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Part 1 of 7 part series on the history of the Caribbean narrated by the late Stuart Hall.
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Showing posts with label Dominicana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dominicana. Show all posts
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Video: Redemption Song Episode 2: Out of Africa
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Part 2 of 7 part series on the history of the Caribbean narrated by the late Stuart Hall.
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Part 2 of 7 part series on the history of the Caribbean narrated by the late Stuart Hall.
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Video: Redemption Song Episode 3: Paradise Lost
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Final part 3 of 7 part series on the history of the Caribbean narrated by the late Stuart Hall.
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Final part 3 of 7 part series on the history of the Caribbean narrated by the late Stuart Hall.
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Video: Redemption Song Episode 4: La Grande Illusion
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Part 4 of the 7 part series narrated by the late Stuart Hall.
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Part 4 of the 7 part series narrated by the late Stuart Hall.
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Video: Redemption Song Episode 5: Worlds Apart
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Part 5 of a 7 part series narrated by the late Stuart Hall.
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Part 5 of a 7 part series narrated by the late Stuart Hall.
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Video: Redemption Song Episode 6: Following Fidel
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Part 6 of a 7 part series on the West Indies narrated by Stuart Hall.
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Part 6 of a 7 part series on the West Indies narrated by Stuart Hall.
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Video: Redemption Song Episode 7: Shades of Freedom
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Final part 7 of 7 part series on the history of the West Indies narrated by Stuart Hall.
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Final part 7 of 7 part series on the history of the West Indies narrated by Stuart Hall.
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Tuesday, April 8, 2014
International relations students win Silver Pen award for 'Let good sense prevail in Dom Rep-Haiti travesty' ltte
University of the West Indies, Mona campus, Marlon Walcott and Wendy Simpson received The Gleaner's Silver Pen for their letter to the editor, 'Let good sense prevail in Dom Rep-Haiti travesty' published last December. Simpson and Walcott revealed that their academic discipline provoked their...
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Association of Black Anthropologists condemns DR's racist deportations of Dominicans of Haitian descent
The Association of Black Anthropologists (ABA) condemns the recent ruling by the Dominican Republic’s Constitutional Court on September 23, 2013 (Ruling 0168-13), which has created a volatile human rights crisis in the Dominican Republic. As other outraged organizations like Amnesty International, CARICOM (Caribbean Community), the Haitian Studies Association, the National Bar Association, and the governments of Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have observed, the court ruling does the following:
As a result of the ruling, people of Haitian descent are being stripped of their rights and deported.
- It strips citizenship from the offspring of non-resident Haitians born in the Dominican Republic where nationality is conferred by place of birth;
It denies Dominican children of Haitian descent the right to an identity and nationality;
It overlooks the due process of law; and
It disregards the binding character of decisions made by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in favor of Haitian-descended Dominicans.
As a result of the ruling, people of Haitian descent are being stripped of their rights and deported.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Troubled Haitian-Dominican bilateral relations await progress
By Wilhelmina Agyapong
Recent events have demonstrated that disputatious bilateral issues between the Dominican Republic (DR) and Haiti may have (finally) taken a positive turn. A second round of talks held between the two governments was launched in Jimani, DR, this past February 3, 2014. These concluded with the decision that the DR’s Congress will commence a naturalization plan on February 27 for all Dominicans of Haitian descent living in the country. This meeting came after a series of events that had severely impacted Haiti-DR ties. These included Haiti’s existing ban on the DR’s imports of poultry and eggs on June 8, 2013; then came the first round of talks held in Ouanaminthe, Haiti on January 7, and finally a closed-door meeting in late January held during the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States’ (CELAC) Summit in Havana, Cuba.
With the recent lift of the ban on imports and the immigration consensus at the February 3 meeting, one can finally expect to see warming links between the two countries. Nevertheless, in spite of these improvements, one must understand that abysmal relations and abiding hostility between the two countries date back to the colonial era and have continued to sour relations between the two states until today.
Historical Background: A Foundation for Conflict:
From 1822-1844, Haiti occupied the entire Island of Hispaniola, which cradled the colonized societies of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. During its early history, the Dominican Republic was known as Santo Domingo and was ruled by Europeans of Spanish extraction, while Haiti was known as Saint-Domingue and was ruled by the French. [1]
Recent events have demonstrated that disputatious bilateral issues between the Dominican Republic (DR) and Haiti may have (finally) taken a positive turn. A second round of talks held between the two governments was launched in Jimani, DR, this past February 3, 2014. These concluded with the decision that the DR’s Congress will commence a naturalization plan on February 27 for all Dominicans of Haitian descent living in the country. This meeting came after a series of events that had severely impacted Haiti-DR ties. These included Haiti’s existing ban on the DR’s imports of poultry and eggs on June 8, 2013; then came the first round of talks held in Ouanaminthe, Haiti on January 7, and finally a closed-door meeting in late January held during the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States’ (CELAC) Summit in Havana, Cuba.
