised to support Haitian-Americans in efforts to improve communities here and in Haiti.

“Whatever affects Haiti affects Dade County,” said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dorrin D. Rolle, whose District 2 is made up of many Haitians. “When there’s chaos in Haiti, there’s chaos here.
As an honorary Haitian-American in the community, if I can create better jobs for the people here, the Haitians here can send more to the island nation of Haiti.

Rolle continued: “With Bill Clinton in charge of Haiti, that’s a big draw, because he carries a lot of weight.”