With the recent lift of the ban on imports and the immigration consensus at the February 3 meeting, one can finally expect to see warming links between the two countries. Nevertheless, in spite of these improvements, one must understand that abysmal relations and abiding hostility between the two countries date back to the colonial era and have continued to sour relations between the two states until today.
Historical Background: A Foundation for Conflict:
From 1822-1844, Haiti occupied the entire Island of Hispaniola, which cradled the colonized societies of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. During its early history, the Dominican Republic was known as Santo Domingo and was ruled by Europeans of Spanish extraction, while Haiti was known as Saint-Domingue and was ruled by the French. [1]
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Former Haiti ambassador to the Dominican Republic Guy Alexandre dies at 68
Guy Alexandre, a former Haiti ambassador to the Dominican Republic who recently published a book on how to improve the relationship, died Friday of a heart attack. He was 68.
“He was an honest, uncompromising intellectual,” Evelyn Margron Alexandre said about her husband who died in Port-au-Prince en route to the hospital. “He believed in people, he believed in knowledge.”
Born in St. Marc, Alexandre was first assigned to the Dominican Republic in 1991. His diplomatic career ended in 2003 during the uprising against former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Alexandre would later serve as an adviser on international relations under Haiti’s 2004-2006 interim government. He then joined the International Organization for Migration in Haiti, serving as a senior adviser and program manager where he, among other things, oversaw a program for returning deportees.
“In a way, he was the institutional memory of Haiti on migration and as such was a valued expert on the subject for IOM,” said IOM spokeswoman Ilaria LANZONI.
But it was Alexandre’s expertise on Haiti-Dominican relations that made him the go-to person for journalists, activists and governments seeking a better understanding of the tense diplomatic relations.
In recent months, he had become invaluable as both nations met to address a number of issues, including last year’s Dominican court ruling stripping citizenship from persons born to undocumented foreigners. The issue deeply worried him, his wife said.
“He was an honest, uncompromising intellectual,” Evelyn Margron Alexandre said about her husband who died in Port-au-Prince en route to the hospital. “He believed in people, he believed in knowledge.”
Born in St. Marc, Alexandre was first assigned to the Dominican Republic in 1991. His diplomatic career ended in 2003 during the uprising against former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Alexandre would later serve as an adviser on international relations under Haiti’s 2004-2006 interim government. He then joined the International Organization for Migration in Haiti, serving as a senior adviser and program manager where he, among other things, oversaw a program for returning deportees.
“In a way, he was the institutional memory of Haiti on migration and as such was a valued expert on the subject for IOM,” said IOM spokeswoman Ilaria LANZONI.
But it was Alexandre’s expertise on Haiti-Dominican relations that made him the go-to person for journalists, activists and governments seeking a better understanding of the tense diplomatic relations.
In recent months, he had become invaluable as both nations met to address a number of issues, including last year’s Dominican court ruling stripping citizenship from persons born to undocumented foreigners. The issue deeply worried him, his wife said.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Haitian students complain of the difficulties being experienced in Dominican Republic
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - . Coalition of University Students Haitians in Dominican Republic announced Wednesday the difficulties being experienced to enjoy the same guarantees and rights of others.
Expressed as the number of Haitian students in public and private national universities are located in 12 000 , representing a monthly contribution to the country of about 10 million U.S. dollars, ie 120 million dollars a year.
They reported that registration is not free and are paid in dollars and all foreigners, at least 23 studies high houses operating in the country.
"He will pay for a semester at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo ( UASD ) costs about $ 900.00 U.S. dollars , and every document that we require to be paid in the same currency " they said.
The coalition said that upon entering universities with NM1 visa, which costs U.S. $ 200.00 , once registered , should make the switch to a student visa , which is requested from Haiti and means an additional investment of U.S. $ 150.00 .
Also specified that since 2012 , the Haitian students pay a penalty of RD $ 800.00 pesos for the stay in the country, and if on pass 30 days increases, although universities have a quarterly and semester calendar.
Expressed as the number of Haitian students in public and private national universities are located in 12 000 , representing a monthly contribution to the country of about 10 million U.S. dollars, ie 120 million dollars a year.
They reported that registration is not free and are paid in dollars and all foreigners, at least 23 studies high houses operating in the country.
"He will pay for a semester at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo ( UASD ) costs about $ 900.00 U.S. dollars , and every document that we require to be paid in the same currency " they said.
The coalition said that upon entering universities with NM1 visa, which costs U.S. $ 200.00 , once registered , should make the switch to a student visa , which is requested from Haiti and means an additional investment of U.S. $ 150.00 .
Also specified that since 2012 , the Haitian students pay a penalty of RD $ 800.00 pesos for the stay in the country, and if on pass 30 days increases, although universities have a quarterly and semester calendar.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Video: Island of Ayiti - Distant Neighbors - Independent Sources
On this edition of Independent Sources, we discuss the dispute of citizenship that has Haiti and the Dominican Republic at odds. (Taped: 1-22-2014)
Independent Sources is where viewers meet the ethnic press. IS engages journalists from New York's ethnic and mainstream media in an insightful discussion of stories covered by ethnic newspapers, TV and radio stations and websites. Each show features an in-depth profile of a news organization or a reporter, along with a news roundup. Independent Sources IS an informative, innovative half hour about New York's fastest growing news sector.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Cradle of Black Pride: Haiti, Dominican Republic and The Music in Between
Throughout Black History Month, Alt.Latino has been bringing you episodes that focus on different aspects of being black and Latino. This week's show is about one island and two countries: Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Race has played an enormous role in the island's history. Haiti is often described as a cradle of black pride in the Americas, so as we celebrate Black History Month, we want to take a minute to reflect on the country's importance. When it gained independence in 1804, Haiti was the first independent nation of Latin America and the Caribbean. But beyond that, it became the only nation in the world established as the result of a successful slave revolt, as well as the second republic in the Americas. All the leaders of Haiti's first government were former slaves. Haiti has grappled with poverty, corruption, natural disasters and brutal dictatorship, but it's also important to sift through those issues and pay homage to a nation that did what others only dreamed of doing at the time.
On the other hand, as this week's guests point out, under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the 1930s, neighboring Dominican Republic adopted a much more Eurocentric revision of its history — despite also being a nation of descendants from Africa. Trujillo's brutality caused immense suffering to both Haitians and Dominicans, and affected the countries' relationship for many years to come.
Race has played an enormous role in the island's history. Haiti is often described as a cradle of black pride in the Americas, so as we celebrate Black History Month, we want to take a minute to reflect on the country's importance. When it gained independence in 1804, Haiti was the first independent nation of Latin America and the Caribbean. But beyond that, it became the only nation in the world established as the result of a successful slave revolt, as well as the second republic in the Americas. All the leaders of Haiti's first government were former slaves. Haiti has grappled with poverty, corruption, natural disasters and brutal dictatorship, but it's also important to sift through those issues and pay homage to a nation that did what others only dreamed of doing at the time.
On the other hand, as this week's guests point out, under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the 1930s, neighboring Dominican Republic adopted a much more Eurocentric revision of its history — despite also being a nation of descendants from Africa. Trujillo's brutality caused immense suffering to both Haitians and Dominicans, and affected the countries' relationship for many years to come.
INDIEwire TBFF 2014: Cristo Rey Preview
Screening at the 2nd Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF), which kicks off today, February 11, running through the 16th, is a film described as a modern-day retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, set in the Dominican Republic.
Directed by Leticia Tonos Paniagua, and titled Cristo Rey, the drama follows the relationship between a kind-hearted teenager, ostracized for his mixed Haitian-Dominican descent, and the beautiful sister of a local drug kingpin he’s hired to protect.
Cristo Rey stars James Saintil, Akari Endo, and Yasser Michelén, and will be making its World Premiere at TIFF next month.
If director Paniagua's name is familiar, it may be because, 2 years ago, we profiled her last film, La Hija Natural (Love Child), when it was set to be the Centerpiece film at the Caribbean Tales Film Showcase in Toronto.
La hija natural (Love Child) centers on María, young woman with the strange habit of putting ladybugs in her mouth, who, after her mother dies in an accident, decides to look for the father she has never met. She travels to a nearby town taking what few belongings she has. She finds her father, Joaquín, living in a dark, old house in the middle of an abandoned banana plantation, which the locals claim is haunted by spirits. He lives there with an enigmatic Haitian as his only companion. Having no one else in the world, she has no option but to stay with this drunken and recently widowed old man, and confront the ghosts of the past that haunt them both.
Directed by Leticia Tonos Paniagua, and titled Cristo Rey, the drama follows the relationship between a kind-hearted teenager, ostracized for his mixed Haitian-Dominican descent, and the beautiful sister of a local drug kingpin he’s hired to protect.
Cristo Rey stars James Saintil, Akari Endo, and Yasser Michelén, and will be making its World Premiere at TIFF next month.
If director Paniagua's name is familiar, it may be because, 2 years ago, we profiled her last film, La Hija Natural (Love Child), when it was set to be the Centerpiece film at the Caribbean Tales Film Showcase in Toronto.
La hija natural (Love Child) centers on María, young woman with the strange habit of putting ladybugs in her mouth, who, after her mother dies in an accident, decides to look for the father she has never met. She travels to a nearby town taking what few belongings she has. She finds her father, Joaquín, living in a dark, old house in the middle of an abandoned banana plantation, which the locals claim is haunted by spirits. He lives there with an enigmatic Haitian as his only companion. Having no one else in the world, she has no option but to stay with this drunken and recently widowed old man, and confront the ghosts of the past that haunt them both.
VIDEO: Cristo Rey (PREViEW) // Toronto Black Film Festival 2013
[embedyt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHy6Dz0HSuA[/embedyt]
Set in the Dominican Republic, Leticia Tonos Paniagua's uniquely Caribbean retelling of Romeo and Julie chronicles the love between a kind-hearted teenager, ostracized for his mixed Haitian-Dominican descent, and the beautiful sister of a local drug kingpin he's hired to protect.
Set in the Dominican Republic, Leticia Tonos Paniagua's uniquely Caribbean retelling of Romeo and Julie chronicles the love between a kind-hearted teenager, ostracized for his mixed Haitian-Dominican descent, and the beautiful sister of a local drug kingpin he's hired to protect.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Haiti leader wants favorable solution, but ‘watch Dominican Republic’
Washington.- Haiti president Michel Martelly on Friday criticized Dominican Republic Constitutional Court’s ruling on criteria to determine Dominican nationality and which critics affirm, would affect offspring of Haitians residing in the country, EFE reports.
"I thank the countries that mobilized to promote a respectful resolution" to the dispute, said Martelly in his speech at the OAS, and stated his hope for an "favorable solution to the topic," from the talks the two countries carry out on the sticky topic of immigrants and other issues between the Hispaniola neighbors.
"I invite the OAS countries to remain vigilant with regard to human rights so that no person is in a situation similar to statelessness," Martelly said.
Haiti’s leader also called for a "pact of solidarity" in the war on poverty and inequality in the Americas, and affirmed that as a result of his Administration’s advances, the Haitian people are recovering "their right to dream."
Martelly spoke during a formal session of the OAS Permanent Council, after meeting with its Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza.
"I thank the countries that mobilized to promote a respectful resolution" to the dispute, said Martelly in his speech at the OAS, and stated his hope for an "favorable solution to the topic," from the talks the two countries carry out on the sticky topic of immigrants and other issues between the Hispaniola neighbors.
"I invite the OAS countries to remain vigilant with regard to human rights so that no person is in a situation similar to statelessness," Martelly said.
Haiti’s leader also called for a "pact of solidarity" in the war on poverty and inequality in the Americas, and affirmed that as a result of his Administration’s advances, the Haitian people are recovering "their right to dream."
Martelly spoke during a formal session of the OAS Permanent Council, after meeting with its Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza.
UN praises work by Haiti, Dominican Republic
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Feb. 3 said he was encouraged by ongoing talks between the Dominican Republic and Haiti aimed at improving a historically tense bilateral relationship.
In a letter to Héctor Virgilio Alcántara Mejía, the permanent Dominican representative to the United Nations in New York, Ban said he is particularly pleased with efforts by the neighboring countries to renovate the bilateral Mixed Commission, an effort to improve economic and political relations.
Ban’s letter comes months after the Dominican Republic’s highest court handed down a decision that strips Dominican citizenship from tens of thousands of children of undocumented migrants, even if they were born on Dominican soil. The decision was retroactive to anyone born to undocumented immigrants since 1929.
Human rights groups have said the ruling threatens to denationalize tens of thousands of people, leaving them functionally stateless. The government has put the number affected at around 24,000 and said it’s rolling out a plan to help those people regularize their status.
In a letter to Héctor Virgilio Alcántara Mejía, the permanent Dominican representative to the United Nations in New York, Ban said he is particularly pleased with efforts by the neighboring countries to renovate the bilateral Mixed Commission, an effort to improve economic and political relations.
Ban’s letter comes months after the Dominican Republic’s highest court handed down a decision that strips Dominican citizenship from tens of thousands of children of undocumented migrants, even if they were born on Dominican soil. The decision was retroactive to anyone born to undocumented immigrants since 1929.
Human rights groups have said the ruling threatens to denationalize tens of thousands of people, leaving them functionally stateless. The government has put the number affected at around 24,000 and said it’s rolling out a plan to help those people regularize their status.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Venezuela chairs committee on draconian anti-Haitian citizenship ruling
It has been four years since Haiti was struck by the January 12 earthquake of 2010. While many mainstream newspapers try to whitewash the worst failures of the international community’s reconstruction effort, the Center for Economic and Policy Research published a thorough, albeit disturbing list of figures outlining the troubled state of reconstruction in Haiti.
Many of these persistent problems are linked to the ongoing history of international intervention in Haiti, whereby the rights of international investors trample the self-determination, sovereignty, and emancipation of the Haitian people.
In contrast to the neocolonial actions of the United States, Canada, and others who have worked to undermine Haiti’s reconstruction, stands Venezuela—now one of Haiti’s key allies, and one who has broken from the anti-people reconstruction policies and aligned itself in solidarity with, rather than in domination to, the Haitian people.
Perhaps the most well known Venezuelan assistance to Haiti has come in the form of the low cost of oil that Venezuela’s PetroCaribe program has made available. During Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro’s first visit to Haiti in June 2013, Haitian President Michel Martelly discussed the impact of the funds generated by the PetroCaribe agreement: “I would like to say very loudly that PetroCaribe funds represent 94% of our investment funds, which means that the majority of what is being done in Haiti has been realized with PetroCaribe funds….Government buildings are being rebuilt, social housing is being built and we are talking about increasing national production, about continuing with the free tuition education program and alphabetization.”
Many of these persistent problems are linked to the ongoing history of international intervention in Haiti, whereby the rights of international investors trample the self-determination, sovereignty, and emancipation of the Haitian people.
In contrast to the neocolonial actions of the United States, Canada, and others who have worked to undermine Haiti’s reconstruction, stands Venezuela—now one of Haiti’s key allies, and one who has broken from the anti-people reconstruction policies and aligned itself in solidarity with, rather than in domination to, the Haitian people.
Perhaps the most well known Venezuelan assistance to Haiti has come in the form of the low cost of oil that Venezuela’s PetroCaribe program has made available. During Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro’s first visit to Haiti in June 2013, Haitian President Michel Martelly discussed the impact of the funds generated by the PetroCaribe agreement: “I would like to say very loudly that PetroCaribe funds represent 94% of our investment funds, which means that the majority of what is being done in Haiti has been realized with PetroCaribe funds….Government buildings are being rebuilt, social housing is being built and we are talking about increasing national production, about continuing with the free tuition education program and alphabetization.”
Mockery of CARICOM's Dominican Republic stand?
FOR all the vehement outbursts by the Caribbean Community against the Dominican Republic’s highly controversial new immigration law that has effectively denationalised an estimated 200,000 DR citizens of Haitian descent, Caricom ambassadors to the Organisation of American States (OAS) last month quietly joined in electing the DR’s accredited envoy—Pedro Verges—as new chairman of the hemispheric body’s permanent council.
Why? The official explanation offered is that this election process has evolved as a tradition, the norm, based on a rotation system.
It may well be asked whether Caricom, which directly controls a bloc of 14 votes in the OAS, simply opted to abide by this rotation tradition without bothering about the evident contradiction with the principled position it has been articulating over recent months to cease doing “business as usual” in relation to the DR—unless willingness is shown to revoke the new controversial race-based immigration law.
While the future status of thousands of people of Haitian descent remains in limbo, affecting schooling, the right to work and travel, Caricom and the wider OAS seem to have resigned themselves to simply abiding by an election tradition that clearly mocks their own separate and collective condemnation of the DR’s repulsive new law.
Why? The official explanation offered is that this election process has evolved as a tradition, the norm, based on a rotation system.
It may well be asked whether Caricom, which directly controls a bloc of 14 votes in the OAS, simply opted to abide by this rotation tradition without bothering about the evident contradiction with the principled position it has been articulating over recent months to cease doing “business as usual” in relation to the DR—unless willingness is shown to revoke the new controversial race-based immigration law.
While the future status of thousands of people of Haitian descent remains in limbo, affecting schooling, the right to work and travel, Caricom and the wider OAS seem to have resigned themselves to simply abiding by an election tradition that clearly mocks their own separate and collective condemnation of the DR’s repulsive new law.